World Highlights

¤ Conservative anti-abortion senators were split ahead of a vote on a stem cell research Bill that appears destined to draw the first veto of George W. Bush's presidency.

¤ The Republican-led US House of Representatives failed to muster the needed two-thirds majority vote to pass a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

¤ Canada is pressing ahead with plans to deport an Algerian man deemed to be a national security risk, despite his protestations that he could be tortured in Algeria, the man's lawyer and wife said.

¤ Sudan resisted pressure from world powers to accept a UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur to replace an African Union force that has been unable to stem violence that Washington calls genocide.

¤ Japan has begun work on possible financial sanctions against North Korea over its missile tests, but said a decision on implementation would be taken in concert with other countries and depend on Pyongyang's behaviour.

¤ A doctor and two nurses at a New Orleans hospital have been charged with murder in the investigation of possible "mercy killings" of patients after Hurricane Katrina, a state spokesman said.