The European Union wants members of the 27-member bloc protected not only against lung cancer from cigarette smoke, but also deaths caused by cigarette fire. By introducing self-extinguishing cigarettes, 2,000 lives could be saved in the EU annually, the EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs said. The German Fire Departments' Association supported the initiative.

Methadone, an agent used to break addiction to drugs, has ability to destroy leukemia cells without harming healthy cells, a study has found. The study, published in the August 1 issue of Cancer Research, suggests that methadone holds promise especially in patients whose cancer no longer responds to chemotherapy and radiation.

A man chronicled his life via Polaroid photos, taking a shot every day for 18 years. Jamie Livingston, a photographer, began taking pictures with a Polaroid camera in 1978 at Bard College. He noticed he'd taken a photo a day, and had the idea to continue the series by taking one image a day. He kept the photos organized by date and categorized them in Polaroid boxes kept in suitcases according to reports.

MP Pierre Poilievre of Nepean-Carleton threatened on Monday to block Ontario's funding of sex change surgeries under the province's health insurance system. "People are waiting too long for basic cancer treatment and MRIs and the Liberal government found money for the (Dalton) McGuinty sex change program instead," Polievere told the Ottawa Sun.

Coffee made from beans that have passed through the bowel of an Indonesian jungle cat is being sold by a department store here for $100 a cup. The coffee, called Caffe Raro, is made from a blend of a rare Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, and another, Kupi Luwak, which is harvested from the droppings of civet cats.