Hurricanes, earthquakes, and cholera. We talk to Joan Arnan (head of MSF's Mission in Haiti) for the latest news, direct from Port-au-Prince. Also in the podcast: disease outbreaks in Africa, inequity, stem cells, and supercomputers.

In this week's Lancet News podcast we speak to Prof Maria Leptin, Director of EMBO and President of the Initiative for Science in Europe, about a petition to save scientific funding in Europe. More than 50 Nobel and Field medal laureates have expressed their concerns ahead of the EU budget negotiations, have you signed up?

The smokeless conspiracy: scandal, break-ins, and tobacco feature this week as we speak to the former EU Commissioner, John Dalli, who has been caught up in the biggest corruption probe to hit the European Union's top ranks in years.

The human cost of the Syrian conflict: continued fighting in Syria has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, who are now living in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. We discuss the plight of those individuals as a difficult winter approaches.

Drone warfare: we're joined by MEDACT's Tomasz Pierscionek, who discusses the physical and physiological impact of drone warfare. We also take a look at dodgy dietary supplements in the USA.

The Big Flush: Zimbabwe's mass synchronised toilet flush. Also, Switzerland refuses to quit smoking (in public spaces), dementia in Australia, and the birth of the valorously named Task Force for Antibiotic Development.

Canada has been a long-term supporter of the asbestos industry. But now, after years of opposing the international community, Canada has finally stepped into line and has turned its back on the industry. Tune in to find out why.

Home HIV tests in the USA could be set to revolutionise HIV prevention efforts, but they are not without their problems. Also in the podcast: polio in Nigeria and health effects of climate change in the UK.

Cocaine use on a high in Brazil, American football tackles brain injuries, and we discuss the European CDC's continued exclusion of boys from their HPV vaccination guidelines. Oh, and listen out for a biscuit fact related to one of these storie.

The Gaza Strip will uninhabitable by 2020 as its population continues to grow and its only water source teeters on the edge of destruction; Australia approve an abortion pill; and Niall Boyce reflects on the Mental Discrimination Bill.