Skin cells may be 'programmed' to work like stem cells; Pakistan suspended from Commonwealth; Iran says it's ready to defend against attack...

23 November :: Discovery of skin-cell property that allows stem-cell behavior hope for researchers, conservative candidates; the discovery means research into curing diseases through stem-cell treatments need not be held back by ban on research that destroys human embryos, conservative candidates in US need not face criticism for opposing life-saving research... Pakistan has been suspended from the Commonwealth for not lifting emergency rule by deadline; organization is comprised of the United Kingdom, former British colonies and Mozambique, total of 53 nations and a population of over 2 billion people... Musharraf has agreed to end Sharif's forced exile to Saudi Arabia after talks with King Abdullah; not clear whether former PM deposed by general in 1999 will arrive in time to file for January election candidacy... Top Revolutionary Guards commander says Iran is "ready" to defend itself in any way necessary, if military strike is employed by "enemies" to halt its nuclear research... US dollar has hit new record lows against major currencies, nearing $1.49 to the Euro, as concerns about spreading slowdown in US economy, possible recession, take hold...

UN reports US maternal death rate 4x European avg; US life expectancy rises to record 77.9 years for 2005...

14 October :: UN report shows rate of women dying during or just after childbirth in US on par with Belarus, Serbia, ten times worse than world's safest, Ireland; a UN statement on the joint UN-World Bank report said "Among the ten top-ranked European and other industrialized countries, where women are guaranteed good-quality health and family planning services that minimize their lifetime risk, fewer than one in 16,400 will die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth", childbirth in US being 4 times more dangerous for women than European avg, US 41st among 171 nations studied... US Centers for Disease Control has released data showing "that a child born in the United States in 2005 can expect to live 77.9 years, up from 77.8 in 2004 and continuing a rise dating back decades. U.S. life expectancy was 75.8 years in 1995 and 69.6 years in 1955", according to ENN; infant mortality reportedly increased in 2005, and US ranks 42nd in world for life expectancy... Reuters reports "Iran jailed a prominent pro-reform journalist and rights activist, Emadeddin Baghi, on Sunday for acting against national security, a close friend said"; Baghi is accused of publishing classified information, has previously been jailed for "insulting Islamic sanctity" and criticizing the Islamic state; his book on the chain killings of intellectuals by gov't agents have been banned in Iran... Interfax has reported Russian special services have been warned of a plot to assassinate Russian pres. Putin during an upcoming visit to Teheran; Iran says no such plot exists and rumor is attempt to sour Iran-Russian relations; report suggests "a number of groups of suicide bombers" involved; Putin 1st Russian head of state to visit Iran since Soviet dictator Stalin in 1943... In effort to steer regional business culture away from dangerous practices involving conflicts of interest and bribery, banned under its corporate charter, Merck has instituted an ethics center in Dubai; after 7 years and $3 million of Merck backing, it was given independence and is now the Dubai Ethics Research Center, part of Dubai's effort to become a "regional medical center"; Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship found it "had clearly impressed a cross-section of government, military and business thought leaders on the importance of codifying and enforcing 'workplace ethics'"...

Scientists craft synthetic chromosome, to announce first "artificial life"; first lady poised to succeed husband as president, of Argentina...

6 October :: Guardian reports "Craig Venter, the controversial DNA researcher involved in the race to decipher the human genetic code, has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth"; if achieved, breakthrough will spur heated ethical debates on genome generation, manipulation, could lead to new energy sources; new chromosome based on Mycoplasma genitalium, a bacterium, which could be controlled in uses for cleaning up excess atmospheric carbon dioxide... New age of dynasties: a 2nd Clinton in 8 years (immediately after a 2nd Bush in 8 years)? Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, wife of Argentine pres. Kirchner may succeed him? India's Congress party names another Gandhi to poss. pre-PM post, could be 4th consecutive generation to hold office; Japan names PM whose father was also PM previously; Philippine pres. daughter of fmr. Philippine leader; even Burmese opposition leader Suu Kyi is daughter of former leader; Putin, Chávez, Musharraf, just want to rule indefinitely as themselves... Democrats in US Congress vow to override Bush veto of expansion to Children's Health Insurance; Bush reiterates position that bipartisan legislation is not fully funded, while House majority leader Hoyer says new tobacco taxes will cover costs... Unsold US homes on offer reach record 10 months' worth of sales; prices are dropping in key markets, as dollar reported to have lost 40% of its value in 6 years... Geneva-based International Organization for Migrants (UN assoc.) reports 480,000 Iraqis have "registered" officially as internally displaced refugees since start of 2007, 2.2 million since war began; further 2.2 million estimated to have fled abroad means 4.4 million Iraqis (approx. 16.9% of pop.) have been made refugees in 4.5 years of conflict... Fujimori to stand trial on murder, corruption charges in Perú, after Chile's Supreme Court ordered his extradition...