The Wonderful World of Women

 

Female Banana Packers Gain Grounding in Rights, By Linda C. Wisniewski - WeNews correspondent

Female banana packers in Central America work long hours for the lowest pay in the industry. But inside the unionized sector of the work force, women since 1985 have slowly been gaining ground and are now sharing a gender-justice curriculum.

Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=2970

 

Thanksgiving Tastes Sweet and Sour to U.S. Women By Peggy Drexler - WeNews commentator

With a Madame Speaker of the House arriving in the New Year, women have a political horn of plenty to enjoy this Thanksgiving. Peggy Drexler says Tuesday's Global Gender Gap report shows how far U.S. women still have to go.

Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=2969

 

* 'Super-nannies' to help parents *

Parenting experts are to help families in areas beset by anti-social behaviour under a new government scheme. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6167472.stm

 

Progressive Women Outnumber 'Blue Dog' Dems By Allison Stevens - Washington Bureau Chief

Post-election punditry often touts the growing power of Democratic conservatives. Women's rights activists parry that, saying politicians and caucuses of their choice are in fact outflanking the media-favored Blue Dogs.

Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=2967

 

Sports Football's Women Huddle and Hustle for Their Sport By Rachel Jones - WeNews correspondent

Football helps many U.S. households relax, relate and get outdoors on Thanksgiving. This year it also gives female football players a reason to give thanks for a breakthrough in their struggling sport: a first all-pro game.

Full Story: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=2965

 

* France's Royal promises changes *

Segolene Royal vows change if she becomes French president, after winning the Socialist primary. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/europe/6157130.stm

 

Seattle has opened the first transitional housing facility in the United States for deaf domestic violence survivors, with special alarms to signal for help. Molly Ginty reports today in our fourth story in the "Dangerous Trends, Innovative Responses" eight-part series. Womensenews

 

* Dutch government backs burqa ban *

The Dutch government is to draft a law banning women from wearing the burqa in public places. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/europe/6159046.stm

 

HEALTH

 

* Vioxx class action claim refused *

A US judge refuses a request to combine thousands of lawsuits involving the painkiller Vioxx into a class action. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/business/6175114.stm

 

 * How damaged eggs are weeded out *

Scientists identify a protein that helps detect DNA damage in eggs which could help treat female infertility. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6159038.stm

 

 * Cardiac master cells discovered *

Scientists discover what could be cardiac master cells capable of becoming different tissues in the heart. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6173040.stm

 

* Africa baby deaths 'preventable' *

More than one million African babies do not survive their first month of life, the World Health Organisation says. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/africa/6173744.stm

 

 * Fake medicines 'a growing menace' *

The European Union is warned to take steps to combat the growing problem of counterfeit drugs. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6166324.stm

 

 * China's HIV/Aids cases jump 30% *

China's reported cases of HIV/Aids jump 30% in a year, authorities say, partly due to better testing. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6171630.stm

 

* HIV epidemic 'is getting worse' *

Sub-Saharan Africa is still bearing the brunt of the HIV/Aids epidemic, a UNAids report reveals. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6166530.stm

 

 * Broken home linked to psychosis *

People from broken homes may be more prone to psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia, research suggests. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6169120.stm

 

 * Alzheimer's heart link explained *

Heart disease or a stroke may trigger Alzheimer's disease by cutting oxygen in the brain, researchers say. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6164854.stm

 

 

* African health 'needs investment' *

A World Health Organisation study of healthcare in Africa says disease can only be tackled by urgent investment. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/africa/6166246.stm

 

 * Experts call for better flu plans *

Scientists say the government is failing to take advantage of scientific developments in the fight to prevent a flu pandemic. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6158310.stm

 

 * Family right-to-die plea rejected *

A woman in a vegetative state will be given a sleeping pill which may "wake her up" against her family's wishes. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6164716.stm

 

* Fears over rise in child drinking *

The number of under-18s admitted to hospital in England with alcohol-related illness jumps by 20%. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6156026.stm

 

 * Junk food ad crackdown announced *

Junk food ads during TV programmes targeted at under-16s are to be banned, regulators announce. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/health/6154600.stm