June 20, 1992

Declaring that the Federal Government "may not conscript state governments as its agents," the Supreme Court today held unconstitutional a central portion of a law aimed at making states take responsibility for the low-level radioactive waste generated within their borders. The 6-to-3 decision was a victory for New York State, which has been unable to find a politically acceptable site in the state for disposing of contaminated medical and industrial waste. Such wastes have been the focus of a nationwide policy dispute.

The Kwamadala Hostel hulks here on the edge of the vast Iscor steelworks, part Zulu laborers' dormitory, part refugee camp, part political ward and, by many accounts, part staging area for some of South Africa's most savage political killings. Today the hostel and its murky relationship with the South African police were at the center of the country's stunned attention after the seemingly random massacre of 39 black men, women and children on Wednesday night in Boipatong township, less than a mile away.

There was a polite ripple of applause as the carriage carrying Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales curled beside the grandstand at the Royal Ascot on Tuesday. It was the opening day of the summer season, and the men in top hats and morning coats and the women in pastel dresses were there as much to watch the members of the royal family as the race horses. But it was the second carriage, the one carrying the Princess of Wales, that caused the commotion. As it approached, the applause began to swell, growing louder and louder. Behind the ropes, some people were shouting, and waving hats in the air. "Di!" one man hollered, above the din. "We're with you!" No Public Comment Two weeks after newspapers in London began printing excerpts from a new book depicting the 30-year-old Princess as abjectly depressed and even suicidal over her marriage to the Prince of Wales, Britons remain alternately enthralled and horrified.

Ireland has voted for a treaty on European political and monetary union by a resounding margin, according to referendum results announced today. The vote appeared to revive the treaty's chances of surviving and gaining wider approval in the rest of the European Community. "Today here in Ireland," said Prime Minister Albert Reynolds, "after much hard pounding and what many feared would be a damn close-run thing, we have succeeded in putting European union back on the rails."

A former Exxon employee and his wife were arrested today and charged with kidnapping Sidney J. Reso, the Exxon executive who disappeared nearly two months ago. There was no word on the whereabouts of Mr. Reso, the 57-year-old president of Exxon International. "This should be a cause for celebrating," said W. Michael Murphy, the Morris County Prosecutor, "but it isn't, because we still haven't achieved our goal, the safe return of Mr. Reso."