UK aims to pass law to ban branding on cigarette packs before May

A man smokes in his car in LondonBy Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) – The British government plans to introduce a law before May forcing tobacco firms to sell cigarettes in plain packets without branding in England, ending years of debate and lobbying. The move, aimed at improving public health and cutting the number of child smokers, is likely to crimp tobacco firms' profits and would emulate Australia, which two years ago enacted a groundbreaking law forcing cigarettes to be sold in plain olive green packaging with images showing the damaging effects of smoking. Cigarette sales have dropped in Australia since plain packaging was introduced on Dec. 1, 2012, prompting Britain to act before its national election in May even as Australia battles international legal challenges from other countries and manufacturers. Jane Ellison, a junior minister in Britain's health ministry, said introducing plain packaging was "a proportionate and justified response" because of the health risks associated with smoking.

Go to Source

Modi launches campaign to tackle India’s dwindling number of girls

Indian PM Modi addresses a campaign rally ahead of state assembly elections at Ramlila ground in New DelhiBy Krista Mahr NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the blight of India's dwindling number of girls on Thursday, launching a campaign to address the problem the United Nations has said amounts to a national emergency. The "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" (Save the Daughter, Teach the Daughter) campaign is aimed at improving India's child sex ratio – the number of girls born for every 1,000 boys – and gender equality through access to education.

Go to Source

Israel’s mobile technologies for disabled find mass market appeal

By Tova Cohen TEL AVIV (Reuters) – Israeli technology firms catering to the country’s disabled war veterans are exploring ways to bring their innovations to the mass market with applications that make mobile phones easier to use. Israel, with its thriving start-up scene and large number of military veterans, is a natural incubator of technology for the disabled, some of which is proving useful to able bodied users as well. “That’s the secret sauce to go to scale,” said Andrew Johnson, an analyst with market research firm Gartner Inc. A phone for the blind developed by Project Ray also allows drivers to operate a device without taking their eyes off the road, while Sesame Enable’s hands-free phone, crucial for paralysed users, offers convenience to all. Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone grew out of work on hearing and speech products for the deaf, while Thomas Edison envisaged the phonograph as a means of recording books for the blind.
Go to Source

Nigeria H5N1 bird flu now in 7 states, suspected in 140,000 birds-minister

A man selling live chickens waits for customers in a local food market in Nigeria's commercial capital LagosAn outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Nigeria has spread to 21 commercial farms in seven different states, with more than 140,000 birds having been exposed to the virus, the agriculture minister said on Thursday. Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina said it had now spread to five other states across the country: Ogun, Delta, Rivers, Edo and Plateau. "Nigeria will successfully control the bird flu outbreak. Africa's most populous country and biggest economy was the continent's first country to detect bird flu in 2006, when chicken farms were found to have the H5N1 strain.

Go to Source

1 17 18 19 20 21 59