AIDS campaigners say pandemic has finally reached tipping point

By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - The world has finally reached "the beginning of the end" of the AIDS pandemic that has infected and killed millions in the past 30 years, according to a leading campaign group fighting HIV. The number of people newly infected with HIV over the last year was lower than the number of HIV-positive people who joined those getting access to the medicines they need to take for life to keep AIDS at bay. But in a report to mark World AIDS Day on Dec. ...

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Novartis' Gilenya fails in study for a type of MS

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis AG said on Monday its drug Gilenya failed to meet its main goal in a late-stage study as a treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Results of the Phase III trial involving 970 people found Gilenya, also known as fingolimod, did not show a significant difference to placebo on a combination of disability measures. There are currently no approved treatments for PPMS, a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by a steady worsening of neurologic functioning over time. It affects around 10 percent of the 2. ...

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Pregnant refugees in Australia protest in bus over detention

By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - A pair of heavily pregnant refugees were refusing to disembark from a bus in the northern Australian city of Darwin for the third day on Monday in protest against attempts to force them into detention for the remainder of their pregnancies. The women were brought to Australia from the Pacific island nation of Nauru, where Canberra detains asylum seekers to deter them attempting the dangerous boat journey to its territory, often from Indonesia. ...



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Too many infants still sleep with blankets: Study

CHICAGO (AP) — Too many U.S. infants sleep with blankets, pillows or other unsafe bedding that may lead to suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome, despite guidelines recommending against the practice. That's according to researchers who say 17 years of national data show parents need to be better informed.

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Risky bedding common for babies in U.S.

By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - More than half of U.S. parents say their babies sleep with pillows, blankets and other loose bedding despite recommendations against their use from doctors and health officials, according to a new government study. Removing loose bedding from a baby’s sleeping environment is one way to reduce their risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), write the researchers, who are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “We have little understanding of how many infants in the U.S. ...



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The Big See: How Having Cancer Showed Me What Is Most Important

I clearly remember the day that I first heard those words that no one ever wants to hear: You have cancer. You never forget that moment you suddenly come face to face with your own mortality -- literally, the wake-up call of the century. Your life immediately divides like a cell in mitosis: Before Cancer -- After Cancer. For a while (weeks,...



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Wife of Ray Rice says he was candid with NFL about assault

(Reuters) - The wife of former Baltimore Ravens’ football player Ray Rice said in an interview that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was not truthful when he described Rice as ambiguous about striking her in an elevator early this year. Janay Rice said in an interview with NBC's "Today" show host Matt Lauer that her husband told Goodell the truth about the assault that left her unconscious in an New Jersey casino elevator in February, an incident that lead to his indefinite suspension by the league in September. ...

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Missing Ohio State football player found dead: police

(Reuters) - An Ohio State University football player who went missing earlier this week was found dead on Sunday not far from his apartment, authorities said. Kosta Karageorge, 22, a fifth-year senior who was last seen early Wednesday morning, died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Columbus Police Department said on its Facebook page. The department said Karageorge's body was found inside a dumpster and a gun was found at the scene near his the apartment. ...



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AbbVie adds children's AIDS drugs to shared patent pool

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker AbbVie has added two HIV medicines for children to a shared patent pool in an initiative that should speed the development of cheap new pediatric formulations for use in poor countries. It is the latest win for the non-profit Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), which aims to persuade leading drug companies to share rights to their products with generic manufacturers in India and elsewhere. ...

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AIDS campaigners say pandemic has finally reached tipping point

By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - The world has finally reached "the beginning of the end" of the AIDS pandemic that has infected and killed millions in the past 30 years, according to a leading campaign group fighting HIV. The number of people newly infected with HIV over the last year was lower than the number of HIV-positive people who joined those getting access to the medicines they need to take for life to keep AIDS at bay. But in a report to mark World AIDS Day on Dec. ...

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Missing Ohio State football player found dead: police

(Reuters) - An Ohio State University football player who went missing earlier this week was found dead on Sunday, authorities said. Kosta Karageorge, 22, a fifth-year senior who was last seen early Wednesday morning, died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound and his body was found inside a Dumpster, the Columbus Police Department said on its Facebook page. His mother, Susan, told authorities earlier this week he has suffered several concussions and has had spells of being extremely confused, a police report said. ...



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Take That knock charity Ebola single off top of UK charts

LONDON (Reuters) - British pop veterans Take That scored their first chart-topping single for six years on Sunday, beating "Do They Know it's Christmas?", a song intended to raise money to fight the spread of Ebola in West Africa, into second place. The UK's Official Charts Company said Take That's "These Days" sold just 2,500 more copies than the charity single by Band Aid 30, a collaboration between well-known British artists that aimed to repeat the success of a 1984 song that raised millions of pounds to fight famine in Africa. ...



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Soccer legend Pele's renal support removed until Monday

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian soccer legend Pele's health continued to improve on Sunday, with doctors removing renal support temporarily to assess the evolution of a urinary tract infection. The 74-year-old three-time World Cup champion was put on kidney support treatment last week. In a statement, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein said the treatment would be suspended until Monday, when doctors would decide whether or not to reinstate it. ...

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As HIV rises, Uganda activist tries to stop AIDS

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The dreadlocked 26-year-old, a reformed thief and onetime drug peddler, Hood Katende is now an anti-AIDS activist respected in his Kampala slum. He urges young men to wear condoms if they can't avoid premarital sex and encourages teenage girls to reject the sexual advances of older men with money.



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Qatar court overturns conviction of U.S. parents in death of adopted girl

By Carey Gillam (Reuters) - An appeals court in Qatar on Sunday overturned the convictions of a Los Angeles couple who were sentenced to three years in jail for the death of their adopted African-born daughter, but the government was refusing to let the couple leave the country, a spokesman for the family said. Matthew and Grace Huang were trying to return to the United States after the tribunal found the lower court had made numerous errors, family spokesman Eric Volz told Reuters. ...



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Russians march through Moscow to protest healthcare reforms

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Over a thousand Russians marched through central Moscow on Sunday to protest against reforms to the healthcare system and to demand better wages and working conditions for doctors. Russian media says more than 7,000 doctors might lose their job as part of the reform, with some 28 hospitals and clinics set to close in Moscow alone in the next few months. Officials say the re-organization is aimed at increasing efficiency. ...

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WHO will miss Ebola targets it set for Dec 1

LONDON (AP) — Two months ago, the World Health Organization launched an ambitious plan to stop the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa, aiming to isolate 70 percent of the sick and safely Ebola 70 percent of the victims in the three hardest-hit countries — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — by December 1.



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Osborne pledges pre-election healthcare funding boost

By William James LONDON (Reuters) - British finance minister George Osborne announced a 2 billion-pound annual rise in healthcare spending on Sunday, seeking to counter attacks on his Conservative party's handling of the health service six months before an election. Prime Minister David Cameron's centre-right party lags the main opposition Labour party on the question of who is most trusted to protect the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS). ...

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What's inside a fitness tracker, anyway?

Digital TrendsWhat's inside a fitness tracker, anyway?Digital TrendsJust a couple years ago, fitness bracelets were basically glorified step counters worn on your wrist. Now, they're doing everything from measuring your heart rate on a run to warning you to get out of the sun. And they're everywhere. Every company from ...

Nip, tuck, click: Demand for U.S. plastic surgery rises in selfie era

By Patricia Reaney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dental hygienist Jennifer Reynolds was always self-conscious about her looks, never took selfies and felt uncomfortable being tagged in photographs posted on social media. The 34-year-old from Costa Rica who lives in New York opted for plastic surgery on her nose and now feels ready for prime time on social media. "I definitely feel more comfortable right now with my looks," Reynolds explained. "If I need to take a selfie, without a doubt, I would have no problem. ...

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Britain's Osborne pledges pre-election healthcare funding boost

LONDON (Reuters) - British finance minister George Osborne announced a 2 billion pound annual increase in healthcare spending on Sunday, seeking to counter political attacks on his Conservative party's handling of the health service six months before an election. The National Health Service (NHS), which provides free healthcare at the point of delivery, is highly valued by voters and an issue on which opinion polls show Prime Minister David Cameron's center-right Conservative party traditionally lag their main rivals, Labour. ...

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GSK to axe U.S. jobs as part of $1.6 billion cost cuts: sources

LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline will this week inform U.S. staff of hundreds of job cuts in its biggest market as the drugmaker starts implementing a major cost-saving program, sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

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Bird flu found at fourth Dutch poultry farm: ministry

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch officials said on Sunday bird flu had been found at another poultry farm in the Netherlands, the fourth in recent weeks. The Economics Ministry said the farm's 28,000 birds were being destroyed. It said the flu infection was of the same H5 variety found at farms across Europe and Asia in recent months. It was not yet clear how infectious the strain was, the ministry said. A ban on transporting poultry products has been imposed and the four other farms within that radius are being inspected for signs of bird flu, the ministry said. ...



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Surgeon who died of Ebola eulogized at Maryland service

By Tom Ramstack LANDOVER HILLS, Md. (Reuters) - Martin Salia, a surgeon from Sierra Leone who died in a Nebraska hospital earlier this month after contracting Ebola in his homeland, was remembered as a humanitarian and a hero at his funeral in Maryland on Saturday. The 44-year-old doctor was born and raised in Sierra Leone and lived as a permanent resident of the United States with his wife and two sons in New Carrollton, Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C. ...

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Death toll from Ebola outbreak nears 7,000 in West Africa -WHO

DAKAR (Reuters) - The death toll from the worst Ebola outbreak on record has reached nearly 7,000 in West Africa, the World Health Organization said on Saturday. The toll of 6,928 dead showed a leap of just over 1,200 since the WHO released its previous report on Wednesday. The U.N. health agency did not provide any explanation for the abrupt increase, but the figures, published on its website, appeared to include previously unreported deaths. A WHO spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. ...

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Death toll from Ebola outbreak nears 7,000 in West Africa: WHO

DAKAR (Reuters) - The death toll from the worst Ebola outbreak on record has reached nearly 7,000 in West Africa, the World Health Organization said on Saturday. The toll of 6,928 dead showed a leap of just over 1,200 since the WHO released its previous report on Wednesday. The U.N. health agency did not provide any explanation for the abrupt increase, but the figures, published on its website, appeared to include previously unreported deaths. A WHO spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. ...

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Hundreds search for missing Ohio State football player

(Reuters) - Hundreds of volunteers have joined the search for an Ohio State University football player who went missing earlier this week and was absent from the team's game on Saturday, where he was scheduled to be honored alongside other players. Kosta Karageorge, 22, a senior, was last seen at his apartment in Columbus around 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to a police report. His mother, Susan, told authorities he has suffered several concussions and has had spells of being extremely confused, the report said. ...



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Soccer legend Pelé's health improving, still in intensive care

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian soccer legend Pelé's health continued to improve on Saturday although he remained in an intensive care unit to allow doctors to monitor a urinary tract infection, the hospital said. The 74-year-old three-time World Cup champion is receiving renal support treatment to help his kidneys filter waste products from the blood. He underwent surgery earlier this month to remove kidney stones. ...

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Surgeon who died of Ebola eulogized at Maryland service

By Tom Ramstack LANDOVER HILLS, Md. (Reuters) - Martin Salia, a surgeon from Sierra Leone who died in a Nebraska hospital earlier this month after contracting Ebola in his homeland, was remembered as a humanitarian and a hero at his funeral in Maryland on Saturday. The 44-year-old doctor was born and raised in Sierra Leone and lived as a permanent resident of the United States with his wife and two sons in New Carrollton, Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C. ...

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5 Lessons I've Learned From Running

"God made me for a purpose... And when I run, I feel His pleasure." --Eric Liddell Here's what I truly love about running: Every single lesson it has taught me, can be applied to my life. Maybe it's the reason I continue lacing up my shoes, day after day. Even when running brings me tears. Because I know, right around the corner, is a...

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No more Ebola cases in Mali after patient cured - president

DAKAR (Reuters) - Mali has no more confirmed cases of Ebola after the last patient known to be suffering from the virus was cured, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said on Saturday. Mali has registered eight cases of Ebola - seven of them confirmed and one probable - after the virus spread from neighbouring Guinea, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this week. Six of these people infected have died, the WHO said. A further 285 people who came into contact with them are being monitored but have shown no sign of the disease. ...

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Tanzanian leader declares himself free of cancer after surgery

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete declared himself cancer-free on Saturday after undergoing prostate surgery in the United States earlier this month. Kikwete, 64, has led east Africa's second-biggest economy since 2005 but must step down next year at the end of his second and final term in office. "I was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer, which was later down-graded to stage 1 cancer," Kikwete said in a televised address at the airport after returning from the United States. ...

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Soccer legend Pelé's health improving, remains in intensive care

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian soccer legend Pelé's health continued to improve on Saturday although he remained in an intensive care unit to allow doctors to monitor a urinary tract infection, his hospital said. The three-times World Cup champion is receiving renal support treatment, which helps kidneys to filter waste products from the blood. He underwent surgery to remove kidney stones earlier this month. ...

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EX-UPS driver's pregnancy bias claim at high court

WASHINGTON (AP) — Peggy Young only has to look at her younger daughter to be reminded how long she has fought United Parcel Service over its treatment of pregnant employees, and why.

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Lars von Trier, breaking silence, worries he can't make films now he's sober

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish director Lars von Trier fears he won't be able to make more films because he has quit drinking alcohol and no longer uses drugs. "No creative expression of artistic value has ever been carried out by former alcoholics and drug addicts," von Trier told the newspaper Politiken. It was his first interview since Cannes film festival organizers banned him from their event in 2011 after he joked he was a Nazi at a news conference to promote his film Melancholia. The interview was a front page story in Politiken, a Danish broadsheet, and ran to seven pages inside. ...



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Exclusive: U.S. CEOs threaten to pull tacit Obamacare support over 'wellness' spat

By Sharon Begley NEW YORK (Reuters) - Leading U.S. CEOs, angered by the Obama administration's challenge to certain "workplace wellness" programs, are threatening to side with anti-Obamacare forces unless the government backs off, according to people familiar with the matter. Major U.S. corporations have broadly supported President Barack Obama's healthcare reform despite concerns over several of its elements, largely because it included provisions encouraging the wellness programs. ...

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UN: More than 16,000 people sickened with Ebola

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The World Health Organization says the number of people sickened with Ebola has passed 16,000.



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New drug could reduce the consequences of binge-drinking

It can't take back those drunken phone calls or erase your friends' memory of what you might have said, but a chemical compound could preserve your brain cells during a night out.

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Funeral in Md. set for surgeon who died of Ebola

LANDOVER HILLS, Md. (AP) — A surgeon who died of Ebola after treating patients in his native Sierra Leone will be remembered in the suburbs of Washington, where his family lives.



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France's Hollande warns against isolating Ebola-hit Guinea

By Saliou Samb CONAKRY (Reuters) - President Francois Hollande, the first Western leader to visit Ebola-stricken West Africa, warned on Friday against isolating one of the countries hit by the worst epidemic of the disease on record. During a brief visit to Guinea's capital Conakry, Hollande was greeted by President Alpha Conde before visiting a hospital and meeting health workers battling the outbreak. Hollande said the French people should be aware of what was happening in Guinea, the origin of the epidemic that has killed 1,200 Guineans and more than 5,600 people across West Africa. ...

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Cuban doctor with Ebola 'improving' in Geneva hospital

HAVANA (Reuters) - The Cuban doctor who contracted Ebola while treating patients in Sierra Leone is improving with each day and eating normally, though he is still weak, a Swiss hospital said on Friday. Felix Baez, 43, arrived at University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) a week ago for treatment of the disease that has killed more than 5,600 people since March, mostly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Baez is one of 256 Cuban doctors and nurses sent to West Africa to treat patients, a commitment that has won wide international praise for the poor, Caribbean island. "Today, Dr. ...

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China reports new human case of H7N9 bird flu

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China confirmed a new human infection of the deadly H7N9 avian influenza virus, state news agency Xinhua said, the first case this winter in the southern province of Guangdong. A 31-year-old woman surnamed Deng, from the provincial city of Dongguan, was confirmed on Friday to have been infected with the virus, Guangdong's health and family commission said in a statement on its website. The patient, in critical condition, is being treated in the provincial capital of Guangzhou, it added. The H7N9 bird flu first infected three people in China in March 2013. ...



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Ebola scare boosts business for Alabama company

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The Ebola scare has subsided in the United States, at least temporarily, but an Alabama manufacturer is still trying to catch up with a glut of orders for gear to protect against the disease.



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French president cheered in Ebola-stricken Guinea

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — French President Francois Hollande brought a message of hope to Guinea on Friday, where thousands of residents lined the roads while clapping, drumming and dancing to catch a glimpse of the first Western leader to visit a country hard hit by Ebola.

