Vaccine initiative gains major donations: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $750m (£400m; €575m) and Norway has committed $290m to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, launched in 2000. More than two million people in poor countries die needlessly each year because they do not get appropriate immunisations. See www.vaccinealliance.org
FDA is sued for postponing emergency contraception: The Center for Reproductive Rights and other groups are suing the US Food and Drug Administration for delaying approval of over the counter emergency contraceptives. Family planning groups say that such contraception could prevent nearly half of the 1.5 million unplanned pregnancies in the United States each year, half of which are terminated by abortion.
Canadian court bans tobacco advertisements at point of sale: Canadian antismoking groups have praised a Supreme Court ruling backing a Saskatchewan law that bans prominent cigarette displays in shops that are open to children. Tobacco companies and other commercial interests are expected to appeal, but several other Canadian jurisdictions promise similar action.
UK suicide rate among young men falls: The suicide rate among young men has fallen to its lowest level for almost 20 years, but although it has dropped by almost 30% from its peak in 1998, it is still high compared with the overall population. The second national suicide prevention strategy annual report can be found at www.nimhe.org.uk
Doctors in Nigeria end strike: Resident doctors in Nigeria have suspended their 8-week-old strike, which had crippled public health services right across the country (bmj.com, 20 Nov 2004, News Extra). This is in response to a promise by the government to pay all outstanding wages. The doctors have asked that the payments be made within the next two weeks.