More Parents Taking Kids' DNA Samples

Many parents across the country are swabbing the inside of their children's mouths to get a DNA sample just in case they need it if the youngster is kidnapped, runs away or suffers a terrible accident. News reports about child abductions and television shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" are helping drive the interest in keeeping genetic records that could be used to identify remains, hair or blood.

AIDS to Be 3rd Leading Cause of Death

Within the next 25 years, AIDS is set to join heart disease and stroke as the top three causes of death worldwide, according to a study recently published online. When global mortality projections were last calculated a decade ago, researchers had assumed the number of AIDS cases would be declining. Instead, it's on the rise. Currently ranked fourth behind heart disease, stroke, and respiratory infections, AIDS is set to become No. 3, say researchers in a new report in the Public Library of Science's Medicine journal. It accounts for about 2.8 million deaths every year. But the researchers estimate a total of nearly 120 million people could die in the next 25 years. Overall, the researchers predict that in three decades, the causes of global mortality will be strikingly similar worldwide - apart from the prevalence of AIDS in poorer countries. Most people will be dying at older ages of noninfectious diseases like cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer. The paper by Dr. Colin Mathers and Dejan Loncar of the World Health Organization estimates that at a total of least 117 million people will die from AIDS from 2006 to 2030. In an optimistic future projection, if new HIV infections are curbed and access to life-prolonging antiretrovirals is increased, 89 million people will die from the disease.

The Future of War

At a recent exhibition of new military technology one independent expert stood almost agog as the prototype for a new killing machine was rolled out. It went by the acronym of URV or Unmanned Robot Vehicle - and it looked like something from the movies. "It was frightening. The [URV] has laser radars at the front and these things were scanning up and down and from side to side," said John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.Org, a Washington-based military studies group. "It was the most Sixties, sci-fi thing I have ever seen." Pike and others believe this is the future of warfare - or at least part of the future. Technology will increasingly allow the most sophisticated and best equipped militaries - primarily that of the US - to fight battles using robots rather than soldiers: robots which can detect, assess and attack a target. "Robots can kill without mercy, remorse or pity. They are all stone-cold killers," said Pike. "And we don't have to write letters to their families." The United States army is already developing an arsenal of robotic weapons that could be deployed within a decade or so. In the air, Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) are now being used extensively in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere - both for surveillance as well as dropping so-called "Hellfire" missiles. The US is trying to develop ways for UAVs or drones to work in swarms, attacking targets en masse or operating an aerial delivery system to cover an entire region. Technology is also changing the nature of munitions. Already there are devastating thermobaric bombs which have more destructive power than any other conventional weapon, while microwave bombs or transient electromagnetic devices (TEDs), which release a massive burst of electromagnetic energy sufficient to disable computers without killing people, are also in development.

RFID Only One Part In Our Orwellian Future

We will soon be in the middle of a blizzard of tiny computers embedded into everyday items and constantly talking to each other. Welcome to the so-called 'Internet of things' which will replace today's Internet of people and data. Everyday items from TVs to toothbrushes, sports equipment and even buildings will have in-built computing power and wireless that will allow them to communicate and share information. Current rollouts of RFID tagging will be dwarfed by the future development of sensor networks, according to Robin Mannings, BT futurologist and research foresight manager. "RFID is just the tip of the iceberg and the iceberg is ubiquitous computing -- more or less everything being a computer," said Mannings. According to a report published by the International Telecommunications Union, eventually even particles as small as dust might be tagged and networked. He predicts we will soon see an increased number of these things being deployed outside our bodies -- and inside. As a result we will find ourselves living in a "digital bubble" where as people move around, the technology and the services they use will follow them because it knows where they are -- for example, every coffee machine might be able to know how you like your coffee without being told.

Mainstream News Covers 'The Beast Of Bray Road' Stalking Wisconsin

In Washington County, Wisconsin, U.S. there have been several reports of a 7-foot hairy creature with pointy ears. Steve Krueger was doing his job on Nov. 9 -- removing road-side deer carcasses overnight for the Department of Natural Resources. Krueger said he had just made a pick-up along a remote road near Holy Hill about 1:30 a.m., and he was in the cab doing some paperwork. When his parked truck started shaking, he looked in the rear view mirror and got the scare of his life. He said his flashing lights illuminated a huge hairy beast standing on its hind legs -- dragging a deer off the open tailgate. "All I saw was the creature. One paw -- or whatever was on it -- reaching over to grab the deer. The head looked like a cross between a bear and a wolf," said Krueger. "It had big pointy ears like a wolf. It scared the living heck out of me. I threw it into drive and off I went." Krueger said he drove around in fear for about five minutes before returning to the area. He said when he arrived there was no sign of the creature or the deer. Soon after an interview on television Krueger said he was bombarded with phone calls. He said that it would be his last interview, and that if it happened again he wouldn't report it. After watching the interview a second man came forward to report that he had a similar experience. Painting contractor Rick Selchert said he may have seen the same creature. He said he was driving only a few miles from Holy Hill in October 2004 , just after dawn, when a strange beast -- at least 200 pounds -- crossed the road in front of him. "I seen it come up out of the brush from one side of the road. And it come across the road," he said. "The head was really round and the ears were kind of pointy. I never seen nothing like that." For more information on the creature called 'The Beast Of Bray Road' visit this website: http://www.unknown-creatures.com

