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AP examines 2010 natural disasters' death toll

"Earthquakes, heat waves, floods, volcanoes, super typhoons, blizzards, landslides and droughts killed at least a quarter million people in 2010 - the deadliest year in more than a generation," the Associated Press/Washington Post reports. According to global reinsurer Swiss Re, these disasters "caused $222 billion in economic losses in 2010 - more than Hong Kong's economy."

21 Dec 2010

Blue Water Spa donates non-perishable food items to Interfaith Food Shuttle of NC

Raleigh Day Spa Blue Water Spa donates 100,000 pounds of food to the Interfaith Food Shuttle of NC. Kile Law, president and founder of Blue Water Spa in Raleigh, NC attributes the donations of non-perishable food items to the loyalty and generosity of the clients and staff at Blue Water Spa.

20 Dec 2010

Asbestos removal from schools poorly handled

Queensland government’s builder - QBuild’s handling of asbestos at a north Queensland school is inappropriate says a report. After a painter at the Mackay West State School identified asbestos in December 2009, the QBuild workers came in to decontaminate the area but they did not wear protective clothing and removed dust with a domestic vacuum cleaner.

16 Dec 2010

Fabric softener sheets repel fungus gnat adults under laboratory conditions

For years, gardeners have claimed that putting Bounce- fabric softener sheets in their pockets is an effective way to repel pests like mosquitoes and gnats.

16 Dec 2010

CADCA applauds Senators for introducing STOP Act

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) applauds Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), for today introducing the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act Reauthorization, legislation designed to prevent underage drinking.

15 Dec 2010

With The CarbLovers Diet, eating carbohydrates foods is the only way to lose weight

Who would have thought you could eat your favorite carbohydrate-rich foods and still lose weight? If your New Year's resolution is to lose weight in 2011, Health's bestselling book, The CarbLovers Diet by Ellen Kunes (Editor-in-Chief, Health) and Frances Largeman-Roth, RD (Senior Food & Nutrition Editor, Health), may be the solution.

14 Dec 2010

Soda taxes – would they do any good?

According to new research from Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Medical School imposing higher taxes on sodas and other sweetened drinks would lead to only minimal weight loss among most people and would have no effect on weight among consumers in the highest and lowest income groups.

13 Dec 2010

e-cigarettes – Debate rages around globe

Following misleading advice that ‘e-cigarettes’ are a “healthy way” to quit smoking, thousands of smokers are switching to these electronic cigarettes. According to the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and anti-smoking groups these smokeless, battery-powered e-cigarettes packed with nicotine have not been tested for safety and could pose a serious health risk. Electronic cigarettes contain an inhaler, an atomiser and nicotine suspended in propylene glycol and water. At present they are banned in NSW and Victoria but overseas suppliers sell them online.

12 Dec 2010

Mystery fire at a former medical centre in Sydney’s west

The fire at a building in Sydney’s west that used to house a medical centre is called suspicious by the Police. As the fire raged emergency services were called to Popondetta Road, Emerton, about 9pm yesterday.

12 Dec 2010

Gift cards from fast food joints cause outrage among health experts

As Australia battles with the obesity epidemic, fast food outlet KFC has raised eyebrows from health quarters by offering Christmas gift cards worth up to $500. A survey of fast-food outlets in Hobart’s CBD yesterday revealed gift vouchers were available at McDonald’s, KFC and Subway.

12 Dec 2010

Double life of police constable revealed

Senior Constable Huy Quach has been living a sordid double life that is shocking spectators as it unfolds. A 20 year old woman suffering from bipolar disorder in her victim impact statement presented to the County Court, accused the constable of exploiting her sexually and of using his public office to intimidate her.

9 Dec 2010

Bisphenol A tainted money and receipts

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been found in many household items and other common objects and is known to be an endocrine disruptor linked to infertility, genital abnormalities, cancer and more. Now it has been detected on ‘cash’. Since BPA is used to make plastic, manufacturers use about 8 billion pounds of BPA that is moulded, cooked or poured into toys, baby products and other merchandise each year. On these products BPA is chemically bonded but it is simply applied in a powdery film to paper, making it easy to rub off with a touch.

8 Dec 2010

e-cigarettes spark debate in U.S.

Electronic cigarettes have been seen as a tobacco product but not as drugs. The US Food and Drug Administration had appealed to the court to treat these cigarettes as drugs but the court says this is an oversight. The FDA cited five e-cigarette distributors for poor manufacturing practices and falsely claiming that the products help people stop smoking.

8 Dec 2010

Most of world's poorest still live in rural areas, despite progress over last decade, U.N. report says

A report from the U.N.'s International Fund for Agricultural Development found that approximately 350 million people living in rural areas have escaped extreme poverty over the past decade, but most of the world's poorest citizens continue to live in rural regions, the BBC reports (Melik, 12/6).

8 Dec 2010

Injury prevention for young volleyball athletes

When volleyball was invented 115 years ago in Holyoke, Mass., it was meant to be less rough than basketball, another emerging indoor sport that started four years earlier at a nearby YMCA.

7 Dec 2010

Study examines effect of nitrogen fertilizer on low iron soil

An expansion of soybean production into areas where soybean has seldom, if ever, been grown can be problematic for some farmers. Soils having high pH values and large amounts of calcium and/or magnesium carbonate are notoriously iron deficient. Iron deficient soils in the North Central United States are estimated to reduce soy bean production by 12.5 million bushels every year. .

7 Dec 2010

Lawmakers step in on airport X ray radiation exposure issue

In a bid to protect passengers from radiation exposure, members of Congress are calling on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to release inspection reports that would show whether airport X-ray machines that screen passengers and bags are meeting requirements to emit only low levels of radiation. There have been doubts in the recent past that the X-ray machines are not properly monitored and maintained and when the TSA refused to clarify, the lawmakers have stepped in.

6 Dec 2010

Annual BioPartnering China conference launched at Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel

The 3rd Annual BioPartnering China conference, co-produced by TVG and the Zhangjiang Biotech Pharmaceutical Base, launched today at the Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel. The conference attracts a global representation of industry leaders from China, Europe and the USA.

6 Dec 2010

Charities lose out to kids this Christmas

A survey showed that one in five Australians will ignore the true spirit of Christmas this year, donating 20 per cent less to charities and spend more on their kids. The second annual Kmart Christmas Giving Index research found that Australian parents will spend $235 on gifts for each child, compared to $227 last year. The amount is a staggering 52 per cent more per child than their counterparts in New Zealand.

5 Dec 2010

Salvation Army Santa Shuffle takes place at Toronto to raise funds for poor

Today we invite you to join The Salvation Army at 10:00 am at 1132 Leslie St., Toronto (Wilket Creek Park and Sunnybrook Park) and help us reach our goal of Dignity for All. Runners will enjoy one of the last races of the season with a frosty 5km family fun run as well as a 1km elf walk.

4 Dec 2010