Illustrations: David Rodriguez

In an unexpected move, the European Union decided to maintain its partial arms embargo on China, avoiding a threatened trade war with the United States, which is committed to protecting Taiwan. The Chinese had hoped to purchase electronics for jet fighters from Europe.

Illustrations: David Rodriguez

Europe protects software with copyrights; the United States does so mainly with patent law. Now the European Parliament has until early June to decide on a directive to allow software patents in Europe if they make "a technical contribution." Many smaller companies and independent programmers oppose the proposal for failing to define "technical contribution" tightly enough to close the door to American-style software patents, which they say lead to too many lawsuits and stifle software development.

Illustrations: David Rodriguez

Many countries that supportthe use of cloning in medicine oppose its use for human reproduction. A resolution banning all cloning was passed by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 March, but because it displeased many member states, it was made nonbinding. The proposal had originated in a Franco-German initiative to ban reproductive cloning alone, but it was broadened on the insistence of the United States and a number of African countries. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom were among the nations that say they will, nonetheless, continue to allow cloning for the purpose of harvesting stem cells for medical research. Scientists agree that Asian countries with looser or no rules on stem-cell research could soon take the lead in it.

Illustrations: David Rodriguez

Since 9/11/2001, the United States has tightened the restrictions on student visas, causing a significant drop in the number of applications for graduate study. Those planning to study certain sensitive topics, including many in engineering, have had to pass a background check. According to the Council of Graduate Schools in Washington, D.C., graduate engineering applications dropped 36 percent for the academic year 2003-2004 and 7 percent this year. The latest drop occurred despite attempts by the U.S. government to streamline the visa process and speed up background checks. In Europe, meanwhile, where visa rules have generally been less onerous, schools have attempted to capitalize on the situation by stepping up their recruiting efforts overseas.

Illustrations: David Rodriguez

The Kyoto Protocol that went into effect on 16 February limits carbon emissions to 5.2 percent below the levels prevalent in 1990. The United States has rejected the treaty, but the European Union has ratified it, and the treaty has taken force. European environment ministers are now looking beyond the initial 2012 targets. In March, they recommended that developed nations cut emissions by 15 to 30 percent by 2020 and 60 to 80 percent by 2050 beyond the levels stipulated in the protocol. Member governments were to vote on the recommendations in April.