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Kelowna man invents unique health and fitness app

Globalnews.caKelowna man invents unique health and fitness appGlobalnews.caKELOWNA, B.C. – It's a goal many of us have but sticking to a good fitness routine and eating well can be hard to maintain. Now, a local entrepreneur has partnered with a UBC Okanagan researcher to create an app that can help you stay motivated ...

Liver transplant recipient marks 25th anniversary

SEVERN, Md. (AP) — Alyssa Riggan hasn't dwelled on being the first person in the U.S. to successfully receive part of a liver from a living donor 25 years ago, a medical procedure that paved the way for routine live-donor transplants.

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Arizona man hospitalized over Ebola concerns tests negative

(Reuters) - A Phoenix man who became ill after returning this week from Sierra Leone, one of the three West African nations hardest hit by an Ebola outbreak, on Friday was taken to a hospital where he tested negative for the virus, officials said. The 32-year-old man, who was not identified, was transported to the Maricopa Integrated Health System in Phoenix for evaluation after complaining of sickness including dry-heaving and diarrhea, Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Mark Vanacore said. ...



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Heavy drinking raises women’s injury risk more than men’s

By Janice Neumann (Reuters Health) – Heavy drinking increases the risk of being injured, and far more so for women than men, researchers say. In a review of emergency department admissions in 18 countries, they also found that violence was involved in twice as many drinking-related injuries as were traffic collisions, falls or other causes. “Even small amounts of drinking put one at risk for injury,” said lead researcher Cheryl Cherpitel of the Alcohol Research Group in Emeryville, California. After three standard drinks, both men and women were about 4. ...



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Arizona man who visited Sierra Leone hospitalized over Ebola concerns

(Reuters) - A Phoenix man who became ill after returning this week from Sierra Leone, one of the three West African nations hardest hit by an Ebola outbreak, was taken to a hospital on Friday to check if he was infected with the virus, officials said. The 32-year-old man, who was not identified, was transported to the Maricopa Integrated Health System in Phoenix for evaluation after complaining of sickness including dry-heaving and diarrhea, Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Mark Vanacore said. Dr. ...



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Rehab may be best option for young adult opiate addicts

By Madeline Kennedy (Reuters Health) - Young adults addicted to opiates like oxycodone and heroin may have the best chance at long-term abstinence in residential treatment - often known as rehab - programs, according to a recent study. “Given evidence that outpatient treatment for opioid dependence in young adults is not as effective as it is in older adults, we need alternatives to protect this vulnerable population,” said lead author Dr. Zev Schuman-Olivier. According to the U.S. ...



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Pursuit and restraint raise police officers’ risk of sudden death

By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) – Police officers are at increased risk for sudden cardiac death when performing stressful duties like chasing, restraining or fighting with suspects, researchers say. Sudden cardiac death is up to 70 times more likely during those kinds of stressful activities, compared to when police officers perform routine duties, according a new study of U.S. law enforcement deaths. The results aren't surprising, said senior author Dr. Stefanos N. Kales of Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. ...



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Cuban doctor with Ebola 'improving' in Geneva hospital

HAVANA (Reuters) - The Cuban doctor who contracted Ebola while treating patients in Sierra Leone is improving with each day and eating normally, though he is still weak, a Swiss hospital said on Friday. Felix Baez, 43, arrived at University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) a week ago for treatment of the disease that has killed more than 5,600 people since March, mostly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Baez is one of 256 Cuban doctors and nurses sent to West Africa to treat patients, a commitment that has won wide international praise for the poor, Caribbean island. "Today, Dr. ...



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Needy patients to get new hips or knees for free next week

By Randi Belisomo (Reuters Health) - Excruciating hip pain forced 50-year-old Army veteran David Chalker to leave his machinist job three years ago, a decision that led to mounting debt, inability to afford health insurance and even a move into his in-laws’ home with his wife and three daughters. But his family is counting on one operation next week - entirely free of charge - to change the course of both his health and finances. The Long Island, New York resident is one of 120 patients scheduled for hip or knee replacement during the first week of December, provided by Operation Walk USA. ...



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France's Hollande brings message of hope to Ebola-stricken Guinea

CONAKRY (Reuters) - President Francois Hollande pledged on Friday that France would set an example by providing aid to Ebola stricken countries in West Africa, in the first visit by a Western leader to the affected region since the outbreak began. Hollande was greeted on his arrival in Guinea by President Alpha Conde, ahead of a visit to an Ebola hospital and a roundtable discussion on the response to the disease. Hollande will travel to neighboring Senegal later on Friday for a summit of French-speaking nations. ...

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Beijing adopts smoking ban for public places: state media

China's capital on Friday passed a smoking ban for all indoor public places and offices, state media reported, despite the failure of past attempts to limit where the country's 300 million smokers can light up.

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South African mother turns tragedy into fight against HIV

By Katie Nguyen LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Johanna Satekge was pregnant with her first-born when she tested positive for HIV in South Africa's Limpopo province in 2000. When her son was born, he weighed 3.6 kgs. When he died seven months later, he had wasted away to 2 kgs. After three years, Satekge got pregnant again, this time giving birth to a daughter she named Blessing. "She was healthy, I breastfed her. Then she got ill and died after seven months," said the 39-year-old, taking out her wallet to show Blessing's photo. "You can see how painful it was. ...



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Brazil's Pele improving, still in intensive care - hospital

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian soccer great Pele "is in better condition" though he remains in an intensive care unit being treated for a urinary tract infection, the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo said on Friday. Pele, 74, is receiving renal support treatment, which helps kidneys to filter waste products from the blood, after surgery to remove kidney stones earlier this month. He is not on vasoactive drugs or other supportive therapies, the hospital said. ...

