Search

Discusses the Olof Palme case, and the fact that three years and seven months after the Prime Minister was killed in central Stockholm and two months after a man was convicted of the crime, it continues to generate scandal, revelation and uncertainty about conspiracy. Speculations and irregularities.

Discusses Rupert Murdoch's latest venture, Sky Television, a four-channel satellite service that has lost $120 million in its first five months. Murdoch defends Sky Television at the Edinburgh cultural festival; Potential competition from British Satellite broadcasting; Growth estimates for Sky; Sky's programming.

Reports that a London party became a disaster when a pleasure cruiser was sunk by a barge on the Thames. Casualties; Events as they occurred; Arrests.

Discusses the fact that President Gorbachev's push for a more market-oriented economy has been frustrated by the old Centralized Soviet system that holds to the rule that the producer, not the consumer, is always right. Economic structural changes; Concerns and resistance.

Discusses the new breed of Soviet freelance executives as a byproduct of perestroika. New concepts of joint ventures with foreign companies, risk and economic accountability; New need for accountants; Importance of training.

Explains how Mikhail Gorbachev's attack on alcoholism has led the Kristall vodka distillery's manager, Vladimir A. Yamnikov, 49, to use a Western-style strategy to keep the plant profitable.

Reports that the rash of oil tanker mishaps has strengthened the case of critics arguing that international ship owners have too often undermined maritime safety in the pursuit of cost-cutting shortcuts. Issue of the current blend of market forces and regulatory oversight; Spill statistics; Use of double-hull tankers; Flags of convenience.

Reports that a Norwegian rescue ship, the Senja, rescued nearly 1,000 people from the Soviet cruise vessel, Maxim Gorky, that had run into an iceberg in the Greenland Sea, ripping two large holes in the side of the 630-foot ship. Details of rescue; Reasons for accident probed; Background of ship; History of Soviet cruise ship accidents.

Reports that Lisbet Palme, the widow of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, was certain that the man accused of killing her husband in 1986 was the same man that she saw just after the shooting. Mrs. Palme's testimony discussed.

Discusses the effect of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's term in office on the British economy. Resurgent inflation; Labor unrest; Economic outlook.

Addresses the rise of advertising used by the British government under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Promotion of entrepreneurs, small businesses, public service programs, and policy fields via the market forces; Percentage of advertising dollars represented by the government; Ties to the Thatcher Government's belief in self-help and the power of the marketplace.

Reports that free enterprise for British pubs is a new aim of the Thatcher government, which says the system under which big brewing companies own most of the nation's pubs, amounts to a cartel. Findings of two-and-a-half year investigation; Proposals for change; Reactions.

Reports on the economic impact of a series of troubles experienced in Britain's North Sea oilfields. Specific accidents; Lack of adherence to procedures seen as major cause.

Reports on the announced merger between the SmithKline Beckman Corporation and the Beecham Group P.L.C. to form SmithKline Beecham P.L.C. that will be the second largest drug company in the world. Analysis of deal.

Reports that the old craft of thatching a roof has had a resurgence in Britain.

Reports that commercial television is vastly expanding in Europe, giving rise to speculation about what cultural changes will be brought by the increased exposure to the powers of television.

Report that some participants in the British book industry plan to break the longstanding agreement in Britain under which a new book must be sold at the price set by the publisher.

Afghan guerrilla leaders declared Afghanistan to be a free Muslim state which they hope to be in control of within a month. Sibgatullah Mojadedi was elected president of interim government.

Salman Rushdie, author of the novel `The Satanic Verses' issued a statement expressing regret that his book had distressed Muslims. Iranian president had suggested that Rushdie apologize. Official Iranian reaction to apology unclear.

Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has announced her intention to launch drastic changes in the nation's health care system. While her plan calls for the application of free-market ideas to a state-financed system in hopes of improving the quality of medical service, opponents are attacking the reforms as the first step toward the `privatization' of health care, which they claim will ultimately lead to high-cost, inequitable care.