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| Tentative "fiscal cliff" deal emerges in Senate Monday, Dec 31, 2012 11:16 AM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate leaders were hammering out a last-minute deal to avoid the "fiscal cliff" on Monday, but it was still unclear if rank-and-file lawmakers would back the agreement, particularly those in the Republican-led House of Representatives. A deal to avert the fiscal crisis was said to be in the works in the Senate that would raise tax rates on household income above $450,000, said a source familiar with the talks. The agreement would permanently extend the lower tax rates for those below the $450,000 cut off. ... Full Story | Top |
| FDA approves Salix's diarrhea drug for HIV/AIDS patients Monday, Dec 31, 2012 10:54 AM PST (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators approved Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd's drug to treat diarrhea in HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy, a combination of medicines used to treat HIV infection. Diarrhea is a common reason why HIV/AIDS patients discontinue or switch their antiretroviral therapies. The drug, called Fulyzaq, is intended to be used in HIV/AIDS patients whose diarrhea is not caused by an infection from a virus, bacteria, or parasite. Until now, there have been no therapies for HIV-associated diarrhea approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. ... Full Story | Top |
| Fiscal cliff talks stuck on spending cut demand: source Monday, Dec 31, 2012 10:19 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate negotiators trying to seal a pact to avert the "fiscal cliff" are hung up over demands that new spending cuts be found to pay for a cost associated with fixing a Medicare issue, according to a congressional aide. The aide, who asked not to be identified, said the disagreement revolves around demands that $30 billion in spending cuts be found to prevent a significant pay cut to doctors treating elderly Medicare patients. Without congressional action, that pay cut would begin on January 1 and it could discourage doctors from treating Medicare patients. ... Full Story | Top |
| Potential fiscal cliff deal emerges in Senate: sources Monday, Dec 31, 2012 10:10 AM PST WASHINGTON, Dec 31 - U.S. Senate Republicans on Monday appeared to be coalescing around a potential solution to the "fiscal cliff" crisis with a plan that would continue expiring tax cuts for household incomes of up to $450,000, congressional sources said on Monday. "I think a majority of our caucus will go along with it," a senior Senate Republican aide told Reuters. Senate Democrats had not yet expressed positions on the emerging deal. (Reporting by Thomas Ferraro, Richard Cowan and Kim Dixon; Editing by Will Dunham) Full Story | Top |
| Factbox: U.S. "fiscal cliff," tax impact of no deal Monday, Dec 31, 2012 10:05 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Higher federal taxes for millions of businesses and individuals will become law on Tuesday unless Congress acts to stop them. These taxes, worth $500 billion, comprise the bulk of what is known as the "fiscal cliff" problem. The following shows the probable impact on taxpayers if Congress does not act on Monday, or does not come back later and undo these tax increases, based on data from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. INDIVIDUAL TAXES If midnight passes with no deal, lower individual tax rates enacted in 2001 on a temporary basis under former President George W. ... Full Story | Top |
| U.S. approves J&J drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment Monday, Dec 31, 2012 08:30 AM PST (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators have approved a new Johnson & Johnson drug for patients with tuberculosis who do not respond to other treatments, the company said. The drug is the first in 40 years to tackle the disease using a new mechanism of action, according to J&J. The drug blocks an energy-producing enzyme that tuberculosis bacteria need to survive. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, chemically known as bedaquiline and to be marketed as Sirturo, on Monday following a positive review by an advisory panel last month. ... Full Story | Top |
| Differences remain on fiscal cliff, time running out: Reid Monday, Dec 31, 2012 08:19 AM PST Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Monday that congressional negotiators still need to bridge differences in last-ditch talks to avert a New Year's Day tax hike on most Americans. "Discussions continue today on a plan to protect middle-class families from a tax increase tomorrow. There are a number of issues on which the two sides are still apart but negotiations are continuing as I speak," Reid, a Democrat, said on the Senate floor. "We really are running out of time. Americans are threatened with a tax hike in just a few hours." (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Bill Trott) Full Story | Top |
