Canada has reported a new case of mad cow disease on Tuesday, saying it originated from a six-year-old dairy cow in Alberta. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirms this is the 12th case since 2003.

George Luterbach, a senior veterinarian with the agency, described the cow, according to Calgary Herald, as thin and weak and with deteriorating health causing it to collapse ten days ago in its farm located in Edmonton, Alberta

As Britain's population ages, the government is amending its home construction rules to build houses that would suit the needs of senior Britons. The age-friendly features of lifetime homes must include mobility for wheelchair-bound residents, better access to toilets, improved lights and well-designed parking slots.

British Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Housing Minister Caroline Flint recently came up with a list of 16 features the age-friendly units must have. In 2010, the government will initiate a review how fast has the private sector adapted the new requirements. By 2011 all new social housing must be built per lifetime homes specifications, while by 2013 all new homes must be wheelchair friendly

With most of the potentially "tainted" beef believed to already have been consumed, civic groups and legislators criticized the United States Department of Agriculture for doing too little, too late in ensuring public safety.

Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union said more should have been done sooner

In the face of criticisms aired by California physicians that a request by Blue Cross to uncover pre-existing medical conditions of new policy holders may violate the patient-physician confidentiality, Blue Cross stopped sending letters to the doctors.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Blue Cross said, "Today we reached out to our provider partner and California regulators and determined this letter is no longer necessary and, in fact, was creating a misimpression and causing some members and providers undue concern. As a result, we are discontinuing the dissemination of this letter going forward

Blue Cross is tapping the assistance of California doctors to uncover patients' pre-existing medical conditions not disclosed in their insurance policies. The move is part of the health insurance firm's strategy to cut down on costs. But state physicians are not inclined to grant Blue Cross' request.

Blue Cross sent California medics letters, together with the copies of health insurance applications of new policy holders. Included in the pre-existing conditions that Blue Cross wants divulged prior to signing up or else face cancellation of their policy was pregnancy