World-Wide
BRITAIN'S TORIES CHOSE John Major to succeed Thatcher as prime minister.</br></br>The 47-year-old Treasury chief, who was Thatcher's own favored successor, swept a secret ballot of Conservative Party lawmakers. Although he fell two votes short of the majority needed to win, his fellow contenders, ex-Defense Secretary Heseltine and Foreign Secretary Hurd, quickly conceded defeat, clearing the way for Major to enter 10 Downing Street today. He takes the helm of a nation in a recession, saddled with a hated poll tax and confused about its policy toward Europe.</br></br>Less than a week ago, Heseltine looked unbeatable. But many Tories viewed the self-made millionaire as too flashy, and others were furious at him for sparking Thatcher's resignation.</br></br>---</br></br>A SENATE PANEL OPENED hearings on the Bush administration's Gulf policy.