| Ban on demanding Facebook passwords among new 2013 state laws Monday, Dec 31, 2012 08:11 AM PST  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Employers in California and Illinois will be prohibited from demanding access to workers' password-protected social networking accounts and teachers in Oregon will be required to report suspected student bullies thanks to new laws taking effect in 2013. In all, more than 400 measures were enacted at the state level during 2012 and will become law in the new year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Some of the statutes, which deal with everything from consumer protection to gun control and healthcare, take effect at the stroke of midnight. ... Full Story | Top |
| Republican Senator Kyl cites progress in fiscal cliff talks Monday, Dec 31, 2012 07:01 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Jon Kyl on Monday said a "lot of progress" has been made in talks to avert the "fiscal cliff" but he cautioned that it is unclear if the progress will spur legislation the Senate can vote on before a midnight EST/0500 GMT deadline when taxes and spending cuts kick-in. "There is no agreement yet," Kyl said. "Conversations are still ongoing. There has been a lot of progress." Asked how long talks could go on, Kyl said: 'I guess until 11:59." (Reporting By Richard Cowan; Writing by Kim Dixon; Editing by Bill Trott) Full Story | Top |
| Vomiting Larry battles "Ferrari of the virus world" Monday, Dec 31, 2012 04:47 AM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - Poor Larry isn't looking too good. He's pale and clammy and he's been projectile vomiting over and over again while his carers just stand by and watch. Yet their lack of concern for Larry is made up for by their intense interest in how far splashes of his vomit can fly, and how effectively they evade attempts to clean them up. Larry is a "humanoid simulated vomiting system" designed to help scientists analyze contagion. And like millions around the world right now, he's struggling with norovirus - a disease one British expert describes as "the Ferrari of the virus world". ... Full Story | Top |
| Pediatricians say kids need recess during school Monday, Dec 31, 2012 03:57 AM PST NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A group of American pediatricians is telling school districts that children need recess and free time during the school day, and it should not even be taken away as punishment. "We consider it essentially the child's personal time and don't feel it should be taken away for academic or punitive reasons," said Dr. Robert Murray, who co-authored the new policy statement for the American Academy of Pediatrics. The statement, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, says recess is a "crucial and necessary component of a child's development. ... Full Story | Top |
| Short and social workouts led fitness trends in 2012 Monday, Dec 31, 2012 02:02 AM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - From mud races to sweat parties to CrossFit competitions, workouts turned smarter, shorter and more social in 2012, experts say, as fitness was sweetened with a little help from smart phones and friends. "Everything is about making fitness fun," said Jenna Autuori-Dedic, senior fitness editor at Fitness Magazine. Even those grueling indoor cycling classes were a chance to mingle. "I truly think that spinning was one of the biggest things to come out of 2012," said Autuori-Dedic. "They (fitness studios) made it fun. ... Full Story | Top |
| Every school needs a doctor, pediatricians say Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 11:06 PM PST NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Despite no federal or uniform state requirements to do so, all school districts should have a doctor to oversee school health services, according to a policy statement from a group of American pediatricians. "Our hope is that a policy statement like this will start to get people talking," said Dr. Cynthia Devore, a co-author of the statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "New York - and the northeast in general - tends to spell out in legislation that school districts shall hire a medical director to oversee health services," she told Reuters ... Full Story | Top |
| Secretary of State Clinton hospitalized with blood clot Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 08:04 PM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was admitted to a New York hospital on Sunday with a blood clot linked to a concussion she suffered earlier this month, the State Department said in an announcement that looked sure to fuel speculation over the health of one of America's best-known political figures. Clinton, 65, has been out of the public spotlight since mid-December, when officials said she suffered a concussion after fainting due to a stomach virus contracted during a trip to Europe. ... Full Story | Top |
| Chavez suffers new post-surgery complications Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 07:03 PM PST  CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is suffering more complications linked to a respiratory infection that hit him after his fourth cancer operation in Cuba, his vice president said in a somber broadcast on Sunday. Vice President Nicolas Maduro flew to Cuba to visit Chavez in the hospital as supporters' fears grew for the ailing 58-year-old socialist leader, who has not been seen in public nor heard from in three weeks. Chavez had already suffered unexpected bleeding caused by the six-hour operation on December 11 for an undisclosed form of cancer in his pelvic area. ... Full Story | Top |
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