August 8, 1996

Reviewing Enterprise Zones An audit of economic development zones in New York State questions whether the program has helped revive poor communities, including four in New York City. Page B3. A Mutual Fund Slowdown The amount of money flowing into stock mutual funds fell in July to its lowest level in almost two years, and some big fund companies quit discussing performance. Page D1. Way Clear for Iraq Oil Sales The United States removed the last major barrier to carrying out an ''oil for food'' accord between the United Nations and Iraq. Page A9. Trash Hauler's Sale Vetoed Manhattan's District Attorney said a trash company charged with having Mafia ties tried to outsmart prosecutors to reap $70 million. Page B1.

Manhattan District Attorney's office vetoes sale of V Ponte & Sons to Mentmore Holding Co; V Ponte, New York City's largest trash-hauler, was indicted last year on charges that it had Mafia ties; prosecutors say that company thought it had found way to outsmart them by selling business and funneling proceeds through subsidiaries to its chief owner, Angelo Ponte (M)

Scientists and NASA officials reaffirm claim of finding strong evidence for past life on Mars and ask skeptics among world's scientists to join them in conducting even more rigorous tests to confirm or disprove it; agency Administrator Daniel S Goldin says possibility of Martian life, however primitive, would prompt thorough review of nation's program of exploring planet; says some of currently planned 10 robotic missions might be re-evaluated and serious thought given to speeding up plans to retrieve Martian rock sample; Vice Pres Al Gore will convene bipartisan summit by end of '96 to consider future of space program in light of finding; Pres Clinton says summit will discuss approach to scientific questions raised by discovery; vows space program will put full intellectual power and technological prowess behind search for further evidence of life on Mars; analysis of meteorite, found in Antarctica, discussed; photo; graph; diagram (M)

Republicans plan upcoming four-day National Convention in San Diego to maximize favorable television exposure; join communications technology to new sophistication about network news, infomercials and entertainment in planning tightly disciplined, fast-paced television variety show; paradox is that Bob Dole, more than any other major-party candidate in recent memory, disdains set pieces of television politics; question remains whether networks will broadcast much of it for them; photos (M)

Bob Dole and Republican strategists avoid floor fight over abortion at upcoming National Convention; agree to include statements by moderates, rejected earlier by Platform Committee, in appendix of minority views; Govs Pete Wilson and Christine Todd Whitman, pro-abortion advocates, voice satisfaction; platform, approved by committee, endorses Constitutional amendment banning abortion in all circumstances; photo (M)