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New 15-minute test for Ebola to undergo trials in West Africa

LONDON (Reuters) - A new test designed to rapidly diagnose Ebola virus infection is to be tried out at a treatment centre for the disease in Guinea, international health charity The Wellcome Trust said on Friday. Researchers developing the 15-minute Ebola test say it is six times faster than similar ones currently in use and, if it proves successful, could help medical staff identify and isolate confirmed Ebola patients faster and start treating them sooner. ...

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New 15-minute test for Ebola to undergo trials in West Africa

LONDON (Reuters) - A new test designed to rapidly diagnose Ebola virus infection is to be tried out at a treatment center for the disease in Guinea, international health charity The Wellcome Trust said on Friday. Researchers developing the 15-minute Ebola test say it is six times faster than similar ones currently in use and, if it proves successful, could help medical staff identify and isolate confirmed Ebola patients faster and start treating them sooner. ...



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Bhopal's toxic legacy lives on, 30 years after industrial disaster

By Danish Siddiqui and Nita Bhalla BHOPAL/NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Beyond the iron gates of the derelict pesticide plant where one of the world's worst industrial disasters occurred, administrative buildings lie in ruins, vegetation overgrown and warehouses bolted. Massive vessels, interconnected by a multitude of corroded pipes that once carried chemical slurries, have rusted beyond repair. In the dusty control room, a soiled sticker on a wall panel reads "Safety is everyone's business". On the night of Dec. 2, 1984, the factory owned by the U.S. ...

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Czechs raise security after ministers get poison by mail

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Interior Ministry will tighten security at government offices after unknown culprits sent envelopes with deadly doses of poison to two ministries in recent days, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said on Friday. The two poisoned letters were intercepted before reaching the addressees and no one was hurt. They envelopes were sent by mail from Sweden and Slovenia, addressed to Finance Minister Andrej Babis and Interior Minister Milan Chovanec. The Czech Republic, a member of NATO and the European Union, does not have a record of terrorist attacks in the past decades. ...



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WHO advises male Ebola survivors to abstain from sex

LONDON (Reuters) - Men who recover from Ebola should abstain from sex for three months to minimize the risk of passing the virus on in their semen, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. Ebola, a disease that has infected and killing thousands in a vast epidemic in West Africa, normally spreads via bodily fluids such as blood, saliva and faeces. Although sexual transmission of Ebola virus disease has never been documented, the virus has been detected in the survivors' semen. ...



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China drafts policy on emergency Ebola diagnosis, trials

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has drafted policy on the emergency use of diagnostic products for the Ebola virus disease as well as clinical trials, the country's drug regulator said on Friday, as the number of people affected globally by the epidemic nears 16,000. In a brief statement, the China Food and Drug Administration said it had approved three companies to produce Ebola testing products for emergency reserve use. No cases of Ebola have been reported in China, but many Chinese nationals live and work overseas in the affected areas of West Africa. ...



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China writer goes on trial for media censorship protest after long delay

By James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) - The long-awaited trial of a prominent Chinese writer and activist resumed in southern China on Friday, more than two months after his lawyers boycotted an earlier hearing with Beijing showing little sign of easing its clampdown against rights campaigners. Guo Feixiong, 48, was arrested for taking part in a rare public protest against media censorship outside the offices of the Southern Weekly newspaper in January last year in the southern city of Guangzhou. ...

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Soccer great Pele in intensive care, condition improving -hospital

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Retired Brazilian soccer great Pele is in the intensive care unit in a Sao Paulo hospital where he is being treated for a urinary tract infection, but his condition is improving, the hospital said on Thursday. The Albert Einstein Hospital said Pele, 74, was receiving renal support treatment, which helps kidneys to filter waste products from the blood, after he had an operation to remove kidney stones earlier this month. A series of tweets in English from the former player's account aimed to calm concerns over his health. One read: "Want to let you know I am doing fine. ...

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Canada to deploy military health staff to Sierra Leone in Ebola fight

By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will send up to 40 military staff to Sierra Leone to help battle Ebola, the government said on Thursday as it also launched a campaign to recruit healthcare workers to help operate treatment centers in three West African countries. The death toll in the world's worst Ebola epidemic had risen to 5,689 out of 15,935 cases reported in eight countries as of Nov. 23, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. ...



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Ebola cases near 16,000, Sierra Leone to overtake Liberia soon with most cases - WHO

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The death toll in the world's worst Ebola epidemic has risen to 5,689 out of 15,935 cases reported in eight countries by Nov. 23, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. Almost all cases and all but 15 deaths have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia - the three hardest-hit countries, which reported 600 new cases in the past week, the WHO said in its latest update. "The total number of cases reported in Sierra Leone since the outbreak began will soon eclipse the number reported from Liberia," it said. ...

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How we live: Holidays don't deter fitness buffs

The Journal News | LoHud.comHow we live: Holidays don't deter fitness buffsThe Journal News | LoHud.comAnd, lucky for them, scores of fitness centers in the region open for limited hours on Thanksgiving, Christmas and every other holiday for the truly dedicated. On Thanksgiving Day, Dana Hamilton plans to be at the Vision Sports Club in Pearl River ...

Fruit-infusing, filter-equipped bottle in the works

The team that reinvented the water bottle by squaring the edges and adding a screw-off bottom for easy cleaning has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the 2.0 version of the Square.

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Soccer great Pele in intensive care, condition improving: hospital

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Retired Brazilian soccer great Pele is in the intensive care unit in a Sao Paulo hospital where he is being treated for a urinary tract infection, but his condition is improving, the hospital said on Thursday. The Albert Einstein Hospital said Pele, 74, was receiving renal support treatment, which helps kidneys to filter waste products from the blood, after he had an operation to remove kidney stones earlier this month. A series of tweets in English from the former player's account aimed to calm concerns over his health. One read: "Want to let you know I am doing fine. ...

