News Currents

UNITED STATES

An opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas when he was a member of the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia strikes down a US policy that gave women preference over men in the awarding of broadcast licenses. It is seen as a defeat for women's rights advocates and contrary to both Federal Communications Commission directives and the will of Congress. The opinion holds that such a practice violates the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment.... The Senate approved legislation

yesterday that would reshape the nation's energy policy by overhauling the domestic utility industry, promoting energy efficiency and cleaner fuels. EUROPE

Irish Republican Army fugitive Joseph Doherty was imprisoned in Northern Ireland yesterday after the US deported him following his nine-year battle for asylum in the US.... The Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers met in Moscow yesterday in a new Russian-sponsored bid to settle the increasingly bloody territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.... A Swedish building contractor has reached a $500 million agreement to construct 1,000 Baptist churches in Russia.... Finland has invited leaders of 10 former So viet republics to Helsinki next week to sign the final document of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Bob Hawke quit Australia's parliament Thursday to become a media star, two months after being dumped as prime minister by his own Labor Party.... Thailand and Laos, which fought a brief but bloody border war four years ago, have signed agreements to solve their disputes peacefully and boost trade relations.