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the former Soviet Central Asia for business and political influence. Trying to sidestep the US-inspired trade boycott, Iran is building a railroad into the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan in an effort to channel trade from the region through its Persian Gulf ports.

that negative stereotypes of aging might contribute to memory loss in the elderly. The study used subliminal messages to alter subject's scores on memory tests. Those who received positive images, like wisdom and creativity, improved on their baseline scores...while negative messages resulted in lower scores.

Clinton Administration and Silicon Valley over computer software encryption. The government has prepared new regulations on U.S. export of sophisticated encryption programs...they're worried that criminals and terrorists could secretly communicate with each other.

and the Republican controlled Congress will be able to reach compromise on legislation that would restore long term financial stability to Medicare. Without such measures, Medicare is expected to run short of money to pay the hospital bills of elderly and disabled Americans by the year 2001.

the state of Washington's strict regulations on oil tanker safety. Officials say their rules are tougher than federal standards, to protect the state's thousands of miles of vulnerable and pristine coastline. The world's largest independent tanker organization has challenged the state's safety measures.

into Anthony Lake's nomination to be Director of the CIA. Senator Richard Shelby, the Republican Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, says he want to wait until the Justice Department concludes two investigations: one into Lake's investments; the other into allegations that he misled Congress.

at the Justice Department, into allegations that the FBI crime lab has compromised major cases by contaminating evidence from crime scenes. Of particular significance are allegations that the Oklahoma City bombing investigation was bungled and may jeopardize the government's case.

in San Francisco has upheld Proposition 209, California's voter-approved initiative which bans affirmative action programs in public hiring, education and contracting. The measure had been suspended by a lower court since soon after its passage in November.

on the huge class action suit against Swiss banks, started by a Holocaust survivor who lives in Brooklyn and joined by more than 12,000 other people. They are seeking access to the records of Swiss bank from the war years, records which the banks previously said did not exist.

for survival. 85 percent of the personal computer market belongs to IBM-compatible machines, leaving Apple with a small, loyal base centered on graphics and multimedia users. These users are unlikely to switch systems in the short-term, but will only stay with Apple as long as they can continue to get cutting-edge software.