■ United States
Sperm bank rules tighten
Men who acknowledge having had homosexual sex within the previous five years will not be allowed to make anonymous sperm donations under new rules that the Food and Drug Administration was expected to announce yesterday. New York State already bars gay men from donating sperm anonymously, and most of the nation's sperm banks have similar restrictions because of concerns over transmission of HIV. A prominent gay rights group denounced the new federal rules. Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, called the regulations are misplaced because HIV tests are fast and very effective.
■ Antarctica
Romance freezes over
A couple having a romantic getaway in an Antarctic chalet found their passion cooled when they were caught in the worst polar storm for 30 years, with 200kph winds and temperatures of -50?C. But they survived. Barbara Rennie, one of 10 people currently staying at New Zealand's Scott Base on the island, met Derek Richards during the four-month winter night in Antarctica. Alaskan-born Richards is spending the winter at the US's McMurdo base, just under 2km from Scott Base. Wind-blown snow quickly clogged the chimney of their hut, and they were forced to switch off their diesel heater because of the risk of fumes.
RSS