Pfizer says 1 patient death in oral rheumatoid arthritis study was related to its drug

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pfizer Inc. confirmed that one patient who was taking its drug candidate tofacitinib, a pill designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, died during a recent clinical trial and said the death was connected to the drug.

The world's largest drugmaker said the patient died of respiratory failure. Three other patients who were treated with tofacitinib during the study died as well, but those deaths were not determined to be drug-related. Two of those deaths occurred several weeks after the patients stopped taking tofacitinib. Tofacitinib, formerly called tasocitinib, is being tested as a treatment for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, usually of the hands and feet.

'Birther' claims force GOP leaders to take a stand

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's the conspiracy theory that won't go away. And it's forcing Republican officials and presidential contenders to pick sides: Do they think Barack Obama was born outside the United States and disqualified to be president?

As the Republican candidates tiptoe through the minefield, Democrats are watching. They hope the debate will fire up their liberal base and perhaps tie the eventual GOP nominee to fringe beliefs that swing voters will reject.

Seagate to buy Samsung's hard disk drive business

NEW YORK (AP) -- Seagate has agreed to buy Samsung's hard drive business for $1.38 billion in a further consolidation of an industry that faces growing competition from a newer storage technology, popular in smartphones and tablet computers.

The cash-and-stock deal announced Tuesday would give South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung Electronics Co. a stake of nearly 10 percent in Seagate Technology PLC, one of the few remaining makers of hard disk drives, which store data in traditional PCs.

The Profits of Health Insurance Plans

Health insurance plans can look like an added fixed cost that you may not really want. However, health insurance can be helpful for a list of causes. You can seek through health insurance plans to get the better one for you, whether it is something that only covers the some and far-between doctor's visits you might want throughout the year, or disability coverage that takes into account any serious health issues that you might have. Health insurance, if it is the correct plan, can assist as a hugely good separate of maintaining you healthy.

Ariz. plows controversial ground with birther bill

PHOENIX (AP) -- Arizona, a state that has shown little reluctance in bucking the federal government, is again plowing controversial political ground, this time as its Legislature passed a bill to require President Barack Obama and other presidential candidates to prove their U.S. citizenship before their names can appear on the state's ballot.

If Gov. Jan Brewer signs the proposal into law, Arizona would be the first state to pass such a requirement - potentially forcing a court to decide whether the president's birth certificate is enough to prove he can legally run for re-election. Hawaii officials have certified Obama was born in that state, but so-called "birthers" have demanded more proof.

A Consumer's Guidebook to Health Care Modernise

The six-month anniversary age 26 on your health plan if he or she can't get coverage through a job. New policies can't deny coverage for children up to age 19 based on pre-existing medical conditions. "Grandfathered" plans can, however, they as well can determine annual dollar bounds on coverage and ask patients to assist pay for a few preventive avails.

Most people in the individual market are anticipated to move to new plans by 2014. Analysts tell nearly plans in the group market will likely have suffered their "grandfathered" condition because of modifies prepared to it.

Obama to bullying victims: I know what it's like

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama smiled when he said his large ears and funny name once made him a target of school-yard harassment. But he was all seriousness Thursday when he told a White House conference on bullying that torment and intimidation must not be tolerated.

Some 13 million students, about a third of all those attending school, are bullied every year, the White House said. Experts say that puts them at greater risk of falling behind in their studies, abusing drugs or alcohol, or suffering mental or other health problems. Kids who are seen as different because of their race, clothes, disability or sexual orientation are more likely to be bullied.

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Italy's Berlusconi back on trial for tax fraud

MILAN (AP) -- Premier Silvio Berlusconi went back on trial Monday for alleged tax fraud, the first of several court cases to resume after Italy's Constitutional Court watered down an immunity bill sparing the premier from trial.

Prosecutors say Berlusconi's Mediaset media empire purchased TV rights for U.S. movies through two offshore companies and falsely declared the costs to reduce its tax bill.

Berlusconi, who wasn't in court Monday, has denied the allegations. The case was immediately adjourned until April 11, when Berlusconi may appear, lawyers said.

Diamond Engagement Rings : Endless Love

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What It Was Like in Tahrir Square When Mubarak Resigned

The mood on Tahrir Square is absolutely jubilant. As many people are saying "Welcome to the New Egypt."