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GlaxoSmithKline fires executive who raised race complaint in South Africa: Bloomberg

(Reuters) - Britain's biggest drugmaker, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, fired an executive from its South African unit for refusing to appear for a performance review, which was called a week after he complained of racial discrimination in the workplace, Bloomberg reported, citing company documents.

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Italy's pharmaceutical watchdog raises alarm on batches of flu drug

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's pharmaceutical watchdog AIFA suspended two batches of anti-flu vaccine FLUAD made by Switzerland's Novartis on Thursday, saying three deaths potentially connected to the drug had been reported. AIFA said it had not yet established whether there was a direct link between the drug and the fatalities and had imposed the ban only as a precaution. Novartis said in a statement that no causal relationship had been established. ...



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Needy patients to get new hips or knees for free next week

By Randi Belisomo (Reuters Health) - Excruciating hip pain forced 50-year-old Army veteran David Chalker to leave his machinist job two years ago, a decision that led to mounting debt, inability to afford health insurance and even a move into his in-laws’ home with his wife and three daughters. But his family is counting on one operation next week - entirely free of charge - to change the course of both his health and finances. The Long Island, New York resident is one of 120 patients scheduled for hip or knee replacement during the first week of December, provided by Operation Walk USA. ...



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Canada to deploy military health staff to Sierra Leone in Ebola fight

By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will send up to 40 military staff to Sierra Leone to help battle Ebola, the government said on Thursday as it also launched a campaign to recruit healthcare workers to help operate treatment centers in three West African countries. The death toll in the world's worst Ebola epidemic had risen to 5,689 out of 15,935 cases reported in eight countries as of Nov. 23, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. ...



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ICRC seeks record $1.7 billion for humanitarian work in 2015

By Katie Nguyen LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) appealed on Thursday for a record 1.6 billion Swiss francs ($1.67 billion) to respond to humanitarian crises next year in Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and other hotspots. The ICRC said its most costly operation in 2015 will be Syria, where more than three years of fighting have uprooted 7.2 million people inside the country and led 3.3 million to flee abroad, mainly to neighboring states like Lebanon and Jordan. ...



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Mindfulness program may improve some rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

By Shereen Lehman (Reuters) - A two-month program combining gentle yoga with meditation techniques, known as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, seemed to ease tenderness, pain and stiffness among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a new study. “I think these findings are pretty consistent with other studies of mindfulness and chronic conditions,” said Mary Jo Kreitzer, who was not involved in the research. ...



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FDA regs highlight harms of indoor tanning

By Roxanne Nelson (Reuters) - Early in 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration moved tanning lamps into a new category of “moderately harmful” medical devices, and with good reason, researchers say. In a review of the evidence that indoor tanning does damage, and has no health benefits, the study authors point out that the new rules will force device manufacturers and salons to do more to protect users. "We feel that this is a very positive move by the FDA," said Dr. ...



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Exercise may prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy

By Shereen Lehman (Reuters) - Moderate exercise is encouraged during pregnancy for plenty of reasons, but it may also help women avoid gaining too much weight, say UK researchers. They reviewed studies since the 1990s looking at whether exercise alone helps prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy, and found that it does, or helps with weight loss after delivery, and found that it doesn’t. They also found a total of only five solid studies on those questions. ...



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Pele moved to quieter wing of Brazil hospital, aide says

By Reuters Staff (Reuters) - Brazilian soccer great Pele, who is in a Sao Paulo hospital for treatment for a urinary tract infection, has been moved to a hospital wing where he won't be besieged by as many visitors, his spokesman told Reuters on Thursday. The Albert Einstein Hospital had issued a short statement saying Pele, 74, had been moved to a special care unit after suffering "clinical instability." The hospital did not provide details. Jose Fornos Rodrigues, the former player's personal aide, said Pele was "completely fine" and the move was primarily to protect his privacy. ...

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Ebola cases near 16,000, Sierra Leone to overtake Liberia soon with most cases: WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) - (This story corrects headline to clarify reference to Sierra Leone) The death toll in the world's worst Ebola epidemic has risen to 5,689 out of 15,935 cases reported in eight countries by the end of Nov. 23, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. Almost all cases and all but 15 deaths have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia - the three hardest-hit countries, which reported 600 new cases in the past week, the WHO said in its latest update. ...

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Bird flu outbreak in India caused by strain humans can contract: OIE

PARIS (Reuters) - A bird flu virus found in India this week is the H5N1 strain that can be transmitted to humans, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Thursday. However, the organization said it was not concerned about the situation, because India had faced outbreaks of the virus before. No human case has been reported since at least 2003. India has found thousands of dead ducks infected by a highly contagious bird flu virus in the southern state of Kerala, prompting the authorities to cull more than 200,000 birds. ...



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U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg released from hospital

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the oldest member of the nine-justice court, was released from a Washington hospital on Thursday after undergoing a heart procedure, a court statement said. Ginsburg, 81, had a stent placed in her right coronary artery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center on Wednesday to improve blood flow after she reported discomfort following routine exercise. "Justice Ginsburg was released from the hospital this morning," court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg said in a statement. ...

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Venezuela says 13 inmates die of overdose after robbing infirmary ward

CARACAS (Reuters) - Thirteen inmates have died after breaking into a Venezuelan jail's infirmary and ingesting medical products including antibiotics and pure alcohol in the latest outbreak of unrest in the country's turbulent prisons. A total of 145 prisoners were intoxicated during a revolt in the David Viloria penitentiary center in the western state of Lara on Monday, the government said on Thursday. Inmates had launched a hunger strike to demand the dismissal of an official, and the protest quickly spiraled. "Around 8.30 a.m. ...



