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Lancet examines efforts to reform USAID

A Lancet World Report article examines the decision to restore USAID's policy department as part of broader reform efforts at the agency.

24 May 2010

Economist features special report on water

In a special report on water the Economist examines the causes of and growing concerns over increasing scarcity around the world.

24 May 2010

Feed the Future Guide for Obama administration's food security plan released

The "full details of how the money will be spent" has not yet been released, but the guide said the initiative would aim to increase "access to products such as fertilisers and new technology, including agriculture biotechnology," the Financial Times reports.

24 May 2010

Drug and alcohol experts to take part in T2010 conference

In August 2010, researchers and experts on drugs, alcohol and medicines will take part in the T2010 conference, the tri-annual meeting of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS). This year's meeting is being hosted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

21 May 2010

Washington State Department of Health shows smoking inside homes drops by 61% since 2000

New research released today by the Washington State Department of Health shows the number of people smoking inside homes in our state has declined by 61 percent since 2000. The drop is more than double the overall decline in adult smoking during the same period.

21 May 2010

NCCA to host innovative lifelong learning arts programs in San Francisco

Ever wondered why creativity and learning are so important for the older brain? National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) will answer this question and highlight innovative lifelong learning arts programs at the "NCCA-MetLife Foundation Creativity Matters: Lifelong Learning Through the Arts" symposium.

21 May 2010

Study investigates firearm fatalities among under age youths

Over three-quarters of youths under age 15 who die in firearm accidents are shot by another person, usually another youth, according to new research from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).

21 May 2010

African 'green revolution' should focus on small farmers, U.N. report says

Investments in agricultural technology should be directed to Africa's smallholder farmers in an effort to increase food security after decades of low funding, the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a report on Wednesday, Reuters reports (Lynn, 5/19).

21 May 2010

Meat pies meatier than before: Choice report

Consumer alert group “Choice” tested 20 frozen meat pies available in supermarket chains nationally. They found that at present meat pies contain more meat than they did four years back. To qualify as a meat pie, the product should be at least 25% meat as per the guidelines from 2007. Coles home brand was the only brand that failed to meet the content standard. Australians spend more than $127 million and eat 18,500 tonnes of meat pies every year.

20 May 2010

realbuzz.com suggests tips to reinvigorate your regime

As the summer approaches do you make the most out of our time off? Do you maximise your lunch hour and time off after work? How do you revitalize yourself to make sure you feel on top of the World? Many of us forget about the small things that can instantly change the way you feel and only involve minimum impact and cost. realbuzz.com the healthy active living website suggests a few small ways to reinvigorate your regime.

20 May 2010

FDA Transparency Task Force releases 21 draft proposals for public comment on agency disclosure policies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Transparency Task Force today released 21 draft proposals for public comment on public disclosure policies aimed at helping consumers, stakeholders, and others understand how the agency operates and makes decisions. The Transparency Task Force will review the comments and decide which proposals to recommend for implementation.

20 May 2010

Novartis to pay additional $250 million for gender discrimination inflicted on 5,600 working women

After delivering a unanimous verdict against Novartis on all counts and awarding 12 former Novartis sales reps $3.36 million in compensatory damages yesterday, a New York jury today delivered a stronger dose of the same medicine. Announcing the amount of punitive damages to be awarded, the jury determined that Novartis must pay an additional $250 million for the gender discrimination it inflicted on 5,600 working women in the class. The case was the largest gender discrimination matter ever to go to verdict in the U.S.

20 May 2010

Work stress, economic pressures contribute to weight gain among U.S. labor force: Survey

The combination of work stress and economic pressures appears to be playing a role in the U.S. labor force's weight gain. Overall, 44 percent of workers say they have gained weight in their current jobs, up slightly from 43 percent in 2009, according to a new CareerBuilder survey. Nearly one-third (32 percent) of workers say that stress contributed to their weight gain at work.

19 May 2010

Sex may become ‘old news’ when it comes to having babies says Australian scientist

According to researchers most couples over 30 will rely more on artificial methods to conceive. This prediction comes from John Yovich, Medical Director of Pivet Medical Centre, and a scientist acknowledged for his pioneering work in IVF, who calls human natural reproduction “a fairly inefficient process.”

18 May 2010

Call for papers, panels and posters for 2010 Pacific Rim Summit now open

The Biotechnology Industry Organization invites leaders from the biotechnology, chemical and agricultural industries to submit proposals and abstracts for panels, individual papers, and posters for the 2010 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. This unique conference will be held Dec. 11-14, 2010 in Honolulu.

17 May 2010

Carcinogenic potential of mobile phone use not clear cut

The most comprehensive international study to date on the association between mobile phone use and brain cancers has not shown a strong causal link between the two but research on their relationship needs to continue, Professor Bruce Armstrong from the School of Public Health says.

17 May 2010

Senate Appropriations Committee approves spending bill with foreign aid funding for Haiti

The Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday unanimously voted to approve a $59 billion war funding measure that includes "more than $5 billion to replenish disaster aid accounts, as well as funding for Haitian earthquake relief," the Associated Press reports (Taylor, 5/13).

15 May 2010