Neuroscience's Mind-Blowing Ideas For Future Battlefields

Direct interventions to enhance soldiers' capabilities could come in many forms, including new generations of neuropharmaceuticals, implants, and neural stimulations. DARPA's "peak soldier performance" program aims to improve metabolism on demand so a soldier could operate at a high level for three to five days without needing sleep or calories. DARPA is also interested in increasing the "bandwidth" of soldiers' brains. One idea is to develop something called a brain prosthesis, a chip that would improve normal mental functioning. Or perhaps extra copies of genes that code for certain neural receptor sites could be introduced into the brain to improve learning skills.

'Destroy America' hidden in School puzzle

A high-school Spanish teacher has resigned his position after placing hidden messages inside a word-search puzzle calling on Allah to destroy America, which he called the "body of evil that is making human life so miserable." Khalid Chahhou, 35, a native of Morocco who was a first-year language instructor at Smithfield-Selma High School in North Carolina, quit after a student deciphered the anti-U.S. message which also voiced support for terrorists. The secret message, when put together, read: "Sharon killed a lot of innocent people in Palestine. Hamas is not a terrorist group. They have the right to defend their country. This is something that forms part of our freedom and dignity. Allah help destroy this body of evil that is making human life so miserable. Destroy America, a country where evil is sponsored."

'2,700 year old tribe of Israel' returns home

About 50 Jews from a group of thousands in India that believes it is one of the 10 "lost tribes" of Israel landed here recently, fulfilling for many a life-long dream of returning to what they consider their homeland. "I truly believe this is a miracle of immense historical and even biblical significance," Michael Freund, chairman of Shavei Israel, the organization leading the charge for the return of the tribe. "Just as the prophets foretold so long ago, the lost tribes of Israel are being brought back from the exile," Freund said. For a decade, Freund's group has been working to facilitate the immigration to Israel of the Bnei Menashe, about 7,000 Indian citizens who believe they are the descendants of Manasseh, one of biblical patriarch Joseph's two sons, and a grandson of Jacob. The tribe lives in the two Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur, to which they claim to have been exiled from Israel more than 2,700 years ago by the Assyrian empire.

New U.S. Dollar Coins Hide "In God We Trust"

The timing would seem to indicate that the announcement was held up until after the November 2006 elections. The religious right wing of the Republican Party is sure to be outraged when they notice that “In God We Trust,” while still on the coin, is hidden along the edge. Some have speculated that the new coins were intentionally designed to go directly into collections, instead of everyday commerce, making the U.S. dollar more scarce and thus more valuable. Other studies have shown that the only way the American public would accept dollar coins is if the paper currency were completely taken out of circulation.

Three civil wars loom, says Jordan's king

The Middle East is on the verge of three civil wars -- in Iraq, Palestinian territories and Lebanon -- unless strong action is taken urgently by the international community, Jordan's King Abdullah recently warned. With President Bush heading to Amman this week to talk with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Abdullah said "something dramatic" must come from that meeting to stop violence spinning out of control in Iraq. "I don't think we're in a position where we can come back and revisit the problem in early 2007," he said. But the United States must also look at the "big picture" and seek comprehensive Middle Eastern solutions involving all regional players, he said -- indicating this should include Syria and Iran. "We're juggling with the strong potential of three civil wars in the region, whether it's the Palestinians, that of Lebanon or of Iraq," the Jordanian king said. "We could possibly imagine going into 2007 and having three civil wars on our hands. And therefore, it is time that we really take a strong step forward as part of the international community and make sure we avert the Middle East from a tremendous crisis that I fear, and I see could possibly happen in 2007," Abdullah said. With Iraq near all-out civil war, the Bush administration is renewing efforts to break the cycle of violence there by enlisting the help of moderate Arab nations.