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Cricket-Helmets have made batsmen feel too safe, says Boycott

(Adds Gatting quotes) LONDON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Helmets have given a false sense of security to batsmen, who no longer have the necessary technique to deal with fast bowling, according to former England opener Geoff Boycott. The death of Australian Phillip Hughes on Thursday after being struck on the head by a short-pitched delivery has fuelled debate about safety in cricket. "Most of my career I batted on uncovered pitches without a helmet," Boycott wrote in the Daily Telegraph. "This taught me how important it was to have a good technique against fast bowling. ...



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Ebola shows WHO needs revamp, says UN reformer Rudd

By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) needs reform to prevent a recurrence of crises such as West Africa's Ebola outbreak, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said on Thursday. Rudd is leading a two-year study to suggest ways to improve the effectiveness of the United Nations system and other global bodies, which are often deadlocked by disagreements between states or hamstrung by their internal bureaucracy. The WHO's Africa office has been widely criticised for its slow response to the Ebola epidemic, which has now killed at least 5,689 people. ...

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Most chickens sold in UK stores have traces of food bug - watchdog

LONDON (Reuters) - Almost three-quarters of fresh chickens sold by British retailers were found to have traces of a potentially fatal food-poisoning bug, a food watchdog warned on Thursday and said major grocers were not doing enough to tackle the problem. Tackling the campylobacter bug, the most common form of food poisoning in Britain, affecting an estimated 280,000 people a year, is the Foods Standards Agency's (FSA) number one food safety priority and it is leading a campaign to bring together the whole food chain to deal with the problem. ...



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Liposomal spray may ease contact lens discomfort

By Kathryn Doyle Contact lens wearers with “dry eye” and discomfort may find relief from sprays or drops that add lipids back to the eye, Australian researchers say. They found that among contact lens wearers with the bothersome symptoms, the outermost layer of tears on the eye, a protective layer of lipids, is more degraded than among people without the symptoms. The liposomal spray used in the study is already available on the market, as are similar compounds in drop form, senior author Fiona Stapleton told Reuters Health by phone. ...



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Ebola shows WHO needs revamp, says U.N. reformer Rudd

By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) needs reform to prevent a recurrence of crises such as West Africa's Ebola outbreak, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said on Thursday. Rudd is leading a two-year study to suggest ways to improve the effectiveness of the United Nations system and other global bodies, which are often deadlocked by disagreements between states or hamstrung by their internal bureaucracy. The WHO's Africa office has been widely criticized for its slow response to the Ebola epidemic, which has now killed at least 5,689 people. ...



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Most chickens sold in UK stores have traces of food bug: watchdog

LONDON (Reuters) - Almost three-quarters of fresh chickens sold by British retailers were found to have traces of a potentially fatal food-poisoning bug, a food watchdog warned on Thursday and said major grocers they were not doing enough to tackle the problem. Tackling the campylobacter bug, the most common form of food poisoning in Britain, affecting an estimated 280,000 people a year, is the Foods Standards Agency's (FSA) number one food safety priority and it is leading a campaign to bring together the whole food chain to deal with the problem. ...



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Europe and Central Asia failing to curb spread of HIV: WHO

By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - Despite major advances in treating and preventing HIV, Europe and Central Asia have failed to tackle the epidemic, with some 136,000 people becoming newly infected with the incurable AIDS virus last year, health officials said on Thursday. Figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) showed 80 percent more new HIV cases in 2013 compared to 2004, meaning a crucial target to reverse the tide of AIDS in the region will be missed. ...



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Cricket-Former ICC chief wants review of safety standards

By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Former International Cricket Council chief Jagmohan Dalmiya has called on the game's administrators to work on upgrading safety standards to ensure that incidents like the shock death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes never happen again. Hughes, wearing a helmet, was struck on the neck by a short-pitched delivery when batting in a domestic match on Tuesday, with the force of the blow piercing his vertebral artery and causing blood to gush into his brain. He died in hospital on Thursday aged 25. ...



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Tropical fly-borne illness reported near Damascus: WHO

GENEVA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - At least three wounded people have been infected near Damascus with a tropical disease spread by flies that had never before been reported in Syria, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. The outbreak of myiasis, also known as screw worm, stems from deteriorating water and sanitation conditions. While not life-threatening, its presence is an indicator of how bad health conditions have become, according to the global health body. ...



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Health insurance sign-ups coming to shopping malls

CHICAGO (AP) — The Obama administration will promote health insurance coverage at shopping malls starting on Black Friday and continuing through the busiest shopping days of the holiday season, officials announced Wednesday. They said more than 462,000 people selected a private insurance plan in the first week of 2015 enrollment through the online marketplace HealthCare.gov.

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Cricket-Grief-stricken Clarke shows true off-field leadership

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Long called upon to rescue his team from treacherous situations, Australia captain Michael Clarke could do little to save his close friend Phillip Hughes, but bore his grief quietly in a vital supporting role for his "little brother's" family. Clarke was among the first to arrive at St Vincent's hospital on Tuesday after Hughes was rushed there with a sickening head injury and read the family's statement upon his death, three days before his 26th birthday. ...



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Liver transplant recipient marks 25th anniversary

SEVERN, Md. (AP) — Alyssa Riggan hasn't dwelled on being the first person in the U.S. to successfully receive part of a liver from a living donor 25 years ago, a medical procedure that paved the way for routine live-donor transplants.

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Thai court sentences five to death in war-torn south

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai court sentenced to death five suspected Muslim separatists convicted of killing four soldiers, prompting Human Rights Watch to accuse the government of applying "double standards" in the turbulent south. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist but parts of the south, in particular the three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, are majority Muslim. A low-level insurgency in the region has claimed more than 6,000 lives since 2004 following the resurgence of a dormant Muslim separatist movement. ...



