Canada to make plain packaging for tobacco products compulsory

Canada, following the lead of Britain and Australia, will make plain packaging of cigarettes compulsory in a bid to cut the rate of smoking, Health Minister Jane Philpott said on Tuesday. Although Canada already obliges firms to slap large graphic warning labels on cigarette packets, Philpott said more must be done, given that some 5 million of Canada's 36 million inhabitants still use tobacco products. "I don't believe tobacco companies should be allowed to build brand loyalty with children for a product that could kill them," Philpott told reporters.

Chronic Fatigue Patients Take to the Streets

(MedPage Today) -- Global protest highlights demands for more research, physician education

Sugar tax will 'hit poorest hardest'

The proposed sugar tax will "hit the poorest families hardest" and should be scrapped, the Taxpayers' Alliance says.

Docs Lack Skills to Care for Transgender Youth

(MedPage Today) -- More education needed, but empathy should be a given, experts say

The Latest: Kids fighting to live after lightning hits Paris

PARIS (AP) - The Latest on the lightning strike that electrocuted 11 people at a park in Paris. (all times local):

Exclusive: Sanofi to unveil challenge to Medivation's board - sources

(Reuters) - France's Sanofi SA is preparing to name candidates it will put forward to replace the entire board of U.S. cancer drug company Medivation Inc as early as Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter.

U.N. says world must stand up for widely flouted humanitarian law

By Dasha Afanasieva ISTANBUL (Reuters) - U.N. second-in-command Jan Eliasson said on Sunday it was necessary to stand up for international humanitarian law which was being disregarded, citing attacks on hospitals and "practically medieval" sieges on civilians in Syria and Yemen. "We have to stand up for international humanitarian law. Government and business leaders, aid groups and donors gather in Istanbul for the summit this week to try to develop a more coherent response to what U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has called the worst global humanitarian situation since World War Two.

Biotech Company and Patients Face Off to Gain Access to Their Genetic Tests

A Utah-based biotech company that had refused to let four patients access their full genetic information has reversed course, a day before the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint with the federal government on behalf of patients in general. Myriad Genetics provided the patients late Wednesday with genetic information they requested in February. The ACLU filed a complaint on Thursday with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, calling on Myriad to release complete gene information to all patients whenever requested.

Australia's Starpharma, Ansell to supply anti-Zika condoms for Olympics

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian pharmaceutical company Starpharma Holdings Ltd said it is teaming up with world No. 2 condom maker Ansell Ltd to supply Zika virus-proof condoms to the Australian Olympic team ahead of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games.

Forces rehab unit opened to veterans

Veterans will now be treated at Headley Court military rehabilitation unit as well as serving personnel, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon says.

Regeneron pain drug clears late-stage trial

(Reuters) - Drugmaker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Monday its experimental drug to treat moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis pain was successful in a late-stage study.