UK Doctors Face Jail if They Refuse to Euthanize Patients

In a statement Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor of England has warned doctors that they may face prison sentences if they refuse to starve and dehydrate patients to death. Criminal charges of assault could be laid against doctors or nurses who refuse to allow patients to die, even by removal of food and hydration tube. The Labour government unveiled its new guidelines for doctors to follow the Mental Capacity Act that is to come into effect next spring. The guidelines instruct doctors that a patient’s “advanced decision,” what is often called a “living will,” that includes a request for cessation of medical treatment must be followed even if it means the patient will die. To fail to do so, in other words, to take action to keep a patient alive, could result in criminal charges or heavy fines.

37 Percent Of U.S. Births Out Of Wedlock

Out-of-wedlock births in the United States have climbed to an all-time high, accounting for nearly four in 10 babies born last year. Experts said the overall rise reflects the burgeoning number of people who are putting off marriage or living together without getting married. They said it also reflects the fact that having a child out of wedlock is more acceptable nowadays and not necessarily the source of shame it once was.

In The Beginning: Scientists Ready To Hunt God Particle

At security posts dotted around the fields between the Jura mountains and Lake Geneva scientists are installing hi-tech retina scans above shafts descending 80m down - and leading to the largest scientific instrument ever built. The machine is being bolted together inside a tunnel 17 miles (27km) long, and when the power is thrown on next year it will recreate conditions unknown for 14bn years since the extraordinary fireball that marked the beginning of the universe - the big bang which blasted time and space into existence.

South Korea Confirms H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak

South Korean officials have confirmed that an outbreak of bird flu in the country's southwest was caused by the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. Health and agriculture officials said test results showed that H5N1 was present at a farm in Iksan, where some 6,000 chickens died this week. The H5N1 strain has killed more than 150 people worldwide. Recently, Japan suspended poultry imports from South Korea and said Japanese authorities will require people arriving from South Korea to disinfect their shoes when entering Japan.

Students Dropping Out of High School Reaches Epidemic Levels

In several of the largest school systems across the country — from Baltimore to Cleveland to Atlanta and Oakland, Calif. — half of the students are dropping out. And the problem is not only in the big cities. A recent study by the Department of Education found that 31 percent of American students were dropping out or failing to graduate in the nation's largest 100 public school districts. The implications from dropping out of high school are enormous, including a higher risk of poverty and even an abbreviated life span. So why do they drop out? Eli Thomasson, 16, of Georgia, explains why he wanted to drop out of school earlier this year. "I was just tired of school, you know. I didn't like it. I had made my mind up that I wasn't going to school anymore," Thomasson said.

U.S. Air Force Considers "Subterranean Warfare Vehicles"

Throughout the ages, bad guys have loved bunkers, whether they're in Nazi Germany or Jihadist Iran. With good reason: these things are hard to find, and even tougher to blow up. Even the most bleeding-edge, experimental bunker-busters can penetrate, at most, 10 meters down. Which is why the Air Force is considering a new approach: teams of foot-long "subterranean vehicles" with new-fangled ways to dig. A subterranean vehicle could engage these types of targets in an effective manner, avoiding both collateral damage and unnecessary risks to our troops. It could be deployed a safe distance from the target and autonomously navigate itself to the target while detecting, identifying, and then avoiding buried obstacles such as pipes, wires, boulders and even other buildings. This vehicle would be able to penetrate the surface either through deployable techniques or on its own.

Israel Must Recognize Gay Marriage, Rules High Court

In a precedent-setting ruling, the High Court of Justice ruled that five gay couples wedded outside of Israel can be registered as married couples. A sweeping majority of six justices to one ruled that the common-law marriages of five gay couples obtained in Toronto, Canada, can appear as married on the population registry. The gay petitioners sought to force the state to give equal recognition to common law marriages of heterosexual couples to those of gay marriages, which can be performed in certain countries. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel that filed the petition on the behalf of the couples, argued before the court that the Interior Ministry's refusal to register them as married compromises their right to equality and to hold family life, and is based on "homophobe social perceptions."

Future Surveillance Will Get Under Your Skin

America, there are frantic efforts to make Americans more secure. One solution that is gaining currency in the US is the use of an RFID implant which is shot into the body by means of a large hypodermic needle. The chip can be read when a scanner is passed over the area where it lurks in the fatty tissue below the surface of the skin. It is promoted by the sinister sounding VeriChip Corporation of America, which is pioneering the implants (originally developed to tag animals).... We attended a surgery run by a Dr J Musher in an anonymous Washington suburb and I was duly injected with a chip bearing a unique number.... I have a hint of Blade Runner about me: half-man, half-transmitter. You can see the attraction of such gimmicks. The same instinct is busy consigning us all to centralised databases and promotes the use of number-recognition cameras to track our movements.

