More International News In Brief

Planned Parenthood sues state on abortion-pill law

INDIANAPOLIS (AP):Planned Parenthood is suing to block a new Indiana law that tightens abortion-pill regulations, arguing that the law wrongly targets the organisation's clinic in Lafayette. The federal lawsuit filed yesterday claims the law violates equal protection rights because it requires the Planned Parenthood clinic in Lafayette to meet the same standards as surgical abortion clinics, but doesn't apply those rules to the offices of doctors who distribute the abortion pill.

Brazil to hire 4,000 Cuban doctors

SAO PAULO (AP):Brazil says it will import thousands of Cuban doctors to work in areas where medical services and doctors are scarce.

The health ministry says in a statement posted on its website that it signed an agreement with the Pan-American Health Organisation to hire 4,000 Cuban doctors, who are expected to arrive in Latin America's biggest country by the end of the year.

Whooping cough outbreaks increase vaccinations in NC

RALEIGH (AP):Continued outbreaks of whooping cough across North Carolina (NC) have led state health officials to encourage residents of all ages to be immunised.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services says that, because of high numbers of pertussis cases in Davidson, Forsyth and Rockingham counties, it has authorised the local health departments to provide vaccines at no charge to anyone, regardless of insurance status.