British scientists have developed a revolutionary pill that men could take as a one-off contraceptive just before a date. The tablet would prevent a man from being able to impregnate a woman, but within a few hours his fertility would return to normal. This would make it much more acceptable to men than other ‘male pills’ under development, which alter hormone levels and have to be taken over the long term. It is also more likely to be trusted by women as they are not relying on their man having to remember to take his pill every day for it to work. The hormone-free ‘male pill’ was inspired by two medicines already in use and so the scientists hope it could be on the market within as little as five years. Experts believe it could transform family planning by allowing couples to share the responsibility for contraception – a role that traditionally falls to women. The new contraceptive is likely to appeal to women who are uneasy about the female Pill’s ability to raise the risk of strokes, heart attacks and potentially-fatal blood clots. Critics argue, that men lack women’s motivation to prevent […]
Tens of thousands of protesters denounced Pope Benedict XVI as an enemy of Islam at a rally that highlighted the deep strains in Turkey before hosting the pontiff this week. Chants of ‘No to the Pope!’ rose among the nearly 25,000 demonstrators at every mention of the pope’s remarks on violence and the Prophet Muhammad. Many protesters wore headbands with anti-pope slogans and waved placards that included a depiction of Benedict as the grim reaper. The protest, organised by an Islamist political party, was the largest mass gathering so far against Benedict’s four-day visit scheduled to begin Tuesday – his first papal journey to a mostly Muslim nation. The outcry also was designed to rattle Turkey’s establishment. Turkish officials hope to use the visit to promote their ambitions of becoming the first Muslim nation in the European Union and showcase their secular political system. But pro-Islamic groups – which have been gaining strength for years – perceive Benedict as a symbol of Western intolerance and injustices against Muslims. ‘The Pope is not wanted here,’ said Kubra Yigitoglu, 20, who attended the rally in a headscarf, ankle-length coat and cowboy boots. Nearby, a large banner was […]
WASHINGTON — The incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is promising an array of oversight investigations that could provoke sharp disagreement with Republicans and the White House. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., pledged that Democrats, swept to power in the Nov. 7 elections, would govern ‘in the middle’ next year. But the veteran lawmaker has a reputation as one who has never avoided a fight and he did not back away from that reputation on Sunday. Among the investigations he said he wants the committee to undertake: _The new Medicare drug benefit. ‘There are lots and lots and lots of scandals,’ he said, without citing specifics. _Spending on government contractors in Iraq, including Halliburton Co., the Texas-based oil services conglomerate once led by Vice President Dick Cheney. _An energy task force overseen by Cheney. It ‘was carefully cooked to provide only participation by oil companies and energy companies,’ Dingell said. _A review of food and drug safety, particularly in the area of nutritional supplements. Meanwhile, the incoming chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee said his committee would not take on contentious issues, such as extending expiring tax cuts […]
Canada’s wind industry is on the way to a record-breaking year with almost a billion dollars invested and a doubling of installed wind capacity. And experts are predicting that sometime over the next decade, this country will begin to produce more electricity from wind power than from natural gas. ‘Wind generation has moved out of the margins and into the mainstream in Canada,’ says Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). CanWEA represents more than 250 wind energy companies including wind turbine and component manufacturers, wind energy project developers, electric utilities and service providers. Pincher Creek turbines deliver some of the 354.97 MW of wind energy Alberta produces. Federal policy is one of the current challenges to the industry, says Hornung. Funds in the federal Wind Power Production Incentive program (WPPI), which has subsidized a portion of the cost of establishing wind farms since 2001, have been frozen since April as the Conservative government hammers out its energy and environmental policies. Developers across the country are committed to start projects after winning competitive power supply contracts based on bids in which the WPPI funds were calculated as part of projected […]
BAGHDAD — The insurgency in Iraq is now self-sustaining financially, raising tens of millions of dollars a year from oil smuggling, kidnapping, counterfeiting, connivance by corrupt Islamic charities and other crimes that the Iraqi government and its American patrons have been largely unable to prevent, a classified United States government report has concluded. The report, obtained by The New York Times, estimates that groups responsible for many insurgent and terrorist attacks are raising $70 million to $200 million a year from illegal activities. It says $25 million to $100 million of that comes from oil smuggling and other criminal activity involving the state-owned oil industry, aided by ‘corrupt and complicit’ Iraqi officials. As much as $36 million a year comes from ransoms paid for hundreds of kidnap victims, the report says. It estimates that unnamed foreign governments - previously identified by American officials as including France and Italy - paid $30 million in ransom last year. A copy of the seven-page report was made available to The Times by American officials who said the findings could improve understanding of the challenges the United States faces in Iraq. The report offers little hope that much can be […]
Remote Viewing the Year 2060
