The following appeared in the Oct 11 issue of The Lancet:

US nursing homes Nine of every ten nursing homes in the USA failed at least one federal requirement in 2007, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services. In 17% of homes, inspectors found deficiencies that presented “actual harm” or “immediate jeopardy” to residents. Additionally, more than 14 000 complaints from residents, families, or employees were upheld, 20% of which involved abuse or neglect.

Stubbed out India banned smoking in public places last week hoping to encourage its estimated 120 million smokers to give up. The ban-which was contested by the hotel and tobacco industries-includes offices, hotels, and restaurants, and reinforces an earlier failed smoking ban on college campuses, bars, and discos. There is a US$5 fine for those who ignore the law, which could be raised to $25.

Junk food tax France’s health minister, Roselyne Bachelot, is reluctant to raise taxes on junk food despite the move being recommended in a recent parliamentary report on tackling obesity. Bachelot is going against the grain because she is concerned that such a tax would hit poor households hard in difficult economic times.

Contamination concern WHO has published preliminary guidance to assist governments dealing with the possible contamination of food with melamine. More than 54000 infants and young children have sought medical treatment in relation to melamine-contaminated milk powder in China, and many countries have removed imported Chinese dairy products from sale.

Civilian safety A recent report from the international humanitarian charity, Oxfam, details how civilians can be protected from mass atro-cities and conflicts in today’s world. For a Safer Tomorrow, recommends that governments should make the protection of civilians the overriding priority in the response to conflicts everywhere.

UK goes global After 18 months of con-sultation, the UK Government has launched its global-health strategy, Health is Global. The strategy puts health at the centre of foreign policy and has been agreed by all Govern-ment depart-ments. The strategy is guided by ten principles, the first of which has a familiar ring: “first do no harm.”

Armed doctors The Iraqi Government has said that it will allow doctors to carry guns for self-defence in response to claims that 200 doctors have been killed since the US-led invasion of the country in 2003. Many other doctors have been kidnapped, and up to 80% of medical workers have left the country. 

New Hughes boss The Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the USA-an important funder of biomedical research thanks to its US$17·5 billion endowment-has appointed Robert Tjian of the University of California, Berkeley, to be its new President from April, 2009. 59-year-old Tjian is known for his un-compromising research on the biochemistry of the transcription ma-chinery that determines how, where, and when human genes are expressed.

Government pledge The new Government in Angola has promised to provide better primary and secondary  health-care facilities and reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS over the next 4 years. Deputy health minister, Evelise Fresta, also said that the Government intended to reinforce vaccination programmes.

Minds and molecules The US Institute of Medicine Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders released From Molecules to Minds: Challenges for the 21st Century last week-a report based on the findings of a workshop attended by over 70 leading neuroscientists. The aim of the workshop was to discuss the future challenges in neuroscience that might unify the scientific community.

Viral Nobels The 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is to go to three virologists. Harald zur Hausen is recognised for discovering that human papillomaviruses cause cervical cancer. The remaining half of the prize is shared by Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for their work on the discovery of HIV.

Americas award Cesar Victora has been awarded the Pan American Health Organization and the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) 2008 Abraham Horwitz Award for Leadership in Inter-American Health for his work on the health problems facing mothers and children. “Dr Victora is a leading thinker and policy developer in the field of child health”, said Edward L Kadunc, executive director of PAHEF.

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