Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay nearly $4.7bn (£3.58bn) in damages to 22 women who claim the company’s talcum powder contributed to them developing ovarian cancer. Mark Lanier, the lead counsel for the women, six of whom have died from ovarian cancer, said Johnson & Johnson had covered up evidence of asbestos in its products for more than 40 years.

After a six-week trial at a court in St Louis, a jury awarded the women $4.14bn in punitive damages and $550m in compensatory damages. Medical experts testified during the trial that asbestos, a known carcinogen, is mixed in with mineral talc, which is the primary ingredient in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products. Lawyers said asbestos fibres and talc particles were found in the ovarian tissues of many of the women.

“We hope this verdict will get the attention of the J&J board and that it will lead them to better inform the medical community and the public about the connection between asbestos, talc and ovarian cancer,” Lanier said. “The company should pull talc from the market before causing further anguish, harm and death from a terrible disease.”

Johnson & Johnson has been sued by more than 9,000 women who claim its talcum powder contributed to their ovarian cancer. The company has consistently denied that its products can be linked to the disease. The company said it was deeply disappointed with the verdict, saying it was part of a “fundamentally unfair process” that grouped the women together and awarded them the same amount despite differences in their cases. It said it intended to appeal.(theguardian)…[+]

An Australian doctor, lauded for his part in rescuing 12 young Thai footballers and their coach from a flooded cave system, has described the moment divers realised they would have to “swim” the trapped boys out of the cave. Writing on Facebook as he prepared to return home on an Australian airforce transport plane, Richard Harris described the massive efforts by Thai and international cave divers to rescue the boys from deep within the Tham Luang cave system after they were first reached by the British divers John Volanthen and Rick Stanton.

Harris captured international attention after he entered the cave and then elected to stay with the trapped boys for three days. Harris paid tribute to the former Thai navy Seal Saman Kunan, who died during the rescue efforts delivering oxygen tanks into the cave system. Harris, who works for South Australia’s ambulance service and is known as Harry, had been identified for his expertise in cave rescues, with British divers requesting he join the team. “By the time we arrived on site, local divers … had already been doing the most extraordinary dives through the cave and laying the very robust rope which made all subsequent dives to the soccer team not only possible, but safe,” wrote Harris.(theguardian)…[+]

/abonnement/BRIDGETOWN – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has announced that it will construct a new office building in Barbados, redeveloping the current site of its headquarters at Wildey, St. Michael.

The project, approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors in December 2017, will provide adequate accommodations for the CDB’s current and projected staff complement, and integrate environmental sustainability considerations. “With more than 200 employees and a building that is almost four decades old, it has become essential to construct new office accommodations that will effectively and efficiently support the Bank’s business and staff requirements,” said Phillip Brown, Director, Human Resources and Administration, CDB.

The new office building will efficiently use energy, water and other resources; focus on protecting staff health and improving employee productivity; and prioritise the reduction of waste, pollution and environmental degradation. Building on the existing photovoltaic installation already in operation on CDB’s campus, the new building will provide opportunities to further integrate this renewable energy feature. In addition, CDB will pursue a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the new building, which could be among the first in the Bank’s Borrowing Member Countries to achieve the globally recognised green-building rating.

Funding for the project, scheduled for completion in 2020, totals USD36 million (mn).

In 1970, CDB and the Government of Barbados signed an Agreement establishing Barbados as the Bank’s Headquarters Seat. Since then, CDB has provided more than USD480 mn in funding to support economic and social development in Barbados…[+]