Associated Press New York – July 17, The husbands of women forced to abort a pregnancy, undergo involuntary sterilization or face persecution under China’s coercive population control program do not automatically qualify for asylum, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. The decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan conflicts with rulings…

Associated Press Washington, July 16 – Declaring a “moment of choice” in the Middle East, President George W. Bush said Monday he would call Israel, the Palestinians and others in the region to a peace conference aimed at restarting stalled talks and moving faster toward a Palestinian state. Such a session could result in Israelis…

United Press International Dorset, England, July 16 – The Wessex, Britain, Pagan Federation chapter has said they will do “rain magic” to wash away a giant chalk drawing of cartoon character Homer Simpson. The 180-foot publicity stunt for the new Simpsons film was drawn next to the Pagans’ famous fertility symbol, the Cerne Abbas giant,…

Associated Press LOS ANGELES, July 16 – After a whirlwind weekend, the negotiations that produced a landmark $660 million settlement between the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and more than 500 alleged victims of clergy abuse are heading toward a conclusion. Attorneys from both sides, as well as Cardinal Roger Mahony, are expected in…

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