Democrats who have been negotiating separate health care industry oversight and pharmaceutical drug reform bills for months announced that they resolved their differences and plan to put the bills up for votes this week in the final days of the two-year term. Rep. John Lawn of Watertown and Sen. Cindy Friedman of Arlington said the

BRUSSELS — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke said the inexpensive e-cigarettes had turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking