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Highlights of WTO ministerial declaration in Hong Kong talks

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Kirin Brewery unit develops antibody that could cure bird flu

Gemini Science Inc., a U.S. unit of Kirin Brewery Co. has developed an antibody for treating and protecting against flu infections that could also prove effective in fighting avian influenza including the deadly H5N1 strain, Kirin announced Sunday. Gemini said in a news release dated Saturday that the antibody ''demonstrated broad activities against a wide range of human and avian influenza strains'' including H5N1. The strain has killed scores of people in Asia since 2003.

Gov't, ruling parties agree to slash medical tariff by 3.16%

The government and the ruling coalition agreed Sunday to put into effect in fiscal 2006 a record cut of 3.16 percent in the medical services tariff that sets the fees paid by public health insurance to doctors and pharmacists, officials said. The agreement made at a meeting of key government and Liberal Democratic Party officials comes after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has been calling for major cuts in the tariff since fiscal 2002.