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Forbes
5 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Tobacco-Free Future - Moving Forward Or Backwards?
A delegate smokes a cigarette outside the conference centre on the opening day of the annual ... More Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, northern England, on October 1, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) The World Health Organization this week released its tenth report on the global tobacco epidemic, a status update on its anti-smoking campaigns. The WHO concludes that more than 6 billion people, or around 75% of the world population, are now covered by some kind of tobacco control measure, including graphic warnings on cigarette packages, increases in taxation, advertising bans and programs that help people quit smoking. According to the organization, less than 20% of the world population currently smokes, down from more than 32% in the year 2000. 80% of these people are located in middle or low income countries and are more likely males as smoking continues to be the biggest cause of preventable death globally. As tobacco use is falling and control measures have reached a critical mass of people, a total phase-out of commercial tobacco use has been on the table in some countries, while others are inching closer, attempting to reduce the number of smokers to 5% or less of the population. However, some of the most high-profile measures of this kind have already failed, raising the question whether a tobacco-free future is in the making, further away that it seems or even wholly unattainable. This chart shows major tobacco bans or similar legislation and state of implementation worldwide (as ... More of June 2025). Bhutan, the Himalayan nation, was the world's first officially smoke-free country when it outlawed the import and sale of tobacco in 2004. Bhutan has become famous for its different approach to governance, which has been admired in the West, for example calculating gross national happiness or mandating that 60% of the country remain forested. But even the remote nation that cited Buddhist teachings as a reason for its tobacco ban has not been immune to outside influence and axed the majority of its ban in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic to stop smuggler which were spreading the disease. Since then, the country's government decided not to reinstate and instead focus on education and cessasion programs, as the ban did not actually lower smoking rates and instead created an environment free of warnings around the tobacco which was still available illegally. More recently, New Zealand attempted to raise a smoke-free generation from 2027 onwards by not allowing anyone born in 2009 or later to legally purchase cigarettes once the turned 18, alongside many other anti-tobacco measures. The country's approach was that of a more gradual phase-out rather than a sudden ban but its merits won't be tested as a change in government prompted the law enacted in 2022 to be scrapped despite reportedly having widespread public support. A new conservative coalition government decided to change course after coming to power in 2023, reportedly at the request of the populist New Zealand First party. Tobacco revenue was consecutively tied to new tax cuts. This highlights another area of concern with tobacco bans and phase-outs: the cost of prevention and tax revenue losses in the short term, even though these are expected to be offset by lower public healthcare costs. However, the United Kingdom is currently mulling a similar ban that is yet to be enacted but enjoys government and public support as of now. Creating Smoke-free Nations? The New Zealand government meanwhile said that it remained committed to creating a smoke-free nation nevertheless. Several countries, including Portugal, Canada and Australia, have set similar goals, typically aiming to reduce the number of smokers to 5% or less in the next five to 15 years. The EU, for example, has set this date to 2040. One popular rule to inch closer to this goal has been to further limit smoking in public outdoor areas like restaurant and bar patios, beaches, parks, natural areas or even inner city streets. The aforementioned countries, sometimes on a state level, have introduced bans like these, as have several other nations around the world. Cities have also followed suit and a well-reported ban went into effect in Milan at the beginning of the year, outlawing smoking anywhere near other people, similar to the law in place in Costa Rica. France is also tightening these rules from July 1, but exempts outdoor hospitality areas, another major area of pushback in the ongoing tug-of-war between public health advocates driven by well-founded concerns, proponents of free lifestyle choices and governments' short-term revenue considerations. Charted by Statista
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First Post
04-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
History Today: When Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister
On May 4, 1979, Margaret Thatcher was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the UK and Europe. Her leadership marked a transformative period in British politics, characterised by free-market reforms and a bold stance on national and international issues read more UK's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher raises both hands over head and smiles during standing ovation after her closing speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool, England, October 9, 1987. File Image/Reuters On May 4, history when Margaret Thatcher shattered a centuries-old barrier in 1979 by becoming the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Two decades earlier, in 1959, the music industry celebrated its finest with the inaugural Grammy Awards. And in 1994, a pivotal agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation laid the groundwork for Palestinian self-rule. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost's ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Margaret Thatcher becomes Europe's first female PM On May 4, 1979, Margaret Thatcher was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, making history as the first woman to hold the office in the UK and Europe. Her Conservative Party had secured a decisive victory in the general election, winning a 44-seat majority over the incumbent Labour government led by James Callaghan. Thatcher's ascent marked a significant shift in British politics, both in terms of gender representation and ideological direction. Born Margaret Hilda Roberts in 1925 in Grantham, England, Thatcher studied chemistry at Oxford University before training as a barrister. She entered Parliament in 1959 and rose through the ranks of the Conservative Party, becoming its leader in 1975. Her leadership style was characterised by a strong commitment to free-market policies, individual responsibility, and a reduction in state intervention. UK's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi outside 10 Downing Street, London prior to their meeting, October 14, 1985. File Image/Reuters Thatcher's premiership, which lasted until 1990, was marked by significant economic and social reforms. She implemented policies aimed at deregulating the economy, privatising state-owned industries, and curbing the power of trade unions. These measures, collectively known as 'Thatcherism,' were both lauded for revitalising the British economy and criticised for increasing social inequality. Internationally, Thatcher played a prominent role on the world stage. She maintained a close relationship with US President Ronald Reagan, sharing a mutual commitment to conservative economic policies and a strong stance against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and US President Reagan share a laugh during a meeting of the Allied leaders in New York on October 24, 1985. File Image/Reuters Her leadership during the Falklands War in 1982 further solidified her reputation as a resolute and determined leader. Thatcher's tenure was not without controversy. Her introduction of the Community Charge, commonly known as the 'poll tax,' led to widespread protests and contributed to a decline in her popularity. Facing internal party dissent, she resigned in 1990, succeeded by John Major. Despite the polarising nature of her policies, Thatcher's impact on British politics is undeniable. She remains a figure of significant historical importance, symbolising both the possibilities and challenges of transformative leadership. First Grammy Awards presented On May 4, 1959, the music industry celebrated its achievements with the inaugural Grammy Awards. Organised by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the ceremony recognised outstanding musical accomplishments from the previous year. The event was held simultaneously in two locations: the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles and the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York City. A total of 28 awards were presented, honouring artists across various genres. Notable winners included Ella Fitzgerald, who received awards for Best Female Vocal Performance and Best Jazz Performance and Count Basie, who won for Best Jazz Group Performance and Best Dance Band Performance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Domenico Modugno's 'Volare' was awarded Record of the Year, highlighting the global influence of music. Also Watch: The establishment of the Grammy Awards marked a significant moment in the recognition of musical artistry, setting a precedent for future generations of musicians and industry professionals. Rabin & Arafat sign accord for Palestinian self-rule On May 4, 1994, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat signed a historic accord in Cairo, Egypt initiating the first phase of Palestinian self-rule. The agreement, part of the broader Oslo Accords framework, outlined the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area, transferring authority to the newly established Palestinian Authority. The signing ceremony, attended by international dignitaries, was a culmination of months of negotiations aimed at resolving the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the accord faced challenges and criticisms from various factions, it represented a significant step toward peace and mutual recognition between the two parties. The 1994 agreement laid the groundwork for subsequent negotiations and agreements, influencing the trajectory of the region in the years that have followed. Also Watch:
Telegraph
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Liz Truss ‘lacked self-awareness needed to be PM', says former lover
Liz Truss 'lacked the self-awareness' needed to be prime minister, her former lover has said. Mark Field, a former Tory minister under Theresa May, said that his 18-month affair with Ms Truss in 2003 ended his marriage. He described her as 'exhilarating' and said that she had a 'manic energy' that he found 'intoxicating, disconcerting and exhausting'. But Mr Field also listed a number of character traits that he said did not make her a suitable candidate for prime minister. In an extract of his memoir, The End of an Era, published in the Mail on Sunday, he said: 'She lacked the self-awareness to realise the need for trusted advisers, whose outlook would have helped temper her over-confident excesses. 