A U.S. health advocacy group in Washington is urging a government agency to drop Coca-Cola as its partner in a program to raise awareness of heart health. In a letter to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said the government health agency should not partner with Coca-Cola; Snyder’s of Hanover, a producer of snack foods made largely of white flour and salt; and Sara Lee, famous for its cheesecakes, hot dogs and Jimmy Dean sausages. Those foods, like Coke and other sugary soft drinks, are exactly the kinds of foods that the Dietary ... Jump to full article >>

Smokers who are serious about kicking butts may be better off relying on old-fashioned willpower, instead of pricey, new-fangled patches, pills and gums. The vast majority of ex-smokers stop on their own and not with nicotine replacement therapies. A review of hundreds of studies on smoking cessation not only found that the majority of successful ex-smokers quit on their own, but that studies praising the virtues of patches, gums and pills are at least twice as likely to have been funded by drug companies, according to Australian researchers. Sydney University researchers analyzed more than 50 ... Jump to full article >>

What can the Obama administration do about Iran’s drive to develop nuclear weapons? The president’s informal year-end deadline for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear impasse with Iran has come and gone. Iran recently announced that it plans to build 10 nuclear fuel plants and has moved to enrich uranium to a higher level than necessary for peaceful purposes. As a result, the center of gravity within Washington policy circles is moving toward punitive measures against the Islamic Republic in the hope of curtailing its persistent nuclear ambitions. Yet in order for the tougher me ... Jump to full article >>

Athens and Brussels clashed today over whether Greece was doing enough to resolve the debilitating debt and deficit crisis that is imperilling the stability of the euro. George Papaconstantinou, the Greek finance minister, pleaded for time and argued that the radical austerity programme aimed at slashing 4% from the ballooning budget deficit this year was unprecedented in his country’s history. But Olli Rehn, the European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, cast doubt on the Greek package, demanding extra action. “Risks are materialising, and therefore there is a clear ... Jump to full article >>

Researchers say that regularly eating a small amount of chocolate might reduce your risk of having a stroke. It’s an attractive theory. But is it too good to be true? What do we know already? Every now and then, stories surface about chocolate being good for you in one way or another. The reason is that dark chocolate (usually described as containing at least 70 percent cocoa solids) contains plant pigments called flavonoids, which have been linked to health benefits. These include reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (such as heart attacks and strokes) or cancer. Chocolate is not ... Jump to full article >>

It’s been rumoured for months, but now there appears to be the first photographic evidence that Amy Winehouse is back with bad-boy lover Blake Fielder-Civil. The couple were caught recently enjoying a secret rendezvous at Blake’s new home in Sheffield, according to Heat magazine. The publication has printed this picture on the cover this week, under the banner ‘Back On’. But those closest to them are said to be concerned that this is a backward step for the former drug addicts. It is unclear the exact date the picture of them in each other’s arms was taken, but it is like ... Jump to full article >>

Imperial Tobacco Group stated last week it experienced a pleasant beginning to the year of 2010 in spite of difficult economic situation on the company’s major markets and criticized plans of UK officials to prohibit colorful cigarette packaging and logos, restricting it to plain black-and-white packs. The fourth-biggest tobacco company across the globe by sale volumes revealed in its 1Q sales report that its performance and revenues in the fiscal year to the present day coincide with anticipated figures. The manufacturer of Davidoff, Richmond, R1, Gitanes Blondes, West (number one cigarette ... Jump to full article >>

Michael E. Szymanczyk, the CEO of Altria Group said the company has been occupying a solid and strong position in all segments of the, with Marlboro being top-selling cigarette across the nation, and strong competitors in smokeless tobacco products and cigars categories. Last week Altria Group Inc. revealed its fourth-quarter profits report and admitted that expenses cuts and strong performance by smokeless tobacco products resulted in a 7-percent increase in 4Q profits, despite the company has sold less cigarettes. Altria shut down its manufacturing plant in North Carolina to reduce expenses ... Jump to full article >>

A high-tension power cable fell on a bus in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, killing at least 10 passengers and bystanders, police said. The passengers of the 18-seat Nisan Urvan bus and several people standing outside the bus were electrocuted Saturday, reported the Lago-based Nigerian newspaper The Punch Sunday. As many as 12 people were knocked unconscious or burned and taken to local hospitals. Witnesses said the power cable broke and fell on the bus with a loud noise, filling the area with fire and smoke. Bus driver Chukwudi Onyeachi said he had just loaded his Nisan Urvan and was pulling away whe ... Jump to full article >>

He may be only 24, but Aaron Weinstein’s swinging jazz violin brings back an era: the 1930s, when New Yorkers packed smoky nightclubs to hear giants like Joe Venuti. Not bad for a kid who got his break at 15, when his mom drove him to the post office in suburban Chicago to mail a demo to jazz-guitar greats Bucky and John ­Pizzarelli. Father and son flipped when they heard Weinstein’s sound. He has since recorded and toured with them both, has his own trio and is ­a rising star in the world of jazz violin. He plays the Algonquin’s Oak Room Saturday. [caption id="attachment_3 ... Jump to full article >>

Adding a $1 per pack tax to cigarettes could raise more than $9 billion a year for states, health advocates said on Wednesday, and a poll released with the study shows Americans would support such a tax. The poll, conducted by International Communications Research, found 60 percent of voters would support the tax to help struggling states and would prefer it over other tax increases or budget cuts. “An increase in tobacco tax rates is not only sound public health policy but a smart and predictable way to help boost the economy and generate long-term health savings for states facing deepe ... Jump to full article >>