The European Union today said urgent action was needed to curb the growing incidence of diabetes, one of the major causes of death in the 25-nation bloc.

European Union health ministers in Vienna today agreed to launch a public awareness campaign on bird flu.

EU health ministers were today expected to agree to launch a targeted public information campaign to raise awareness across Europe over bird flu and to calm fears of an imminent human pandemic.

THE US and the EU each claimed they were favoured by last week’s World Trade Organisation report on the EU’s controls over imports of genetically modified foods.

CHANCELLOR Wolfgang Schuessel yesterday called for early elections to end a government crisis triggered by the resignation of four key leaders of the rightist Freedom Party, the junior partner in his coalition.