The EU Council of Ministers agreed Monday to continue funding for embryonic stem cell research , but that aid may not be used to procure stem cell embryos. The competitiveness council ministers approved an EU research budget that includes funding for the research but forbids the money from being used for procurement, which results in [...]

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The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) must tighten its anti-terrorism laws to conform with those of other states and territories, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Monday. If the ACT – the federal district that includes Canberra – does not revise the laws, the federal government may invalidate them, Howard said. Nevertheless, ACT Chief Minister Jon [...]

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Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has sued anti-government activist Sondhi Limthongkul and 11 others for defamation and $26 million in damages, according to Thaksin's lawyer Monday. Thaksin sued Sondhi and the state-run Communications Authority of Thailand for allegedly saying on television that Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai party tried to undermine Thailand's monarchy. Sondhi [...]

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The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Monday that weekend statements by visiting United Nations relief coordinator Jan Egeland that damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Beirut was excessive and in violation of international humanitarian law conflicted with those of other UN bodies. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor rejected what he called Egeland's "very harsh terms" [...]

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US Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) promised Sunday that US United Nations Ambassador John Bolton would face a difficult fight in his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing. Last summer, President Bush bypassed the Senate confirmation process and appointed Bolton during the Senate's summer recess , despite Senate Democrat opposition that had stalled debate on Bolton's confirmation . [...]

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