April 11, 1994

"Terrorists in uniform," is the way Siphiwe Nyanda remembers the South African Defense Force in its all-too-recent incarnation as the whip hand of apartheid and scourge of black resistance movements. "Butchers," he adds emphatically, warming to the subject of the army that hunted him in his years as a guerrilla of the anti-apartheid underground called Spear of the Nation. "Marauders -- people who wreaked havoc in the country and the subcontinent. Assassins. Killers. A ruthless army which had absolutely no legitimacy, hated and vilified by our people."

After nearly four years of recession, and well behind the rest of the nation, the economic and political powerhouse that is California is finally showing signs of recovery. Since January, California has added 29,000 jobs, a three-month spike in employment after a long, painful decline. That increase is dwarfed by the tens of thousands of aerospace jobs that disappeared in the 1990's, but it nevertheless has economists here trumpeting better things to come.

TURMOIL IN THE SCHOOLS: NEGOTIATING THE CHANCELLOR'S RETURN Schools Chancellor Ramon C. Cortines agreed to continue in his post, shaking hands with Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani after the two men announced a settlement that put an end to their confrontation over school management that had become the Mayor's worst crisis and led to Mr. Cortines's resignation on Friday. A1. A TIMELY VICTORY FOR CUOMO Mario M. Cuomo, who seems to have been the major force in mediating the schools dispute, has long understood the political power of conciliation. With Mr. Cuomo trying to overcome dismal approval ratings in his fourth gubernatorial campaign, the timing of his apparently successful efforts to resolve the imediate conflict between Mayor Giuliani and Chancellor Cortines could not have been better for himself. B6.

By military standards, the air strikes carried out today against the Serbs in Bosnia were extremely modest. But the two American F-16C's that attacked Serbian positions outside the besieged town of Gorazde crossed a major political boundary. The attacks marked the first time that air power has been used against Serbian positions in Bosnia, as well as the first time in the 45-year history of the NATO alliance that it has ever carried out a bombing raid. It also represents an important milestone for the Clinton Administration.

The Nets believe they can beat the Knicks any time, anywhere. And today, the Nets did it again, with ease. They dominated New York, 107-88, at Byrne Meadowlands Arena, winning their fourth game in five meetings this season against the Knicks. There is a distinct possibility that these two teams could meet in the playoffs, which begin in late April. That could be the Knicks' worst nightmare.