After news that the army was going to be taking over, and that the parliament was stepping down, Egyptians just turned out on the streets en mass. We had people hugging and singing, they've been playing patriotic songs here on the square, with people bowing in prayer.

The familiar chants of "the people and the army are one" have come true for many people, and with the army in charge, people are really celebrating. It might seem odd for such celebrations after an army takeover, but in fact, that's the way the regime they were trying to oust came to power.

Drug shortages forcing some risky alternatives

Unprecedented shortages of injectable drugs have forced doctors to resort to medications that are less safe or postpone or cancel procedures, often at the last minute, according to the Food and Drug Administration and health care groups.

Anesthesiology and oncology have been hit particularly hard. Last month, the only U.S. maker of Pentothal, used for 70 years to induce anesthesia, said it had abandoned plans to resume production, which it had halted a year and a half earlier.

Boehner: Obama has to cut credit cards, reduce spending

House Speaker John Boehner stopped short today of saying majority Republicans will refuse to raise the debt limit and strongly urged President Obama and Democrats to work with them to cut spending.

Boehner suggested on Fox News Sunday there is no appetite to see the United States default on its loans if Congress doesn't pass an increase in the debt limit.

"I don't think it's even a question on the table," Boehner said in his first Sunday talk show interview since becoming speaker this month.

South Korea Rejects North's Request to Move Up Military Talks Date

South Korea says it has turned down a request from North Korea to move up the date of preliminary military talks between the two countries.




Officials said Monday that Pyongyang had asked to hold the preparatory talks on Tuesday, 10 days earlier than the planned beginning of negotiations at the border village of Panmunjom. They said the earlier date would not provide enough time to prepare for the first face-to-face talks since the North launched an artillery attack on a South Korean island November 23.

Maria Menounos Bikini Beach

Opt to circle in the new year in sunny Florida, Maria Menounos was dotted spectaculer her robust and very well beach body in Miami on Friday afternoon (December 31).

Clad in an oh-so-hot black bikini, the TV personality romped around the sandy seashore while involvement in a match of football with "No Ordinary Family" actor Michael Chiklis.Maria Menounos Bikini Beach

Tweeting about the active outing, Miss Menounos wrote, "Beach football today w/@MichaelChiklis…paparazzi had some fun! Expect the bikini shots are suitables"

Getting more than she hoped for, the brunette beauty finished up offering up a few bikini malfunction shots before finishing out her beach football festivities and heading back to the hotel to ready for the NYE 2011 party.

Petra Nemcova Engaged to British Actor

Czech fashion model Petra Nemcova is set to get married British actor Jamie Belman who she has been dating for close to eight months. They fitted last year after being introduced by mutual friends and the stars spent the vacations together with their respective families.

British Vogue magazine now covers Petra Nemcova Engaged to Jamie Belman after Belman recently proposed. In the past, Nemcova, 31, has been romantically linked to Oscar winner Sean Penn and singer James Blunt. She lost her previous fiance, Simon Atlee, in December 2004 when he was killed in the ruinous Asian tsunami. She was a subsister of the tragedy.

Since the tragic event, Nemcova has dedicated herself to helping others affected by the tsunami, and is now President and Chairwoman of the euphoric Hearts Foundation which works with the children who survived the disaster. "When the tsunami happened, I wanted to help in any possible way," she said.

Selena Gomez: PCAs Favorite Breakout Artist!

Selena Gomez smugly shows off her prize for favorite breakout artist at the People's Choice Awards 2011 on Wednesday (January 5) at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

The 18-year-old singer and artist picked up the tribute after performing "A Year Without Rain" with her band, Selena Gomez & The Scene.

Another Latina Disney prodigy who won last night was pop singing sensation Selena Gómez and her band "The Scene," winners of the "People's Choice Award" as "Favorite Breakout Artist."

On the carpet, Selena wore a one shoulder pink cocktail dress with ruffle detail at shoulder from Paule Ka with Giuseppe Zanotti pumps.

Backstage, Selena met up with fellow winner Taylor Swift and joked that the country star was taking over the world! Taylor then said the same thing about Selena!