Free Republic

Strange-looking synthetic trees that suck carbon dioxide out of the air. Algae that can turn into gas. A candy factory fueled by methane from a local dump. At an Earth Day celebration in Newton, Iowa, today, President Obama said the United States must lead the world in renewable energy. He said his energy plan would simultaneously help the environment and the economy.

The Bank of England yesterday cut interest rates to 1%, the lowest level in its 315-year history, as it sought to head off the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The monetary policy committee made a statement accompanying the half percentage point reduction, saying its actions, combined with the government's tax cuts and the weaker pound, should provide a "considerable stimulus" to the UK economy.

Pakistan's military says its troops have killed at least 35 insurgents in the northwestern Swat valley. In a statement Tuesday, Pakistani officials say the army targeted militants in an overnight operation in the Khawaza Khela part of the valley. Militants in Swat are battling to impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law in the one-time tourist haven. A Taliban leader has told families there that girls will be killed if they attempt to go to classes when schools reopen next month.

Palestinian militants fired a long-range rocket from Gaza into southwestern Israel on Tuesday morning. It was the first such attack into the city of Ashkelon since the two sides declared a cease-fire, the Israeli military said. The missile fired from a Grad rocket launcher did not cause any injuries or damage in the coastal city, said a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces.

Hamas must somehow be brought into the Middle East peace process because the policy of isolating Gaza in the quest for a settlement will not work, Tony Blair has told The Times. The former prime minister implicitly criticises the strategy followed by the Bush Administration and Israel of focusing all peace and reconstruction efforts on the West Bank. “It was half of what we needed,” he said.

A wind turbine in Lincolnshire has had a 65ft-long blade mysteriously wrecked (report, January 8). Strange lights were seen before the damage was discovered, leading to claims that UFOs were involved. However, a nearby fireworks party could explain these. The owners of the turbine, Ecotricity, continue to investigate the possibility of metal fatigue causing the damage, or perhaps a large piece of ice falling from a passing plane. Two cases of falling chunks of ice were reported this week. On Monday a house in New Malden, Surrey, was hit by a large ice block that made a 6ft hole in...

The complexity of modern mobile phones is leaving users frustrated and angry, research suggests.Some 61% of those interviewed in the UK and US said setting up a new handset is as challenging as moving bank accounts. Compiled by mobile firm Mformation, the survey found 85% of users reporting they were frustrated by the difficulty of getting a new phone up and working. Of the 4,000 people questioned, 95% said they would try more new services if phones were easier to set up. Web browsingMformation spokesman Matthew Bancroft said users were frustrated by having to call an operator or look online...

New Delhi: The army tested its nuclear-capable Brahmos supersonic cruise missile yesterday in a province bordering Pakistan, despite already tense relations with Islamabad following the Mumbai terror attacks, a news report said. New Delhi and Islamabad regularly test missiles, but normally only give each other prior notice for long-range launches. It was not immediately clear whether India informed Pakistan ahead of yesterday's test. Defence Minister A.K. Antony said the test was planned and not directed at any country, the Press Trust of India news agency reported Defence ministry officials were not immediately available for comment. The test comes amid increased...