Anthony D'Agostino, MD, FACP, an Internist in private practice

Social media is filled with images of celebrities and influencers lighting up cigarettes and hyping the habit of smoking, suggesting it's experiencing a bit of a cultural resurgence. Though data suggests tobacco use has long been trending downward, experts say if we want it to stay that way, harmful online content that glamourizes smoking shouldn't be ignored.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the voice, growth and competitiveness of millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the global Travel & Tourism sector. The partnership brings together WTTC’s specialist Travel & Tourism expertise, economic research and industry insight with ICC’s global business network spanning more than 45 million businesses across over 170 countries. Together, the organisations will provide SMEs with practical guidance, tools, insights, connections and opportunities to help them grow and compete.

For generations, South Africans have known how to welcome people, whether through a steaming pot of umngqusho shared around the fire or the careful sweeping of a verandah before guests arrived. Hospitality is a vital part of our heritage and has long been one of the threads connecting our various cultures and traditions. As a nation, we are well-known for it: a quality closely linked to the philosophy of ubuntu, which reminds us that our humanity is bound up in one another.

Americans may be watching their wallets, but they aren’t giving up their vacations. New findings from MMGY’s 2026 Portrait of American Travelers™ “Fall Edition” reveal that travel demand is rebounding this fall, with Americans expecting to spend $5,655 on leisure travel over the next 12 months and take nearly four vacations, both up from the “Summer Edition” of the survey.

Milan, Italy’s fashion capital and home to this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony, offers bites as exquisite as its reputation. For those checking out the awards this month, be sure to make time for the city’s food scene, which is every bit as compelling as its bar culture. Alongside traditional trattorias, a new generation of chefs with fine-dining pedigrees steps away from rigid traditions, experimenting with fermentation menus, sustainable work hours, and a fusion of cultures....

As international fashion companies increasingly incorporate traditional Chinese design elements into their collections, accusations of cultural appropriation have flooded social media. In recent years, brands such as Zara and Adidas have been criticised for adopting Chinese tailoring features such as Mandarin collars and pankou, or frog buttons. While Zara drew backlash for mislabelling these elements as generic “fireman clasps” without acknowledging their heritage, Adidas sparked debate over...

Thanks for these recs, jet-setters. View Entire Post ›

Munich’s Oktoberfest was never on my travel bucket list. But it offered a chance to meet up with good friends from Hong Kong and their adorable toddler, Joshua, who go to the festival every year as a family. So there I was, spending a weekend at Theresienwiese, surrounded by bewildering varieties of beer and their drinkers. The annual Oktoberfest, first held in October 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding, is about more than just beer. There are amusement rides, games, stalls selling things you...

These latest launches offer something for every taste, from reimagined icons and richly textured wardrobe staples to playful collaborations and unexpected home accessories. Whether you are looking for an elegant pair of slingbacks, embellished sneakers, a statement basketball hoop or vibrant glass tableware, there is plenty to discover. Fendi For her first Fendi collection – fall/winter 2026 – chief creative officer Maria Grazia Chiuri revisited one of the label’s signature shoes, the Colibrì...

Ever heard of lipoprotein(a)? Don’t worry if you have not. That is the name of a cardiovascular risk factor that many people are genuinely unaware of. Two experts explain why it makes sense to have this value measured with a blood test at least once, and what to do if the result turns out to be too high. What exactly is lipoprotein(a)? Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a component of the blood. “It is structured like ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol,” says Anja Vogt, a specialist in internal medicine and deputy...

“My friends are very respectful of my situation… There's no expectation of, like, taking care of something or, you know, just having me be responsible for them.“ View Entire Post ›

Lisa Driscoll didn't show up to court on Thursday for what was supposed to be her long-awaited sentencing hearing. Lucky for her, the judge wasn't there either.