'Having made it to 10 Downing Street against the odds, she was determined to do it her way. In her mind, she had been pragmatic for long enough, and now no one was going to stop her.' He added: 'Unfortunately, there was startlingly little to suggest that Liz had either the powers of inspirational leadership or the capacity to focus on the implementation of her policies.' Mr Field said that he met Ms Truss at the 2002 Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth in a hotel bar, when she was not yet a Tory MP. They went on to meet in London for lunches and coffees to prepare her for the seat selection process, and then would be in contact every single day. 'She was, I found, always exhilarating to be around. She could turn on a sixpence from being a wide-eyed wannabe, hanging on my every word, to an opinionated, stubborn and somewhat belligerent know-it-all.' Ms Truss had married three years before the affair began. The affair put an end to Mr Field's marriage, but the former prime minister remains married to Hugh O'Leary. 'Every three or four months, beset by what I took to be a mixture of guilt and indecision, Liz would try to cool things down,' he wrote. 'I quickly worked out that the best response to this was to step back and make no attempt to contact her. Within a week or so, she would apologetically get back in touch and we would very soon be carrying on as before.' The former minister said that she had 'many of the qualities that are essential to reaching the highest rank in politics'. 'Limitless ambition and self-belief, raw intelligence, resilience and an overwhelming sense of personal destiny.' He added: 'All her years of hard graft as a party activist, association chairwoman, three-time council and parliamentary candidate now stood her in the best possible stead. 'She alone understood what made the ageing party membership tick, so it came as no surprise to me when she wiped the floor with Rishi Sunak.' 'Liz's tenure will be calamitous' However, he criticised her for 'talking a good game' about cutting taxes and promoting economic growth, 'but actually delivering next to nothing'. He cited an email that he had sent to a friend in August 2022, when Ms Truss was days away from becoming prime minister. 'Strewth, I guess I now know how the first line of my obituary will read, but the likeliest scenario is that Liz's tenure will be calamitous. 'I reckon it is by no means impossible that we shall have to go through the whole process of choosing a new leader again within six months.' Ms Truss was only in No 10 for 49 days after her ill-fated mini-budget, which was seen to spook the markets and led to her sacking her chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng. The former prime minister went on to lose her seat in South West Norfolk at last year's general election, having been an MP since 2010.
The Independent
16-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
My affair with Liz Truss ruined my marriage, admits former Tory MP
A former Conservative MP has detailed his love affair with the UK's shortest-lived prime minister Liz Truss – claiming it led to the breakdown of his marriage. Mark Field, MP for Cities of London and Westminster from 2001 to 2019, revealed the "first serious signs of cracks" in his marriage began 'just as Elizabeth Truss entered his life'. In his new book serialised in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Field said he met the 49-day prime minister at the Conservative Party Conference in October 2002 in the "romantic dimmed lights" of the Highcliff Hotel in Bournemouth. She was married to Hugh O'Leary at the time. He claims the pair had a brief conversation, he wished her luck in her search for a parliamentary seat and casually said, 'Please get in touch if I can be of any help.' Ms Truss took him up on the offer almost immediately, he wrote, requesting advice on candidate selection. As they began meeting regularly, Mr Field said she was 'an impulsive bundle of energy, obsessed by the workings and machinations of politics.' He recalled that 'even then, Liz came across' as intensely focused on success, displaying 'the parroting of slogans, the blind partisanship and the need to present it all with a veneer of absolute confidence.' As they worked together, they spent more and more time in each other's company, he wrote. 'Before long, barely a day would pass without us at least speaking over the phone.' He said he found her 'intoxicating, disconcerting and exhausting. Not to mention at times utterly infuriating.' Their 'intensity of friendship' had become an affair in late 2003, he said. 'There is something very unreal in any affair, especially when both parties are married and living with their spouses,' Mr Field wrote. He said every few months, Ms Truss would try to 'cool things down' but would always 'apologetically get back in touch' soon after. Ms Truss was selected as the Conservative candidate for Calder Valley in early 2005, and Mr Field observed her campaign closely, admiring her 'utterly obsessive approach to politics.' When their affair eventually ended in 2006, Field immediately recognised that 'my own marriage was over'. Ms Truss, however, remained with her husband. Their relationship became public knowledge that year when she stood as a candidate for the Bromley and Chislehurst by-election. Reflecting on her rise to prime minister, he said Ms Trus had 'limitless ambition and self-belief, raw intelligence, resilience and an overwhelming sense of personal destiny.' However, he argued that 'her entire decade-long ministerial career had been an object lesson in relentlessly talking a good game… but actually delivering next to nothing'. 'Having made it to 10 Downing Street against the odds, she was determined to do it her way,' he said. He believed that her downfall stemmed from 'startlingly little to suggest that Liz had either the powers of inspirational leadership or the capacity to focus on the implementation of her policies'.
