Fighting terror notebook

U.S. to speed biowar drug approvals

WASHINGTON -- Responding to the threat of anthrax and other forms of chemical and biological terrorism, the Food and Drug Administration adopted rules Thursday that will speed the approval of drugs that could protect people from attacks.

The agency said that in some unusual circumstances it would allow companies to base their new drug applications on animal testing alone when assessing whether a drug is effective. Previously, a drug's effectiveness had to be tested on humans before the FDA would allow it onto the market.

Some consumer advocates said Thursday that they are wary of the animal-testing rule, contending that its use could expand to other less pressing concerns.

Slain journalist's widow bears his son

NEW YORK -- The widow of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl has given birth to a baby boy in Paris.

The baby, Adam D. Pearl, was born Tuesday, said Ashley McCown, a Boston spokeswoman for the family. He weighs about 6 pounds.

Mariane Pearl, a freelance journalist, was six months pregnant with their only child when Pearl, 38, disappeared.

U.S. releases most detainees taken in raid

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Two Chinook helicopters on Thursday dropped off most of the detainees snatched in a U.S. raid on an Afghan village last week.

U.S. officials have said the May 24 raid was based on intelligence reports that senior al-Qaida and Taliban officials were in Band Taimore, about 50 miles from the southern city of Kandahar.

One Afghan was killed in the operation, and villagers say a 3-year-old girl drowned when she hid in a well.

Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that 50 of the 55 people taken captive had been released. He said five who are "still of interest to us" are being detained. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said at least one has been identified as a Taliban official "below the senior level."

In brief ...

GAY SURVIVORS' AWARDS: The federal Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund is likely to provide awards for some gay partners of men and women who died in the terrorist attacks, the fund's administrator said Thursday. Kenneth Feinberg, the fund's special master, said partners who have the cooperation of the victim's next of kin will almost definitely receive awards. In cases in which the family and the gay partner cannot agree, Feinberg said, the outcome is murkier.

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