Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Bangladesh imposes lockdown in Rohingya camps

Bangladesh has imposed a lockdown on a southern district, home to refugee camps housing more than a million Rohingya Muslims fleeing from Myanmar, to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Officials said no-one was allowed to enter or exit Cox's Bazar district.


Cox's Bazar district head Kamal Hossain announced the measures following a rise in cases in the country as a whole.

The number of infections in Bangladesh has doubled to more than 200 in the last five days, with 20 dead.

"Entry and exit from Cox's Bazar district is prohibited from now on," Mr Hossain said in a statement, adding that "stern action" would be taken against those who violated the order.

"Only emergency food supply and medical services can continue work in the camps by maintaining extreme caution," Refugee Commissioner Mahbub Alam Talukder said.

Anyone who had arrived in the country recently would have to go into quarantine before visiting the camps, he added.

No cases are confirmed in the camps, but aid agencies fear an outbreak could overwhelm poor medical facilities.

Most refugees arrived in the camps following a military crackdown in the neighbouring state in 2017.

Almost 750,000 crossed the border, joining hundreds of thousands of refugees already living there.

Last week Human Rights Watch warned that 350,000 people within Myanmar itself were especially vulnerable to coronavirus.

More For You

Weight Loss Drug

Health officials expect the rollout to benefit around 220,000 adults over the next 3 years

iStock

NHS GPs to prescribe Mounjaro in nationwide obesity treatment plan

Key points

  • NHS GPs in England can now prescribe Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for weight loss
  • The programme aims to support 220,000 people over three years
  • Eligible patients must have a BMI over 40 and at least four obesity-related health issues
  • GP leaders raise concerns over increased workload
  • Pharmacists urge a broader weight management approach

NHS expands obesity treatment with Mounjaro

The NHS in England is set to begin prescribing Mounjaro, a weight loss injection, through GP surgeries starting Monday. The move marks the first time family doctors will be authorised to directly prescribe the anti-obesity drug tirzepatide as part of a wider national health initiative.

Health officials expect the rollout to benefit around 220,000 adults over the next three years. The drug will be made available to those with a body mass index (BMI) above 40 who also suffer from at least four other obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnoea.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave deaths

Around 85% of the projected deaths are likely to involve people over the age of 65

iStock

Scientists warn current UK heatwave may cause nearly 600 early deaths

Almost 600 premature deaths are expected to occur during the ongoing heatwave affecting England and Wales, according to a new rapid analysis by leading scientists. The majority of fatalities are projected among older adults, with London and the West Midlands likely to be the worst-affected areas.

Climate change driving deadly temperatures

Researchers say the extreme temperatures, which have reached 32°C in parts of south-east England, would have been nearly impossible without the influence of human-caused climate change. Pollution from burning fossil fuels has raised the likelihood of such heatwaves by around 100 times, experts say.

Keep ReadingShow less
From silence to spotlight: How Ella D’Verma turned her truth into power

In a world still catching up with the truths of trans identity

Instagram / elladverma

From silence to spotlight: How Ella D’Verma turned her truth into power

AS Pride Month sweeps across the world in a blaze of colour, protest and celebration, one Indian voice continues to rise with unwavering authenticity. Ella D’Verma is reshaping narratives as a transgender model, fearless LGBTQ+ advocate and digital content creator with a powerful global following.

In a world still catching up with the truths of trans identity, her visibility has become vital – the embodiment of pride in action. In this exclusive conversation with Eastern Eye, she speaks about her journey, the importance of visibility, self-expression, navigating the fashion industry as a trans model, representation, and her vision for the future.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amycretin

'The Lancet' and presentations at the American Diabetes Association’s 2025

iStock

New weight-loss pill Amycretin shows greater impact than jabs, study finds

A new weight-loss drug, amycretin, has delivered the most significant results yet for appetite-suppressing GLP-1 medications, according to two newly published studies in The Lancet and presentations at the American Diabetes Association’s 2025 Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

Record weight loss from Amycretin injections

Researchers found that participants receiving high-dose weekly injections of amycretin lost 24.3 per cent of their body weight over 36 weeks. This outcome surpasses the results seen in longer trials involving other GLP-1 drugs such as tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro), which previously led the field with an average weight loss of 20 per cent over 72 weeks.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian representation Parkinson’s awareness

Organisations like Parkinson’s UK are so vital.

Instagram/ itsmitamistry

Joining the movement: Championing Asian representation and Parkinson’s awareness through sport

Mita Mistry

I recently joined the incredible team at the Asian Sports Foundation. It is an honour to work alongside passionate individuals such as Shazia Ali, Harleen Kaur and Angus Martin. Since it was founded by Jug Johal, the Asian Sports Foundation has worked to transform inactivity into active living, promoting better wellbeing and greater representation of Asian communities in sport and physical activity.

This is a cause close to my heart. The undeniable power of sport and movement to improve both physical and mental health cannot be overstated. It is a message I have consistently championed, alongside a commitment to equity and inclusion, which is why I am so excited to contribute to a charity that truly embodies this ethos.

Keep ReadingShow less