According to a new report released by the American Lung Association (ALA), an unacceptably high number of college students continue to smoke cigarettes. One out of five college students continue to smoke, and the reason, feels the association, is the aggressive tobacco industry marketing on college campuses.

MSNBC is removing Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as anchors of live political events. This might be a result of the growing disagreements between the anchors or the Republican Party's complaints that it was getting a raw deal.

The job will now be assigned to David Gregory, the chief White House correspondent, who is being prepared for a potential MSNBC primetime slot and/or the moderator job on NBC's "Meet the Press." Olbermann and Matthews will continue to work with MSNBC as analysts.

According to a recent study, the regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). The study published early online in the October 15 issue of Cancer articulated that aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory pain relievers appeared to lower blood PSA levels more than those who did not take these pain relievers, and thereby could alter the detection of prostate cancer in individuals who regularly take these.

A study by New York based consulting firm Mercer has said that health care costs are set to rise by 5.7% in the year 2009. This would follow 2007's 6.1 % hike in health care and this year's estimated 5.7 % increase.

Nearly 60 % of companies surveyed by Mercer said they planned to pass the brunt of the ever-increasing insurance costs to their employees by rising the percentage of the premiums the latter have to pay and may also put a new cap on out-of-pocket reimbursements for employees. The average deductible for an individual person grew from $250 to $400 between 2003 and 2007, while for the average American family, it increased from $1,000 to $1,500.

On Sunday night Serena Williams jumped with joy after ousting Jelena Jankovic with a straight-set win 6-4, 7-5, in a thrilling match full of spectacular strokes and momentum swings. This was William’s third U.S. Open championship and ninth Grand Slam title.

In the final four games, Williams was simply inexorable managing a straight-set win over with a straight-set win over Jankovic.

Serena Williams of the US and Serbia's Jelena Jankovic will face each other in Saturday night's final at the 2008 U.S. Open.
Williams, the fourth-seeded two-time champion, reached her fourth U.S. Open final by defeating sixth-seeded Russian Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-2 in Friday's second semifinal at Ashe Stadium.

The second-seeded Jankovic ousted fifth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-4 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and entered her first-ever major final after going 0-4 in her previous Grand Slam semis.

The New York City based Beaufort Books publisher that took on O.J. Simpson's "If I Did It" after it was dropped, due to the public ire that it generated, has taken up another rejected project. The controversial novel this time is Sherry Jones' "The Jewel of Medina," a novel about Prophet Mohammad's child bride. The Random House canceled its release out of concern that it would anger Muslims and it could "incite acts of violence".

It’s going to be Williams versus Williams tomorrow at US Open. Yes, 28-year-old Venus Williams will play against 26-year-old Serena Williams in quarterfinals at US Open Tennis.

Venus booked her berth in the quarterfinals defeating the World No. 9 Polish tennis player in straight 6-1, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. After she was through, her younger sister Serena, secured her spot, defeating World No. 65 French player in 6-2, 6-2  straight sets at the same court.

Sen. Barack Obama is enjoying a huge lead over Sen. John McCain, in the presidential race, in Sen. Hillary Clinton’s home state New York — that’s what the Aug’s Obama versus McCain New York pre-election opinion polls say.

Well, New York is one of the safe states of the Democrats. Obama is enjoying consecutive five month lead over McCain. The Illinois senator has been leading the state since Hillary Clinton quitted the race.

New York has 31 Electoral College Votes. Check out what the Aug’s McCian vs Obama New York pre-election opinion polls say —

“Golden Boy” is all set to host the “Saturday Night Live”. Yes, Michael Phelps, the swimming champion, along with musical guest Lil Wayne, will host the 34th season premiere of the sketch comedy series, which will begin on Sept. 13.

Phelps will also appear as a guest on NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” on September 8. The network seems to be obsessed with Phelps and has obtained the broadcast rights to next year’s World Swimming Championship, to catch Phelps in action again.

In what turned out to be a shocker of a game, French qualifier Julie Coin, ranked 188th in the world ousted world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic from the 2008 U.S. Open on Thursday. The 25-year-old Coin, beat Ivanovic 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in second-round action at the 2008 U.S. Open which took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

According to estimates released Wednesday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City has a HIV infection rate which is three times the national rate.

The Big Apple has an incidence of 72 new infections for every 100,000 people, compared with 23 per 100,000 nationally. These findings are based on new lab technology and a recently derived statistical code by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention giving the most precise estimate the city had ever offered.

Former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, former champion and last year's runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva emerged as winners of the third round on Wednesday at the U.S. Open.

The second-seeded Jankovic beat Swede Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 in 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Jankovic, who held the No. 1 ranking for one week just two weeks ago, seemed to be sailing smoothly on Day 3, up a set and serving for the match at 5-4 in the second, till she was confronted by Arvidsson.

Pregnancy is quite a crucial time for mother as well as growing baby. It’s well known fact that mothers during this time should be taken well care of, physically as well mentally, for if this is not done, it can adversely affect the health of the unborn child.

Recently a study has reported that pregnant females, who go under stress during this period, are more prone to give birth to a child which is at risk of developing schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is an acute mental disorder in which the patient completely becomes detached form the world of reality.

Predictably, strong contenders in the men’s tournament seem to be the three top players Rafael Nadal, who started strongly on Day 1, and Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, both of whom will play on Tuesday.

But the women’s tournament seems to be thrown wide open. Two not so popular players have caught people’s attention this week. Elena Dementieva, got off to winning start in round one. Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark is the other and she was up an early break in the first against Ahsha Rolle of Miami when this report was filed.