The inability of both the cable operator and TV network to reach agreement on a new contract means as of Sunday morning customers of Cablevision Systems Corp. in New York, lost broadcast signals from WABC, their local station.

No signal means most likely Cablevision customers will miss this year’s Oscars awards extravaganza broadcast aired by Walt Disney Co.’s ABC network.

In its statement Cablevision blamed Disney for pulling the signal, calling on Bog Iger, Chief Executive of Disney to return WABC while negotiations were in progress.

Professor Vincent Racaniello experiments with some cells in a microbiology lab at New York’s Columbia University, called HeLa they are no ordinary cells, having led to some of the greatest medical breakthroughs in the last hundred years.

First used in research leading to the Polio vaccine, they have also been used in the development of medicines for fighting cancer, flu and Parkinson’s disease, including research leading to gene mapping and cloning. As well, these cells also used for testing the effects of atomic radiation, were sent into outer space.

In a paper published last week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Kutluk Oktay, M.D., a New York Medical College Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, including principal investigator of the study and a specialist in the restoration or preservation of fertility in female cancer patients, discovered a link between the presence of breast cancer genes and infertility.

Officials in New York announced Friday that 72-websites had been shut-down as part of an international effort against counterfeit prescription drugs being sold over the Internet. The medicines include slimming pills and oral contraceptives.

In its news release, Interpol said, Operation Pangea II involved Interpol, U. S. agencies and task forces from two dozen countries.

Issuing a sweeping executive order Thursday, due to the increase in H1N1 cases, including 75 H1N1-related death0s in the state, New York Gov. David Paterson declaring a state of emergency, also broadened the number of health care professionals allowed to administer vaccine.

The announcement comes fast on the heels of the national emergency declared by President Obama, which expanding the categories of health care professionals allowed to give the vaccine, includes dentists, pharmacists, podiatrists, midwives and emergency medical technicians.

According to prosecutors Thursday, by U. S. authorities have charge 41-participants of a suspected mortgage fraud scheme for cheating lenders of over $64-million for more than 100-New York state properties.

In a round-up named Operation Bad Deeds, 31-suspects were arrested or surrendered in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and North Carolina. They have been charged in the 8-separate criminal cases, including conspiracy, wire fraud and bank fraud.

A newly released study reveals, despite the rule that came into effect July 2008, requiring New York City fast food restaurants to display calorie information on their menu boards, has failed to change consumer habits in low-income neighbourhoods.

According to New York Times, current beef inspection policies are so flawed, they could lead to debilitating illness, as in the case of a vibrant 22-year old dance instructor, who after eating a grilled burger with hamburger meat made by food giant Cargill that was contaminated with a dangerous strain of E. coli bacteria, came down with a food-borne illness so severe, it shut down her kidneys, caused seizures and ultimately left her paralyzed.