Comment on Big Tobacco uses trade pacts to thwart new laws

JOHANNESBURG — The government of Mauritius on Friday banned access to social media websites ahead of parliamentary elections on Nov. 10 in which Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth is seeking a second term in power. The directive was announced by the national communications regulator, which said social media sites will be banned until Nov.

The end may not be near, but the end is clear—according to those who have kept a close eye on Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, since a military coup toppled its civilian government in 2021. While the fighting between the junta and armed resistance groups was locked in a stalemate for the first two years of the conflict, observers note that the third year has seen the military on the back foot. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The protracted conflict has been estimated to have killed over 50,000 people and displaced around three million.

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular. It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. When is Diwali? The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in late October or early November. This year, the holiday is being celebrated on Oct.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A powerful typhoon made landfall in Taiwan on Thursday, killing one person and bringing high winds and floods to much of the island’s east coast and northern areas, after barreling past the northern Philippines. Flights and train service were suspended in Taiwan and 8,600 people moved to shelters. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Typhoon Kong-rey was blowing at 184 kilometers (114 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 227 kph (141 mph) as it moved over the eastern county of Taitung.

First case of more spreadable mpox detected in UK | BBC News BBC NewsFirst UK case of mpox variant clade Ib detected in London The GuardianBritain identifies its first case of new mpox variant Reuters UKMpox: First case of Clade 1b strain detected in London Sky NewsFirst case of dangerous new mpox strain confirmed in the UK The Telegraph

Ozempic and Wegovy Ease Knee Osteoarthritis Pain in Large Study The New York TimesWegovy reduces knee pain in osteoarthritis patients with obesity, study finds STATSTEP 9 results, published in NEJM, demonstrated semaglutide reduced knee osteoarthritis-related pain in people with obesity PR NewswireWegovy Reduced Pain From Knee Osteoarthritis Medpage Today