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Lab-coated Muggles use Harry Potter to study brain

WASHINGTON (AP) — Harry Potter swoops around on his broom, faces the bully Malfoy and later runs into a three-headed dog. For scientists studying brain activity while reading, it's the perfect excerpt from the young wizard's many adventures to give their subjects.

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Cricket-Fractured cheekbone lucky escape from bouncer - Shehzad

KARACHI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Pakistan test opener Ahmed Shehzad knows he had a lucky escape when a short-pitched ball cracked his cheekbone earlier this month and says he "froze" when he heard the news of Australian batsman Phil Hughes' death on Thursday. Hughes died in a Sydney hospital two days after being struck by a ball that led to a "catastrophic" injury which caused "massive" bleeding to his brain. ...



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Cricket-'Freakish accident' gave Hughes little chance of survival - doctors

SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes was caused by a "freakish accident" that gave the 25-year-old international batsman little chance of survival, his doctors said on Thursday. Hughes was struck by a short-pitched delivery on Tuesday while playing in a domestic match and died in St Vincent's hospital on Thursday having never regained consciousness. "I think in this instance, this was a freakish accident because it was an injury to the neck that caused haemorrhage in the brain. ...



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Cricket-Reaction to the death of Phillip Hughes

* Australian PM leads tributes * "a shocking aberration," says Abbott (Updates with more reaction) SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the batsman was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott led a flood of tributes for the 25-year-old. - - - "His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family. What happened has touched millions of Australians. For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration. ...



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Ebola vaccine from Glaxo passes early safety test

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An experimental Ebola vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline caused no serious side effects and produced an immune response in all 20 healthy volunteers who received it in an early-stage clinical trial, scientists reported on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial, which began on Sept. 2 and will monitor the volunteers for 48 weeks, is primarily aimed at assessing how safe the vaccine is. But the immune response offered hope that it would also be effective. ...

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Number of Ebola cases nears 16,000 as Sierra Leone loses ground: WHO

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The death toll in the world's worst Ebola epidemic has risen to 5,689 out of 15,935 cases reported in eight countries by Nov. 23, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. Almost all cases and all but 15 deaths have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia - the three hardest-hit countries, which reported 600 new cases in the past week, the WHO said in its latest update. "The total number of cases reported in Sierra Leone since the outbreak began will soon eclipse the number reported from Liberia," it said. ...

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Australia batsman Hughes passes away aged 25

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the international batsman was struck on the head by a ball during a domestic match. Governing body Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the 25-year-old had lost his fight for life, casting a pall over the cricket-mad nation who are co-hosting the World Cup early next year. "We are extremely sad to announce that Phillip Hughes has passed away at the age of 25," CA said on its Twitter feed. "Our thoughts go out to Phillip's family, friends, and the entire cricket community on this incredibly sad day. ...

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Cricket-Reaction to the death of cricketer Phillip Hughes

SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the batsman was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match. Australian Primer Minister Tony Abbott led a flood of tributes for the 25-year-old. - - - "His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family. What happened has touched millions of Australians. For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration. ...



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Cricket-Statement on the death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes

SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the batsman was struck on the head by a ball during a domestic match. Cricket Australia released the following statement from team doctor Peter Brukner announcing the 25-year-old's death. - - - - "It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away. "He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday. "He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends. ...



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It's not cricket: tradition trumps innovation in helmets

* Helmet safety in focus after Hughes injury * Manufacturers say baseball, cycling ahead on safety * Elite players slow to adopt new styles (Updates with death of Phillip Hughes) By Jane Wardell SYDNEY Nov 27 (Reuters) - Former Australia cricketer Bryce McGain wore a new, safety-conscious helmet for a series of televised one-day matches a few years ago - and quickly found himself the butt of commentator and player jibes. "They explained the technology and I liked the idea that it was safer," McGain said of the futuristic-looking helmet he wore in 2009. ...



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Cricket-Australia batsman Hughes passes away aged 25

* Hughes dies two days after emergency surgery * Cricket Australia confirms death (Recasts with Hughes death) SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the batsman was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match. Governing body Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the 25-year-old had lost his fight for life. "We are extremely sad to announce that Phillip Hughes has passed away at the age of 25," CA said on its Twitter feed. ...



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Cricket-Australia batsman Hughes dies from head injury

SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in a Sydney hospital on Thursday after being struck by a ball and suffering a severe head injury two days earlier. "We are extremely sad to announce that Phillip Hughes has passed away at the age of 25," Cricket Australia said in a statement. "Our thoughts go out to Phillip's family, friends, and the entire cricket community on this incredibly sad day." Hughes was struck in the head while batting in a match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday. ...



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US tightens smog limits in bid to protect health

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a fresh confrontation with Republicans, the Obama administration on Wednesday proposed stricter emissions limits on smog-forming pollution linked to asthma and respiratory illness. The move fulfilled a long-delayed campaign promise by President Barack Obama but left environmental and public health groups wanting more.

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Cricket-Former players urge Australia to reconsider India test

MELBOURNE, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Phillip Hughes' fight for life will have hurt the Australian team's motivation to play cricket and organisers should consider postponing or abandoning next week's first test against India, according to former players. Australia open the four-test series in Brisbane on Dec. 4 and Hughes was a leading candidate to take injured captain Michael Clarke's place in the batting lineup. Hughes remained in critical condition in a Sydney hospital on Thursday after being struck in the head by a ball when batting in a domestic match on Tuesday. ...



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China takes 'zero tolerance' approach to regional polluters: Cabinet

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will take a "zero tolerance" approach to a wide range of environmental violations and has promised stronger action against regional governments that protect polluters or hinder inspections, according to a Cabinet document. Authorities across China have been ordered to take part in a comprehensive inspection program to be completed by the end of 2015, said the policy document that was released on the official government website late on Wednesday. ...

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