Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Thu, Jun 4 1992 Date: Thu, 4 Jun 92 05:20:44 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update June 4, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network DON'T EXPECT BIG U.S. ADDITIONS: The Bush administration ruled out major Earth Summit contributions during opening ceremonies Wednesday in Brazil. Representatives of 178 nations are in Rio de Janeiro to develop programs to help poor nations and protect the global environment. Environmental Protection Agency chief William Reilly said, the USA won't approach the summit "as if we can add a great deal." AIDS HEADING `OUT OF CONTROL': The global HIV epidemic could grow far beyond the 40 million infections previously predicted by the year 2000, a research group said Wednesday. Up to 110 million adults and 10 million children could have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, if the epidemic continues "heading out of control," says Dr. Jonathan Mann of the Global AIDS Policy Coalition. SENATE LIMITS `INDECENT' SHOWS: The Senate Wednesday limited "indecent" TV and radio broadcasts to between midnight and 6 a.m., bringing threats of court action from broadcasters. The ban, approved 93-3, would apply to commercial and public broadcasting, but not cable networks. The change would expand the power of the Federal Communications Commission, which now can't stop programs airing after 8 p.m. PUBLIC TV GETS BOOST FROM HILL: Taxpayer support for public broadcasting was approved by the Senate Wednesday, but conservative critics warned they'll be alert for liberal bias in shows airing between "Sesame Street" and "Nature." The bill authorizing up to $1.1 billion to finance the Corporation for Public Broadcasting through 1996 passed by an 84-11 vote. The bill contains amendments designed to mollify critics. FARE WARS SET AT&T RECORDS: A flood of calls by travelers seeking cheap airfares has busted long-distance calling records for AT&T. Four of AT&T's top five marks have been set in the seven days since American Airlines slashed fares 50%. The record: 177.4 million calls handled on Monday. "In order to keep lines open for the airlines to use, we had to block some calls," says John Skalko of AT&T. PEROT HIRES ONE FROM EACH CAMP: Texas billionaire Ross Perot, who presents himself as the ultimate outsider, has put the ultimate insiders on the payroll. The prickly entrepreneur hired Ed Rollins, who managed President Reagan's 1984 campaign, and Hamilton Jordan, who managed President Carter's 1976 campaign, to run his not-yet-official campaign. "It's a huge coup," said Bert Lance, a former Carter aide. LAWMAKERS TRY TO PUNISH CHINA: Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday they'll try again to attach conditions to China's most-favored-nation trade status, targeting sanctions on Chinese state-owned industries. President Bush announced Tuesday he intends to renew China's most-favored-nation status, giving Beijing the lowest possible tariffs on goods sold in the USA. Bush vetoed previous congressional restrictions. ALLIES WILL BE TOLD TO PAY MORE: The House Wednesday approved forcing U.S. allies to pay more for their defense as it opened debate on a $274 billion military budget. The Bush administration opposes the measure, which passed 396-9. It increases the tab for South Korea and NATO allies by about $6 billion for stationing U.S. troops there. NETWORKS SCORN BUSH: President Bush, frustrated by an inability to drive his campaign themes home and daunted by Ross Perot, wanted to command voter attention in Thursday's press conference. But the strategy to make his case to voters in prime time fizzled. Only CNN agreed to air the broadcast live. Other networks said they wouldn't, citing concerns he'd talk politics. DEFECTOR'S WIFE WANTS ASSISTANCE: The wife of a onetime National Security Agency decoder who defected to the Soviet Union 30 years ago is asking help from Congress to bring her husband home after learning he's alive but ill in a psychiatric prison. Lillie Hamilton, 73, said Wednesday that she and her two daughters were stunned by reports that her husband, Victor Norris Hamilton, 75, was tortured in confinement. DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Thursday at 3406.99 after closing up 10.89 Wednesday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 228.65, up 0.45. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 395.95, up 1.70. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 589.93, up 0.75. HEAT CONTINUES IN SOUTHWEST: The heat is on in the Southwest Thursday, with some locations topping the 110-degree mark. Along the West Coast, temperatures will be more moderate as sunny weather prevails. Showers will stretch from the northern Plains into the Midwest as cool weather pushes in from Canada. Warm, humid air will hug the Southeast, resulting in scattered rain and thunderstorms. News Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM