LONDON
UK outlaws human reproductive cloning
Associated Press
An emergency bill barring scientists from using cloning techniques to produce babies became law in Britain on yesterday after clearing its final legislative hurdle and receiving royal assent.
The Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 was rushed through both chambers of Parliament after a High Court judge ruled last month that the government had no control over the use and research of embryos created by cloning. Only those produced by fertilization were covered by existing legislation, the judge said.
The new law, which was approved by Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, prohibits the planting of cloned embryos in a womb.
In cloning, scientists mechanically replace the nucleus of an egg with DNA from another cell. The reconstructed egg is then treated to make it divide and grow into an embryo.
The law does not prohibit cloning altogether, only the implantation of embryos in a womb. The wording means scientists would still be allowed to use cloning to create embryos for stem-cell research.
Stem cells are the master cells found in embryos that give rise to all other cells in the body. Doctors hope they will be able to cure or treat hundreds of diseases by directing stem cells to develop into tissue needed for transplants.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla
Clouds force NASA to delay launch
Associated Press
Rain clouds over the launch pad forced NASA to call off yesterday's liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour on a flight to deliver a new crew to the international space station.
It was the latest delay for Endeavour and its seven astronauts, held up last week by space station trouble. Launch managers said they would try again today.
"God's in control of the weather, we'll wait for him," commander Dominic Gorie replied from the cockpit.
Security was at an all-time high, especially during the final hours of the countdown. The clocks were halted at the five-minute mark once it became clear that the weather would not cooperate.
Endeavour was supposed to blast off Thursday, but had to wait for the space station's residents to clear a jammed docking mechanism. Monday's space walking repairs allowed an unmanned Russian supply ship to finally latch itself firmly to the orbiting outpost.
Besides the weather, the launch team also had to remove a pair of hand rails inadvertently left at the launch pad. Engineers feared the rails, located near Endeavour's engines, would blow away at liftoff and possibly damage the shuttle.
MIAMI
Authorities search O.J. Simpson's Florida home as part of ecstacy raid
Associated Press
Federal agents searched O.J. Simpson's home for more than six hours yesterday as part of an investigation into an Ecstasy drug ring also suspected of laundering money and stealing satellite TV equipment.
Nine people were arrested in Miami and two in Chicago as part of Operation X, FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said. Simpson was not among those arrested, and the FBI refused to discuss why he was involved.
Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, said no drugs or large amounts of money were found at the home and that his client had done nothing wrong. He said two boxes removed from the home contained legal satellite television equipment.
"I can assure you Mr. Simpson does not have enough money in his pocket or in his bank account to be involved in a money laundering ring," Galanter told reporters.
He said Simpson's only connection to the case is that his name was mentioned in a phone conversation involving some members of the ring that was taped by federal authorities. He said Simpson has no involvement in the ring, doesn't believe he knows the people involved and doesn't know why his name was mentioned.
Nine other homes in Miami were also searched by authorities.
Simpson was at home when agents arrived at about 6 a.m. In video shot by a helicopter, the former football star could be seen in his back yard, wearing a white bathrobe and playing with his dogs during the search.
About two hours later, Simpson left alone in his sports utility vehicle without speaking to reporters. He later declined comment.
Orihuela said the drug ring imported Ecstasy from Holland and stole equipment used to counterfeit cards that activate satellite TV receivers. She said the ring laundered about $800,000 and that a suspected ringleader remains at large, probably in Brazil.
Simpson moved to Florida from California after a civil court jury ordered him to pay $33.5 million for the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles. He had earlier been cleared of criminal charges.
It wasn't Simpson's first brush with the law since he moved to the Kendall neighborhood 15 miles southwest of Miami. He was acquitted in October of grabbing another driver's glasses and scratching the man's face during a road-rage argument.
Galanter said Simpson was not angered by the FBI search.
"He is used to this kind of thing," Galanter said.
