WASHINGTON, Calif., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush awarded the Medal of Freedom to three men considered to be among his closest allies around the world.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Ex-Australian Prime Minister John Howard is the formerly unnamed party who has booked Washington's Blair House, bumping Barack Obama, officials said.

SYDNEY, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Australians pride themselves on being independent, fair-minded, rugged and tough. There is a new generation of political leaders led by Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull. But former Attorney General Philip Ruddock represents the best of the last generation. He celebrates 35 years in Parliament.

CANBERRA, Australia, May 2 (UPI) -- Opposition Australian politicians have accused the ruling party of breaking a campaign promise by planning to cap the country's baby bonus.

MOSCOW, May 1 (UPI) -- Uranium prices are increasing throughout the world and have doubled over the past three years.

MOSCOW, April 23 (UPI) -- Russia and Armenia signed a treaty Tuesday in Yerevan to set up a joint venture for the exploration and mining of uranium and other minerals in Armenia. A joint company is being established on parity lines and will be registered within the next three months.

BUCHAREST, Romania, April 4 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he was joking when he threw a salute to U.S. President George Bush during the NATO summit in Romania.

SYDNEY, March 10 (UPI) -- The Australian government is considering breathing new life into a Muslim advisory panel aimed at dismantling the stereotypical image of Islam.

CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- The new Labor government in Australia plans to sign an international treaty on torture and to introduce legislation to make torture specifically illegal.