World briefs 5/20/04

Senate approves BioShield for possible terror attacks

WASHINGTON -- The discovery of sarin gas in Iraq and the use of anthrax and ricin against Congress spurred the Senate Wednesday to approve $5.6 billion to help prepare for possible germ or chemical attacks on American soil. The Senate, on a 99-0 vote, approved "Project BioShield" legislation to pay for research, production and stockpiling of vaccines and antidotes for bioterror agents. The House already has approved the legislation.

Britain opens world's first national stem cell bank

POTTERS BAR, England -- Britain opened the world's first national stem cell bank Wednesday, hoping to establish a lead in promising but controversial medical research. Citing the "tremendous potential" of stem cells, Health Minister Lord Norman Warner said, "We expect to bring breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of disease." Stem cells are master cells that turn into every kind if human tissue, and scientists believe they could be used to replace diseased cells.

Top economist named Indian prime minister

NEW DELHI -- Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms and a respected consensus builder, was named prime minister Wednesday, ending weeks of political turmoil that culminated with Sonia Gandhi's refusal to take the post. Singh and Congress party leader Gandhi met Wednesday night with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who approved Singh's bid to form a minority government.

Bush: Petroleum reserve won't be tapped

WASHINGTON -- President Bush on Wednesday rejected Democrats' calls to ease high gasoline prices by tapping the nation's petroleum reserve, saying such action would leave America vulnerable to terrorism in a time of war. He also chastised Congress anew for failing to pass his energy proposal. Politicians have argued over who should bear the blame for the rise in gas prices, now more than $2 a gallon.

Purple powder causes security scare in Britain

LONDON -- A protester in a VIP gallery hurled purple powder on Prime Minister Tony Blair in the House of Commons on Wednesday, forcing an evacuation and an urgent review of security. The powder was only cornstarch, but legislators were shaken by the thought that the incident could have been a terrorist attack. It was a major security breach in the House of Commons, which recently put up a bulletproof, transparent screen to protect members from possible attacks from the public gallery.

-- From wire reports