The following will be published in the July 12 issue of The Lancet:

Gun law The US Supreme Court over­turned a ban on handguns ruling that individuals in the District of Columbia have a constitutional right to bear arms. The American Public Health Association responded to the ruling with a statement that gun violence is a major public-health concern and the risk of suicide, homicide, and unintentional fatalities is greater in homes in which there are guns. The ruling is likely to result in challenges to gun regulations in other US states.

Rapid tuberculosis test Diagnosis of multi­drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) will be possible in 2 days, instead of 2–3 months, thanks to a molecular test—the line probe assay—being rolled out in 16 resource-poor countries. UNITAID has provided US$26·1 million and is working with WHO, the Stop TB Partnership, and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics to supply equipment and train laboratory staff. This project will be complemented by $33·7 million from UNITAID to improve the supply of drugs for MDR-TB in 54 countries.

Spanish research Spanish Minister for science and innovation, Cristina Garmendia, announced a new science law to be presented to parliament in 2009, which will help improve the pace of research and development in Spain. The law will promote research by modernising R&D structures, simpli­fying R&D policies, removing barriers to developing R&D, and im­proving cooperation between central govern­ment and autonomous regions.

Organ services Organ-donation and trans­plant services in the UK need re-organisa­tion and committed funding to address the shortage of available organs, according to the House of Lords EU Committee. The Committee rejected proposals to adopt a policy of assumed consent at present, but recommended targeted public awareness and education cam­paigns to encourage donor registra­tion.

WHO return to Iraq WHO will set up a permanent office in Baghdad to provide more support to the health needs of the war-torn country’s citizens and help ease their humanitarian plight. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon would like the UN to have a greater presence in Iraq and has already increased the number of UN staff in Baghdad and the northern city of Erbil.

Diabetes drugs Concerns about the cardiovascular safety of new dia­­betes drugs, such as GlaxoSmithKline’s rosiglita­zone maleate, have prompted an advisory committee for the US Food and Drug Administration to request the submission of long-term cardio­vascular trial results. However, the 5-year trials could lead to untimely delay during the approval process.

Monkeypox In 2008, 22 of the 470 people infected with monkeypox, in Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, have died. Medical offi­cials attribute the increase in new cases, for which there is no proven treat­ment, to the end of routine vaccina­tion against smallpox, and the con­sumption of monkeys and squir­rels, which are reservoirs for the virus.

A climate fit for children Save the Children report that children account for more than half of those affected by natural disasters caused by climate change. Climate change negatively affects all the Millen­nium Develop­ment Goals, and con­tributes to the inci­dence of malaria and mal­nutri­tion. The report concludes that the interna­tional community must im­prove its response to natural disasters.

Food Safety Award The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has received an award from WHO in recogni­tion of “international contributions in pro­moting food safety in the global com­munity”. The FSAI uses an inte­grated science-based approach to ensure safety all along the food chain. The award has been presented only once before, to Queen Sirikit in 2005, for her promotion of food safety in Thailand.

Growing problems Poor growth and malnutrition are rife in India—over 60% of children are not growing well—according to Victor Aguayo, UNICEF’s chief of child develop­ment and nutrition. Speaking at a panel discussion on malnutrition, he recommended breast­feeding, immun­isation, and sanitation as appro­priate prevention strategies.

Hazy smoking ban A smoking ban came into force in the Netherlands last week with a distinctly Dutch twist. Smoking tobacco is now banned in restaurants and cafes but smoking cannabis is still allowed in the country’s infamous coffee shops. The ban will pose an interesting policing issue for the Dutch, since marijuana is often smoked mixed with tobacco.

Convenient condoms To increase condom use in New Delhi, India, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is installing 2000 vending machines in public places. The brightly coloured machines high­light the government’s attempts to encourage a less inhibited culture. Officials hope that the initiative will help to stem the rising prevalence of AIDS in India, currently estimated to affect 2·5 million people.

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