Health & Science
Health & ScienceThe New York Times calls for legalizing marihuana: “Repeal prohibition again”
The New York Times called for the legalization of marijuana, in a bold editorial comparing the federal ban on cannabis to Prohibition. The prestigious publication said pot laws disproportionately impact young black men and that addiction and dependence are “relatively minor problems” -- especially when compared with alcohol and tobacco.
China outdated meat supplier scandal hits McDonald's and KFC
Chinese branches of fast food chains, including McDonald's and KFC, have stopped using meat from a supplier in Shanghai following allegations it sold them out of date meat. According to Xinhua, the state-owned news agency, authorities in Shanghai have ordered the suspension of operations at Shanghai Husi Food Co.
UN members pledge to combat avoidable non-communicable diseases and preventable deaths
UN Member States have reaffirmed their commitment to take bold measures to reduce the avoidable burden of non-communicable diseases. These ailments, including heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and lung disease kill 38 million people every year, many of them before they reach the age of 70.
FAO/WHO elaborating new guidelines for identifying food-borne parasites
A “Top Ten” list identifying the food-borne parasites of greatest global concern has been released by FAO, and new guidelines are being developed to control them. The parasites affect the health of millions of people every year, infecting muscle tissues and organs, causing epilepsy, anaphylactic shock, amoebic dysentery and other problems. Some can live on in our bodies for decades.
Antibiotic-resistant “superbug” detected South Korea raw squid
A dangerous antibiotic-resistant “superbug” has been found in the North American food supply for the first time, according to researchers from the University of Saskatchewan.
Jamaica plans decriminalization of possession of small amounts of cannabis
Plans are in the making in Jamaica for the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana. Among the proposals is that users of small quantities of the drug will no longer have a criminal record, and smoking of the weed would be lawful under certain conditions. However possession of cannabis would still be unlawful, though it would not lead to a criminal record.
Obesity and overweight breaks scales in all countries: 30% of world population
Almost 30% of the world’s population, 2.1 billion people, is considered obese or overweight, researchers said, while rates among children have increased by a whopping 47% in the last 33 years.
WHO calls on countries to raise taxes on tobacco to prevent addiction
On World No Tobacco Day (31 May), WHO calls on countries to raise taxes on tobacco to encourage users to stop and prevent other people from becoming addicted to tobacco. Based on 2012 data, WHO estimates that increasing tobacco taxes by 50%, all countries would reduce the number of smokers by 49 million within the next three years and ultimately save 11 million lives.
Antarctica ice sheet melting episodes have occurred over the last 14.000 years, say scientists
A new study has found that the Antarctic Ice Sheet began melting about 5,000 years earlier than previously thought coming out of the last ice age, and that shrinkage of the vast ice sheet accelerated during eight distinct episodes, causing rapid sea level rise.
Krill oil more advantageous than fish oil in reducing high blood triglycerides
A study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet and the University of Bergen, Norway, published in Nutrition & Metabolism found that the omega-3s in Aker BioMarine’s Superba krill oil are advantageous for reducing high blood triglycerides compared to fish oil.