Russia sends air defense system to Iran

Russia has begun delivery of Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran, a Defense Ministry official said, confirming that Moscow would proceed with arms deals with Tehran in spite of Western criticism. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue, declined to specify when the deliveries had been made and how many systems had been delivered. Ministry officials have previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a US$700 million (€565 million) contract signed in December, according to Russian media reports. The United States called on all countries last spring to stop all arms exports to Iran, as well as ending all nuclear cooperation with it to put pressure on Tehran to halt uranium enrichment activities. Israel, too, has severely criticized arms deals with Iran.

Annan Warns Of "Catastrophic" Biotech Danger

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned that potential dangers from the rapidly growing biotechnology industry were increasing exponentially and urged creating global safeguards. Annan, speaking in the Swiss university town, warned of "catastrophic" results if recent advances in biotechnology, including gene manipulation and work with viruses, fell into the wrong hands. "As biological research expands, and technologies become increasingly accessible, this potential for accidental or intentional harm grows exponentially," he said in the text of a speech. "Even novices working in small laboratories will be able to carry out gene manipulation." Annan's warning comes after he called for a global forum on biological terrorism, saying current treaties were too weak and governmental and commercial initiatives too scattered.

Mutant Flu ‘Will Kill 50 Million’

Bird flu is mutating into a human virus which could kill 50 MILLION people, scientists warned last night. The terrifying discovery means that medics’ worst fears have been realised. And Department of Health chiefs say an outbreak could kill at least 300,000 Brits — mainly kids, mums-to-be and the elderly. Expert Yoshihiro Kawaoka said: “We are watching this virus turn itself into a human pathogen.” Bird flu has already killed 150 people in South East Asia and Turkey. They caught the disease from direct contact with birds. But Dr Kawaoka found that the virus is moving towards being able to jump between species. It is preparing to mix with another flu strain, which would enable it to move from human to human. It does this by swapping genes between other strains. His US-based team has analysed the virus since it was identified in 1997. Their research helps to develop anti-viral drugs which reduce symptoms of the bug. Dr Kawaoka, a virologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, stressed that more mutations were required for the virus to fully adapt to humans. The research was published in the scientific journal Nature.

Regenerating Wings In Chick Embryos

Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have successfully regenerated a wing in a chick embryo, a species not known to be able to regrow limbs. Their experiment suggests that the potential for such regeneration exists innately in all vertebrates, including humans. The study published in the online edition of Genes and Development demonstrates that vertebrate regeneration is under the control of the powerful Wnt signalling system. Lead author Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisza Belmonte, a professor in the Gene Expression Laboratory, says that once activated, Wnt signalling system overcomes the mysterious barrier to regeneration in animals like chicks that cannot normally replace missing limbs. But when inactivated, it can shut the ability to regenrate limbs even in the animals known for this quality of theirs. "In this simple experiment, we removed part of the chick embryo's wing, activated Wnt signaling, and got the whole limb back - a beautiful and perfect wing," he said. "By changing the expression of a few genes, you can change the ability of a vertebrate to regenerate their limbs, rebuilding blood vessels, bone, muscles, and skin - everything that is needed," he added.

Finger Scanning Has Biblical Implications, Says Calvary Chapel Founder

More than 3.3 million consumers now use biometric technology to pay for their purchases at several U.S. retailers. One prominent church founder shares his thoughts on the biblical implications of such technology. "Customers at several retailers can now literally pay by touch, by placing their finger on a scanner at the checkout and entering their home phone number, these tech-savvy shoppers can deduct the cost of a carton of milk directly from a bank account or credit card." Such futuristic technology, often relegated to scenes in high-tech thrillers or science fiction novels, is available now. In a recent exclusive interview, Chuck Smith, founder and senior pastor of the original Calvary Chapel (Costa Mesa, CA), contends that "this development clearly illustrates that we are one step closer to what is described in the Book of Revelation." Smith indicates that "this should be yet another wake-up call from God that we are in the last of the last days. We already know of eye-identification scanning devices and other technology [identification chips for pets, GPS technology] that clearly shows us this." While this technology is presently received voluntarily, Pastor Smith emphasizes that there is a difference between this new technology and the mark of the Beast, which is described in the Book of Revelation. The mark referred to in the Bible is not voluntary, he points out; it will be mandated.

