EVENTS
CLINTON, YELTSIN TO MEET APRIL 4
President Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin will hold a summit meeting April 4, the White House said. The United States is watching with concern as Mr. Yeltsin struggles to preserve his power and authority against a challenge from parliament chairman Ruslan Khasbulatov. The summit was arranged by US Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, but they did not publicly link the summit to internal Russian developments. In a new setback for the Russian leader
yesterday, the parliament snubbed his proposals for a "constitutional agreement" to end the power struggle between the legislative and executive branches. But an aide to Yeltsin said the referendum would go ahead, despite opposition. Street fights in Somalia
US marines and Nigerian soldiers firing grenades and machine guns battled snipers yesterday in central Mogadishu. At least one Somali was killed and three marines and a Nigerian were wounded. A relief agency about a half mile away also came under fire. A CARE worker said mobs of Somalis were back in the streets a day after rioting on Feb. 24 in which Somalis shouting anti-American slogans faced off with coalition soldiers. At least five Somalis were killed that day. Relief work has been halted and aid wo rkers may be pulled out. And plans for a transition to United Nations command and for formation of an interim government have been complicated. Trial of police starts
Prosecutors and defense lawyers delivered opening statements yesterday in the federal trial of four white police officers accused of violating black motorist Rodney King's civil rights in a videotaped beating. US District Judge John Davies rejected a defense request for a mistrial Feb. 24, clearing the way for both sides to begin arguing the bitterly divisive case before a jury of nine whites, two blacks, and one Hispanic. No "Windows" trademark
The US government has issued a preliminary decision denying the Microsoft Corporation a trademark for the name "Windows" on its successful software line. The ruling by the US Patent and Trademark Office could, if upheld, amount to a big setback for the computer program giant, now the target of an antitrust investigation. Canada and homosexuals
A homosexual federal employee does not qualify for the same family-related job benefits as a heterosexual worker, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled yesterday. The court decided 4 to 3 that Brian Mossop, a federal translator from Toronto, was not eligible for a paid day of leave in June 1985 to attend the funeral of his lover's father. Serbs block Danube
Serb barges have blocked a key Danube River section since Feb. 23 in protest against Romania's enforcement of UN sanctions on Yugoslavia, a Romanian port official told Reuters. The incident seemed likely to complicate a visit by Yugoslav President Dobrica Cosic, who was due in Bucharest for talks on the Yugoslav wars.