Search Results for: America

BY MONICA DOBIE
A UNIVERSITY of Manchester study has found that the active ingredient in many common anti-fungal drugs is effective in killing the tuberculosis bacteria, a discovery that could result in significantly reducing the number of deaths from standard TB and tackling emerging drug-resistant strains of the deadly disease.…

BY MONICA DOBIE
PHTHALATES, the important plastics ingredient commonly used to make toys and other products, have been linked to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance in men by the University of Rochester Medical Center, in the USA.

Concerns that the chemical caused reproduction problems have ben widely circulated, but now Rochester lead researcher Dr Richard Stahlhut has concluded in statistical studies that low-dose exposures to phthalates could reduce testosterone in men, boosting obesity rates and related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes.…

BY PAUL COCHRANE, in Dubai
THE UNITED Arab Emirates’ (UAE) highly competitive food sector is expecting double-digit growth this year, driven by 7% annual population growth, booming foodservice and tourism sectors, and rapid economic growth.

Food producers and retailers in this economic powerhouse of the oil-rich Gulf say there is strong growth across the board, from fresh fruit to ready-made meals in the modern retail environment of the UAE, particularly in Dubai, which is undergoing a construction boom and the top destination for most expatriate workers and tourists.…

BY MONICA DOBIE
PHTHALATES, a common chemical found in everything from toys to soap, have been linked to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance in men by the University of Rochester Medical Center, USA. There were already concerns that the chemical caused reproduction problems, but now Rochester lead researcher Dr Richard Stahlhut has concluded low-dose exposures to phthalates reduce testosterone in men, boosting obesity rates and related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UNITED States Trade Representative (USTR) has released a series of detailed reports outlining the threats posed by counterfeiters worldwide and the inability of many governments to fight the problem.

Its sheaf of intelligence includes comprehensive warnings from cigarette giant Philip Morris, a company that has adopted a high profile in fighting counterfeiters and smugglers.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
A CENTRAL American alliance of major international pharmaceutical manufacturers have called for Guatemala to be placed on a special United States watch list for allegedly breaking intellectual property commitments under the US-Central America-Dominican Republic free trade agreement (CAFTA-DR).…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
PHILIP Morris International (PMI) has released a detailed intelligence dossier on cigarette and other tobacco product counterfeiting, in a bid to encourage the international cooperation it deems necessary to effectively fight this crime. The report highlights 17 countries around the world where it thinks cigarette counterfeiting is a particular problem and where the cigarette company has specific advice: Latvia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Egypt, Belize, Panama, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Ghana.…

BY MONICA DOBIE, in Ottawa
CANADA’S largest dairy processor Saputo Inc has announced it will close two plants and cuts 144 jobs to consolidate its Canadian manufacturing operations. A Vancouver cheese plant will close March 31, while a cutting and wrapping plant near Montreal will shut down on June 2.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
IN today’s highly competitive energy sector, oil and gas companies and their suppliers are always looking for an edge over rivals, especially in technology. So it can only be good news that the European Union (EU) will from this year until 2013 be spending Euro 2.3 billion on energy studies through its ‘seventh framework programme’, its largest ever research spending scheme, commanding budgets worth Euro 53.2 billion in total.…

BY RACHEL JONES, in Caracas
VENEZUELA’S economy, fueled by its vast oil wealth, has grown by about 9% in 2006, making it one of the fastest-growing in Latin America, resulting in increased consumption and production of paints and coatings. However, the boom has not been all good news for the sector, it has also caused problems related to inflation and currency controls, specifically in regards to the importation of primary materials for production.…