China says reported HIV/AIDS cases up nearly 30 pct

The number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in China has grown by nearly 30 per cent so far this year, the Health Ministry said, warning the virus seemed to be spreading from high-risk groups to the general public. The reported number of cases at the end of October had risen to 183,733, up from 144,089 at the end of last year, the Ministry said in a statement on its Web site. Of the reported cases diagnosed by government test centers and whose diseases could thus be officially followed up, 40,667 had developed into AIDS. Experts from the United Nations and the Chinese Health Ministry estimate about 650,000 people in China carried HIV, suggesting that many people were unaware they were infected. Drug abuse accounted for 37 per cent of the newly found infections this year whose transmission routes had been determined, while unsafe sexual contact had caused 28 per cent, the Health Ministry said.

N Korea 'won't stop nuclear plan'

Senior North Korean official has said the North does not intend to abandon its nuclear program when it returns to talks on the subject, reports say. Deputy foreign minister Kang Sok-ju said the North had not tested a nuclear weapon last month to then get rid of them, according to Japanese media. North Korea recently agreed to return to stalled multi-national talks, which could resume next month. Japan had said Pyongyang must renounce its nuclear plans before talks restart. "Why would we abandon nuclear weapons?" Mr Kang was quoted by Japan's NHK television as saying. "Are you saying we conducted a nuclear test in order to abandon them?" When asked if North Korea planned to demand the US lift financial sanctions imposed a year ago, Mr Kang replied: "Of course". Mr Kang's comments were made to reporters as he passed through Beijing airport on his way home after a private trip to Russia.

Horrific New Evidence Of China Organ Harvesting Revealed

A Chinese military surgeon had eight Chinese citizens killed to supply a single foreign patient with a new kidney, said former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour. Kilgour spoke as a special guest at the Asian Human Rights Week forum in Warsaw, on day two of a five day program. "The incredible thing is that the doctor would…go down the names on sheets of paper looking for blood types and tissue types and so on, and he [the patient] would point at names on the list. The doctor would then go away and come back with organs," said Kilgour. While conducting research in Asia, Kilgour interviewed a now 35 year-old man (name and nationality withheld) who received a kidney transplant at Shanghai No. 1 People's Hospital. The man said that his surgeon was Dr Tan Jianming, Secretary General of the Chinese Research Society of Dialysis and Transplantation. Dr Tan also holds top posts in a number of Chinese military and civilian hospitals. Kilgour co-wrote a report detailing evidence of China's large scale state-supported killing of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience – in order to extract their organs to sell for huge profits to people such as this man. Kilgour and co-author human rights lawyer David Matas estimated that over 41,000 organ transplants performed in China could not be accounted for, based on published records.

India Tests Nuclear Capable Surface Missile

India recently successfully tested a nuclear-capable ballistic missile from a test range in the eastern state of Orissa, defense sources said. The test of the Prithvi-1 missile took place at the Chandipur-on-sea test site about 200 kilometers (125 miles) northeast of Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar. The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher, the sources said. The 8.5-meter (28-foot) surface-to-surface missile covers 150 kilometers in 300 seconds and has a range of up to 250 kilometers. The test was part of an air defense exercise, the sources said. Nuclear-capable India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars, two over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir, routinely carry out missile tests and normally notify each other in advance under an agreement.

Israel Developing Anti-Militant "Bionic Hornet"

Israel is using nanotechnology to try to create a robot no bigger than a hornet that would be able to chase, photograph and kill its targets, an Israeli newspaper reported. The flying robot, nicknamed the "bionic hornet", would be able to navigate its way down narrow alleyways to target otherwise unreachable enemies such as rocket launchers, the daily Yedioth Ahronoth said.

Hamas Announces Missile Upgrade

Hamas is working to produce a new generation of missile weaponry, according to a statement made by Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida. The Qassam Brigades is the armed wing of Hamas. According to the statement, Hamas is ‘striving hard to upgrade its missiles and anti-tank weapons to make them more accurate and more effective than what they are now.’ The website, which refers to the IDF as the ‘Israeli occupation forces (IOF)’ added: ‘After revealing the news in press statements he made, Abu Obaida warned IOF generals and Israel's war minister Amir Peretz against carrying out any military operations in Gaza Strip.’ ‘If the IOF troops' commit any foolishness in the Strip, the Brigades along with other armed wings of the Palestinian resistance will respond painfully,’ the spokesman threatened. ‘We will intensify firing our missiles on Israeli settlements that became within the range of our rockets, and we will not hesitate to use them again in retaliation to any Israeli aggressions,’ he added.

Thompson Election Bid Raises Specter of RFID Implant Threat

Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson is considering a run for president in 2008, a move that should spark alarm among those familiar with Thompson's calls for widespread RFID chipping of Americans. The authors of "Spychips," Dr. Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre, who closely monitor the RFID industry, caution that his position on the Board of the VeriChip Corporation and his stock options in the company make Thompson one of the most dangerous figures in American politics today. As head of Health and Human Services, Thompson oversaw the scandal-ridden FDA when it approved the VeriChip as a medical device. Shortly after leaving his cabinet post, he joined the board of the VeriChip Corporation and wasted no time in using his clout to promote the company's glass encapsulated RFID tags. These tags are injected into human flesh to uniquely number and identify people. In public appearances, Thompson has suggested implanting the microchips into Americans to link to their electronic medical records. "It's very beneficial and it's going to be extremely helpful and it's a giant step forward to getting what we call an electronic medical record for all Americans," he told CBS MarketWatch. He also suggested implanting military personnel with the chips to replace dog tags.

Israeli spies active in Iran

Iran has developed and tested a trigger device for a nuclear bomb, Israeli agents stationed there have told the White House, according to a report. According to the report, written by Seymour M. Hersh, the White House received the information but did not hand it to the CIA. The report also stated that in the past six months, Israel and the United States had been working together to support a Kurdish resistance group known as the Party for Free Life in Kurdistan. The group had been conducting clandestine cross-border forays into Iran, Hersh said he was told by a government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon civilian leadership, as "part of an effort to explore alternative means of applying pressure on Iran." The government consultant said that Israel was supplying the Kurdish group "equipment and training." The group had also been given "a list of targets inside Iran of interest to the U.S." An Israeli government spokesman denied that Israel was involved. The Israeli intelligence presented a stark contrast to recent CIA estimates on Iran's nuclear program, which claimed that Teheran was far from attaining a nuclear bomb.

Food Permitted, Faith Prohibited in FEMA-Managed Katrina

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency have told a Louisiana church that it cannot share the gospel after providing free barbeques to victims of Hurricane Katrina. The officials are also prohibiting the church from using community facilities for Bible studies even though other groups freely use the facilities. Attendance at the gospel messages that follow the barbeques or at the Bible studies is completely voluntary.

Syria wants Golan Heights in return for helping U.S.

Syria is to demand American help in securing the return of the Golan Heights from Israel as the price of co-operation over Iraq. With the White House under pressure to talk to its adversary, President Bashar al-Assad has resolved that his assistance will not be cheap. Assad has been considering how to respond to an American overture following reports that the Iraq Study Group will recommend that the United States engage Syria and Iran in talks on Iraq, a position backed by Tony Blair last week. The Syrian president wants America and Britain to use their influence with Israel to raise the return of the Golan Heights, seized by the Israelis in the 1967 war. “It will be the top demand,” said Ayman Abdel Nour, a leading reformer in the ruling Ba’ath party.

Heart Valves Grown From Womb Fluid Cells

Scientists for the first time have grown human heart valves using stem cells from the fluid that cushions babies in the womb offering a revolutionary approach that may be used to repair defective hearts in the future. The idea is to create these new valves in the lab while the pregnancy progresses and have them ready to implant in a baby with heart defects after it is born. The Swiss experiment follows recent successes at growing bladders and blood vessels and suggests that people may one day be able to grow their own replacement heart parts in some cases, even before they're even born. It's one of several sci-fi tissue engineering advances that could lead to homegrown heart valves for infants and adults that are more durable and effective than artificial or cadaver valves. "This may open a whole new therapy concept to the treatment of congenital heart defects," said Dr. Simon Hoerstrup, a University of Zurich scientist who led the work, which was recently presented at an American Heart Association conference.
Also at the meeting, Japanese researchers said they had grown new heart valves in rabbits using cells from the animals' own tissue. It's the first time replacement heart valves have been created in this manner, said lead author Dr. Kyoko Hayashida.

Iran: We can attack up to 2,000 km

Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said that Iran has the capability to attack its enemies, even if they are as far away as 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles). "In the case that we are attacked, we will respond beyond our borders and will attack the military facilities of our enemy," said Safavi, adding that the Iranian forces are prepared to handle any possible attack. According to the report, the Revolutionary Guard commander visited one of Iran's missile units, and said, "This artillery and missile unit has sophisticated technology and equipment and it is ready for everything." Safavi, who visited the Basij unit, the voluntary corps of the Revolutionary Guard, in the city of Isfahan, said, "Until now, no country has succeeded in establishing such a huge voluntary corps that number more than 11 million people." Most of the Basij volunteers are family members of the Revolutionary Guards, who are considered devout Muslims. Only two weeks ago, the Revolutionary Guards held a large-scale exercise called "The Great Prophet 2" during which Shihab-3 land-to-land missiles were launched. Shihab 3 missiles have a range of 2,000 km and can reach Israel. Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force Hussein Salami said that Iran has improved the Shihab missile's warheads. "As of now, following the launched of the Shihab missiles, their warheads are capable of turning into one hundred small missiles that disperse across a broad area. Loading the Shihab missiles horizontally allows for a shorter response time and higher mobility," Salami noted, and promised "additional improvements in coming exercises."

