Watching TV: Even Worse for Kids Than You Think

It’s no secret that sedentary behavior contributes to obesity and chronically poor health. But not all sedentary behaviors are created equal, according to a new study that examines the link between blood pressure in children and their choice of inactive pastimes, including watching TV, using the computer and reading. Researchers in the U.S

Share

Drug war being fought in Nigerian forests

In the dark of the early morning, the assembled drug agents murmur a short prayer before setting out on an early morning drugs raid. After a few short orders, we set off into the deep undergrowth of southern Nigeria’s forests on a tip-off that somewhere ahead are hidden farms illegally growing cannabis.

Share

French Unemployment Drops, Worse Expected

No one is ever going to accuse the French of knee-jerk exuberance. Case in point: the reaction to Monday’s announcement by government officials that France’s main unemployment index actually shrank in June — the first reversal in rising joblessness since April 2008.

Share

The Pain in the Reign in Spain

When Spain’s King Juan Carlos verbally slapped down bad boy Hugo Chavez at the Ibero-American summit, it came, to say the least, as a surprise. For a man who normally is the very embodiment of decorum, Juan Carlos’ retort to the Venezuelan president — “Why don’t you shut up?” — seemed shockingly uncharacteristic.

Share