News In Brief

House: 'Star Wars' tests, GIs in Latin fray ruled out

The House voted 238 to 181 Wednesday to ban testing of antisatellite weapons against a fixed target in space unless the Soviet Union resumes tests of its weapon. The Soviets have halted their antisatellite tests and have called for a treaty banning the weapons.

Hours later, the House approved, 341 to 64, a ban on sending US troops ''into or over El Salvador or Nicaragua for combat'' unless those forces are needed to save US embassy personnel or other American citizens.

But the House did approve the continued deployment of Pershing II nuclear missiles in Europe and production of the B-1 nuclear bomber, two weapons central to Reagan's defense buildup.