Robots: Now Armed and Dangerous

Electronics giant Samsung announced that it has linked up with Korea University to develop a robotic sentry to patrol the border between North and South Korea. But instead of merely surveying the line of demarcation between the two nations, this robot packs heat. Equipped with a 5.5 millimeter machine-gun, as well as two cameras, one of which sees into the infrared spectrum. It also packs pattern recognition software that allows it to distinguish between humans and trees, and a loudspeaker to warn intruders. Price for the security mech is set around $200,000. The robots are scheduled to go on sale in 2007. Big defense players like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon also have robotic vehicles in development. Lockheed’s MULE platform is a six-wheeled robot the size of a Humvee, which could conceivably be armed with similar weapon systems. Raytheon recently announced it would compete in 2007 DARPA Grand Challenge event, where robotic vehicles from various companies will attempt to complete military missions in a mock urban environment, including completing a 60 mile course through traffic in less than six hours. The robots must be autonomous, navigating entirely with on-board technology—no remote control allowed.

Rosie O’Donnell Stirs Christians’ Emotions

“Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like the United States.” Those words were not spoken by Osama bin Laden but by comedienne turned talk-show hostess Rosie O’Donnell on a nationally broadcast program. Her statement generated a wide range of reactions. A new nationwide survey of that reaction, conducted by The Barna Group, suggests that although few Americans would challenge her right to make such statements, just as few share her point of view.

Military Nanotechnology - How Worried Should We Be?

Of considerable concern is the question to what degree military nanotech could lead to destabilization (when one military power develops a technology that others cannot effectively defend against) and undermine arms-control agreements like the Biological Weapons Convention. A NATO study group states that “the potential for nanotech-driven innovations in chemical and biological weapons are particularly disquieting as they can considerably enhance the delivery mechanisms of agents or toxic substances. The ability of nanoparticles to penetrate the human body and its cells could make biological and chemical warfare much more feasible, easier to manage and to direct against specific groups or individuals.”

Islamic militancy could yield third world war

The top United States general in the Middle East recently said, if the world does not find a way to stem the rise of Islamic militancy, it will face a third world war. Army General John Abizaid compared the rise of militant ideologies, such as the force driving Al-Qaida, to the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s that set the stage for World War Two. "If we don't have guts enough to confront this ideology today, we'll go through World War Three tomorrow," Abizaid said in a speech titled "The Long War," at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, outside Boston. If not stopped, Abizaid said extremists would be allowed to "gain an advantage, to gain a safe haven, to develop weapons of mass destruction, to develop a national place from which to operate. And I think that the dangers associated with that are just too great to comprehend." Abizaid said the world faces three major hurdles in stabilizing the Middle East region: Easing Arab-Israeli tensions, stemming the spread of militant extremism, and dealing with Iran, which Washington has accused of seeking to develop nuclear bombs.

Alternative Medicine Making Waves in the West

The use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) has increased tremendously in the West with more and more people believing in its benefits. Alternative medicine includes the use of herbals, vitamins and other supplements, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic medicine, massage therapy, and Ayurveda. Often included into this mix are energy therapies such as Qi gong and bioelectromagnetic treatments, as well as mind-body practices that encompass prayer, meditation or even dance.

China targeting Taiwan with 900 missiles

China continues its planning to invade Taiwan and now has more than 900 missile targeted on the island, Taiwanese officials said last week. Despite China's impressive economic rise, it has become more authoritarian, posing a grave threat to our sovereignty and abusing human rights like never before," Taiwanese President Chen Shuibian said. Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu also said in Taipei that China is a threat and has supported some of the world s most notorious violators of human rights. Chinese missiles are located in five bases in nearby Fujian Province. Additionally, China now has 11 military satellites in orbit. Noting calls for China to remove the missiles, Chen said it would not be enough. If China one day removed the missiles from its east coast, they could just transport them all back the next day," he said.

Young adults in U.S. abandoning biblical faith

In terms of morals, adults in their 20s and 30s were at least twice as likely as their elders to have: Had a sexual encounter outside of marriage - Used illegal drugs - Gotten drunk - Used profanity in public - Lied - Taken revenge - Physically fought or physically abused someone - Viewed sexually explicit videos - Said mean things behind someone's back. The Barna poll also found that young adults are 10 times more likely than older adults to download or trade music online illegally. The difference between young adults and older adults didn't occur only in the realm of moral behavior, differences also appeared in what the two groups believed. For example, young adults were more likely than older adults to reject the concept of absolute truth. They were also significantly less likely to believe, as their elders do, that human beings should determine what is right and wrong morally by examining God's principles. Also, young adults were twice as likely as older adults to believe ethics and morality are based on "what is right for the person." Finally, even young Christian adults were more likely than older adults to accept same-sex marriage and premarital sex.

Al-Qaida Plotting Nuclear Attack On UK

British intelligence officials believe that al-Qaida is determined to attack the UK with a nuclear weapon. The announcement, from an officially organized Foreign Office counter-terrorism briefing for the media, was the latest in a series of bleak assessments by senior officials and ministers about the terrorist threat facing Britain. UK officials have detected ‘an awful lot of chatter’ on jihadi websites expressing the desire to acquire chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. Asked whether there was any doubt that al-Qaida was trying to gain the technology to attack the west, including the UK, with a nuclear weapon, a senior Foreign Office counter-terrorism official said: ‘No doubt at all.’ The official explained: ‘We know the aspiration is there, we know the attempt to get material is there, we know the attempt to get technology is there.’ The warning comes after a speech last week by the foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, on the terrorist threat facing the UK, and a rare public outing for Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, the head of MI5, who warned that there were at least 30 active plots to attack Britain.

The Apocalyptic Ideology Gripping The Iranian Government

He challenges the largest superpower on earth, threatens a regional superpower with annihilation, and mocks international efforts to keep tabs on his nuclear program. Where does the unswerving confidence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad come from? To whom did Ahmadinejad refer to when he told the United Nations in September: "I emphatically declare that today's world, more than ever before, longs for… the perfect righteous human being and real savior who has been promised to all peoples and who will establish justice, peace and brotherhood on the planet. Almighty God… make us among his followers and among those who strive for his return and his cause. " According to Shiite Islam, the twelfth Imam, named Mahdi, is the awaited messiah who will establish the rule of Islam around the world – following a massive war during which Islam's enemies are expected to be decimated. Iran's official state websites are filled with information about the Islamic Republic's messiah. "Imam Mahdi was unseen from the eyes of common people and nobody could see him except special group of Shiites... After the martyrdom of his father he was appointed as the next Imam. Then he was hidden by God's command and he was just observable by the special deputies of his own.

Iran, Syria Seek Interoperability

Western intelligence sources said the effort was meant to ensure that the two militaries could coordinate attacks, share information and launch joint ground and missile operations. They said the effort began in 2005 and was formalized in a defense cooperation accord. ‘The effort is being financed by Iran and is meant to ensure that a U.S. attack on Iran would be countered by attacks on the U.S. military presence in Iraq from both east and west,’ a source said. The sources said Damascus and Teheran have invested in efforts to make their missile batteries interoperable. Iran and Syria operate medium-range Scud-class ballistic missiles, with weapons jointly produced.

Astronomer Tells Audience: E.T. Contact Could Happen At Any Moment

Intelligent life is likely abundant in the cosmos, and we will find evidence of it soon, according to one of the world's top experts on the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life.
Seth Shostak, the senior astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif., gave a pair of talks in Athens last week about what his organization does to search for alien life, why he believes it is out there, and what might happen when we find it. SETI is a general acronym for "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence" that can apply to any group that does such work, and does not exclusively refer to Shostak's institute. "The bottom line is we will find E.T. in the next two dozen years," Shostak said. "I'll bet you all a cup of Starbucks on that." His prediction of such a specific timeframe relies on statistical projections of how many intelligent civilizations lie within our Milky Way Galaxy, as well as how his institute's searching capacity will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years. In fact, he said each SETI experiment usually gathers more data than all the previous ones combined.

Official Admits U.S. Mulling Pre-emptive Iran Strike

The United States or other countries will one day be forced to consider pre-emptive action if Iran and North Korea continue to seek nuclear weapons, a senior U.S. government official said. The United States and its allies have accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian energy programme and are pushing for United Nations' sanctions. Tehran denies the accusation. North Korea conducted an underground test of what was believed to have been a small nuclear weapon last month. If North Korea refused to renounce its nuclear programme and Iran developed a nuclear weapons capability, it would lead other countries in their regions to seek nuclear weapons, said the U.S. official, speaking on condition he was not identified. "We, the United States, and others who might be threatened by these developments will have to look at how to respond and inevitably I think people will have to look at the question of pre-emption," the official told reporters. "I think it's inevitable that any American administration, not just this administration but future administrations, will have to look at pre-emptive strategies," he said.