| China tops India again
For big multinationals, China's low-cost talent pool, government support and huge market are what matter, and so companies are willing to invest in knowledge workers even with what could be a greater risk of wrongdoing. The latest example: last week Ruey Bin Kao, president of Motorola China, said that the U.S. telecom giant is adding another 1,000 R&D workers in China this year. (Here's the story from the Xinhua website.) In other words, by yearend Motorola will employ 50% more R&D staff in China than a year ago. China's progress is certainly making some people nervous. For some years now, many Indians have taken solace from the idea that China may be ahead in manufacturing, but can't compare to India when it comes to R&D. Or, as Sunil Jain writes in India's Business Standard, “Tradition has it that while China is the factory of the world, India is going to be the laboratory of the world." But, Jain adds, a top science body in India, the Scientific Advisory Council, last week caused jitters among Indians after assessing a recent U.S.
Comfortable shoes can go a long way in preventing bunions
Q: At age 66, on advice of a podiatrist, I had one of my bunions removed. I've heard that after a while, it'll grow back. Is that true? —A.O., New Rochelle, N.Y. A: Bunions, corns, hammertoes and neuromas: They're all a real pain in the foot, aren't they? For the most part, they're all preventable by wearing comfortable shoes that don't rub or squeeze five toes into a shoe that's way too narrow, or that don't have a heel that puts all the weight on the front part of your foot. Look at the shape of your foot and toes. Now look at the shape of your shoes — especially the ladies. Does it look like you're jamming a square peg into a round hole? Bunions and hammertoes are similar in that while there's a bit of inheritance increasing the likelihood that the foot will deform, the wearing of narrow-toed or high-heeled shoes is the major force that deforms the foot.
OSI's anti-cancer drug Tarceva launches in Japan next week
The anti-cancer drug Tarceva will be launched and covered under Japan's National Health Insurance starting Tuesday, the Melville-based drug maker OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Friday. The drug is now available in 83 countries, including the United States and European Union.
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved Tarceva in October for patients with some forms of lung cancer where chemotherapy has failed. "We are pleased that lung cancer patients in Japan will now have access to Tarceva, which has been proven to offer a survival benefit with a well-described side-effect profile," said Gabriel Leung, president for oncology at OSI.
OSI manufactures and distributes Tarceva through partnerships with Genentech and Roche. The drug will be marketed in Japan by Roche affiliate Chugai Pharmaceutical Co.
Ministers warn PM of English resentment
There is also further evidence of rising English nationalism with support for the establishment of an English parliament hitting an historic high of 68 per cent amongst English voters. Almost half – 48 per cent – also want complete independence for England, divorcing itself from Wales and Northern Ireland as well. Scottish voters also back an English breakaway with 58 per cent supporting an English parliament with similar powers to the Scottish one. The poll comes only months before the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union between England and Scotland and will worry all three main political parties. None of them favours Scottish independence, but all have begun internal debates on the future of the constitution. The dramatic findings came as Gordon Brown, the favourite to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister, delivered an impassioned defence of the Union at Labour's Scottish conference in Oban yesterday.
Ruby’s Gems
When Ruby Yang spotted a Chinese restaurant near her Dallas hotel, she bought a large amount of takeout food. She was going to meet Yao Ming later that day, and something was cooking in her mind. The Houston Rockets centre was to appear with basketball legend Magic Johnson in a public service announcement (PSA) on fighting discrimination. During production, the power went off, and Yang, the director, floated an idea: Why not have Yao and HIV-positive Johnson share some Chinese food? That could dispel any stigma more effectively than anything. The two stars readily agreed; and Yao even did some improvising with his line to make it more natural. .
United Way pushes for 211 money
It's still a bit of a secret in Whatcom County, but calling 211 can help in an emergency. The number to call in times of life-threatening trouble is still 911. But the state's United Way officials are asking the Legislature to boost funding for 211, which they say can help people take care of the problems that unfold in the days after a lifethreatening emergency. The 211 system, which connects callers to social services ranging from homeless housing to education help, currently receives $1 million each biennium from the state, said Peter Theisen, president of United Way of Whatcom County. Another $750,000 would help the system respond more effectively to natural disasters like last fall's severe floods in southern Washington, Theisen said. United Way officials hope the line item will be included in the proposed emergency flood and storm relief budget.
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