Japanese experts were Tuesday set to discuss rules for experiments with animal-human embryos, as scientists seek permission for tests that could see human organs produced inside the growing body of an animal. Researchers want to introduce a human stem cell into an animal embryo, to create a so-called "chimeric embryo", which they can implant into an animal's womb. The hope is that this stem cell will grow into a fully-functioning human organ -- a kidney or a liver, for example -- as the animal matures.

Deep shades of red and vermilion catch the light as connoisseurs raise their half-full glasses to examine the colour of the wine before sinking their noses in to inhale enticing aromas. A sip, a swish and a spit is a wine-tasting ritual at prestigious competitions the world over. This May, it was performed on a grand scale in Central Europe for the first time as Slovakia played host to top-ranked wine competition, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB). Of late, little-known Slovak wines have been outsparkling even their venerable French cousins.

Italian lawmakers on Wednesday gave their final approval to a law that allows limited use of a controversial type of stem cell therapy which has been condemned by many scientists but has given hope to families of terminally-ill children. The law gives the go-ahead for therapy being carried out by the Stamina Foundation on dozens of patients to continue, and allows for an 18-month period of clinical trials for the procedure, which had previously been blocked by Italian authorities.

The prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) wine competition kicked off in Slovakia on Friday, making it the first Central European country to host one of the world's top five wine contests. The talents of 305 connoisseurs will be tested by 8,168 wines from 50 countries during the three-day event in this quaint capital. An EU member since 2004, Slovakia is pinning its own hopes on 214 domestic wines that are quickly earning a global reputation.