‘Deviant hazing’ alleged at U.S. embassy in Kabul

Some private security guards hired to protect the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan say their contractor has allowed widespread mistreatment, sexual activity and intimidation within their ranks, according to the watchdog group Project On Government Oversight (POGO).

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The FDA and Painkillers: What’s Safe Now?

The June 30 vote by a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee to lower the maximum dose of over-the-counter drugs containing acetaminophen and to eliminate prescription acetaminophen-combination painkillers raised questions about what changes consumers should expect in the availability of the popular drug. The commonly used pain- and fever-reliever known as Tylenol is found in several nonprescription cough and cold remedies including NyQuil and Theraflu.

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FDA advisers vote to take Vicodin, Percocet off market

A government advisory panel voted Tuesday to recommend eliminating prescription drugs that combine acetaminophen with narcotics — such as Vicodin and Percocet — because of their risk for overdose and for severe liver injury. The panel, assembled by the Food and Drug Administration, voted 20 to 17 to advise the FDA to remove such prescription combination drugs from the market. The group recommended that the FDA “send a clear message that there’s a high likelihood of overdose from prescription narcotics and acetaminophen products,” Dr.

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Al Qaeda threatens France for perceived anti-burqa stance

Al Qaeda threatened to "take revenge" on France "by every means and wherever we can reach them" because of a debate in France over whether the burqa, a traditional Islamic woman’s covering, violates French law, according to a statement posted on radical Islamist Web sites. “We will not tolerate such provocations and injustices, and we will take our revenge from France,” said the statement, signed by Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, calling himself “commander of al Qaeda in North Africa [Islamic Maghreb].” The statement is dated June 28, five days after French President Nicolas Sarkozy controversially told lawmakers that the traditional Muslim garment was “not welcome” in France

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Are Medical Residents Worked Too Hard? Or Not Hard Enough?

There has been much hand-wringing over the dangers of medical residents’ grueling schedules. Doctors-in-training often forgo sleep entirely, racking up as many as 30 work hours in a single stretch. The term “resident” is in fact no accident, says Dr.

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Famed eatery can reopen amid health probe

A renowned restaurant that was closed after diners reported becoming ill can reopen Thursday, although the exact source of the outbreak has not been identified, British health authorities said Wednesday. The Fat Duck restaurant in Berkshire closed at the end of February after some 40 diners reported suffering from diarrhea and vomiting

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Anger over Northern Ireland ‘reconciliation’

Protesters disrupted the launch of a report Wednesday that focuses on dealing with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Bereaved relatives — of both republican and loyalist paramilitaries — stood head-to-head pointing fingers at one another and trading accusations over the deaths of their loved ones, the British Press Association said. The clashes took place as officials and relatives gathered in Belfast for the launch

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