The problem of overweight individuals and the health concerns that follow is something that is as big a threat as the climate change problem, according to the chairman of the International Obesity Task force.

At an annual meeting held in Boston, Professor Philip James of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said that the obesity problem was in need of a global commitment, and that international collaboration was needed to fight off the threat

The United States joined the government of Tanzania, the World Bank and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria by funding the distribution of 5.2 million mosquito nets to Tanzanians. The financial assistance was announced by U.S. President George Bush after he visited on Monday a bed net factory and a hospital with malaria patients.

Funding for the mosquito net project will come from a five-year $1.2 billion program initiated in 2005 to reduce by 50 percent malaria deaths in 15 African nations. Bush said vouchers were distributed for 5.2 million mosquito nets to be sold with hefty discounts, aimed at providing protection to pregnant Tanzanian women and their infants and young children

A study recently revealed that Canadian children living in poor neighborhoods tended to be fatter and gained more weight over a period of time, compared to those living in middle-class areas.

Scientists working for Statistics Canada drew their conclusions from an experiment involving 2,200 children who were tracked and weighed every two years, from two and three years old, and between ten and 11 years old. The entire observation period spanned 1994 to 2002

Roche Holdings AG, the world's largest cancer medication company, has completed the purchase of 94 percent of the outstanding shares of diagnostics company Ventana Medical Systems.

Through subsidiary Rocket Acquisition Corp., Roche acquired around 34,545,323 shares of Ventana common stock

Because of the weak demand for camera supplies as more consumers shift to digital photography, Japanese firm Fujifilm is shifting to pharmaceuticals. The company announced it will purchase 66 percent of Toyama Chemical Company that is experimenting on an influenza medicine capable of battling bird flu.

Following the announcement of Fujifilm's diversification, its price on the Tokyo Stock Exchange went up Tuesday by 1 percent to $36.69 (3,940 yen) per share, while Toyama shares were constant at $8.14 (874 yen) per share