USA
The House voted 265 to 162 to ban all cloning of human embryos, even for medical research, Congress's first action on the divisive ethical issue. Lawmakers earlier rejected by a 249-to-178 margin the question of limited human cloning for research into cures for a range of diseases. A similar ban has been introduced in the Senate, where Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D) said he is "opposed to the effort to clone under virtually any circumstances."
The House opened debate on President Bush's energy bill, which would allow oil companies to drill in a small area of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. The bill also calls for $33.5 billion in tax incentives for energy producers, including nuclear, as well as for conservation measures. Bush wants to increase energy supplies to meet US needs, a plan vehemently opposed by environmental organizations. GOP moderates and Democrats were to offer an amendment to the president's plan that strips the Arctic-drilling provision from the bill. (Story, page 1.)
NASA planned to launch its Genesis solar probe on a 20 million-mile, round-trip journey to collect and return tiny particles of the sun. But officials said bad weather could delay the liftoff - the first US mission to return extraterrestrial samples since the Apollo moon landings. Genesis will travel to within 92 million miles of the sun, where it will gather atoms hurtling by on the solar wind. The samples will be returned to Earth in 2004, and scientist hope they'll provide clues as to the origin of the solar system.
The world's population, now at 6.1 billion, will peak at 9 billion over the next 70 years before declining into the 22nd century, a study published in the journal Nature predicts. Most new growth will continue to occur in developing countries, it says. The study also predicts the number of senior citizens will grow from 10 percent of the global population to 34 percent by 2100. Other researchers cautioned the forecast could be misleading because of unforeseeable changes in air quality and the food supply. From 1950 to 2000, the world population grew by 3.5 billion.
Manufacturing activity declined for the 12th consecutive month in July, the National Association of Purchasing Management reported. Its index fell to 43.6 from 44.7 percent in June. An index above 50 signifies growth in manufacturing, while a figure below 50 shows contraction.
The virus-like "Code Red" worm had infected at least 22,000 websites, experts said, sparking worries of an Internet-wide slowdown. But officials were optimistic that enough computers were inoculated to avoid major interruption. Code Red's first outbreak last month affected 300,000 sites. It can spread quickly without human intervention, but does not affect most home computers. It can only be stopped if site operators install Microsoft's software patch.
Coast Guard crews were searching for at least seven people after a boat carrying Cuban migrants headed for the US capsized off the Florida Keys in bad weather. At least one passenger died; 22 others were rescued. The group, which included four children, was first spotted 17 miles southeast of Key West by passing boaters who heard screams for help.
