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Reports: Critical illness may occur rapidly in sickest swine flu patients in Canada and Mexico

Sickest swine flu cases in Canada, Mexico detailed

CHICAGO — Rapidly worsening breathing problems in the sickest swine flu patients in Mexico and Canada present a scary worst-case scenario and could foreshadow what U.S. doctors face as winter flu season sets in, new reports suggest.

UN report says Russia could face labor shortages, slowing economic growth as population falls

UN: Russia must adapt to shrinking population

MOSCOW — Russia’s population has fallen by 6.6 million since 1993, despite the influx of millions of immigrants, a United Nations report said Monday, and by 2025 the country could lose a further 11 million people.

Happy 100th birthday! Most babies born since 2000 will hit 100, life expectancy still rising

Most babies born this century will live to 100 years

LONDON — Most babies born in rich countries this century will eventually make it to their 100th birthday, new research says. Danish experts say that since the 20th century, people in developed countries are living about three decades longer than in the past. Surprisingly, the trend shows little sign of slowing down.

Study: Fat, middle-aged women reduce their chances of surviving to age 70 by almost 80 percent

Being overweight can cut women’s life expectancy

LONDON — Being fat in middle age may slash women’s chances of making it to their golden years in good health by almost 80 percent, a new study says.

Meltdown retirement lessons: Investment ignorance is expensive, so is retirement

Lesson: The best-laid retirement plans melt down

DES MOINES, Iowa — Planning for retirement has never been as complicated — or as important — as it is now.

Giving contraceptives to poor women could help combat climate change, experts say

Birth control could help combat climate change

LONDON — Giving contraceptives to people in developing countries could help fight climate change by slowing population growth, experts said Friday.

Fight against blindness in Ethiopia also may prevent some childhood deaths, study suggests

Fighting blindness may prevent deaths in Ethiopia

CHICAGO — An antibiotic widely used in Africa to treat eyesight-robbing infections seems to help prevent Ethiopian children from dying of other diseases. A study in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association suggests an unintended benefit from efforts to wipe out trachoma, the world’s leading preventable cause of blindness.

Rising fertility rates, immigration push Britain’s population over 61 million for first time

Britain’s population tops 61 million

LONDON — Official figures show that rising fertility rates and immigration have pushed Britain’s population to a new high of more than 61 million.