April 27, 1998

Sixth Manchester International Cello Festival will be held a Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Eng; Orchestra of Germany's finest young musicians, led by Kurt Masur, will appear in 'Thank You, America' tour on 50th anniversary of Berlin airlift mounted by United States in defiance of Soviet blockade; Carnegie Hall will be site of 'Folkways at 50,' concert honoring Moses Asch, who incorporated Folkways Records in 1948 to preserve for future generations the sounds of the world; photo; Actors Studio will mark its 50th anniversary with discussions and readings by notable alumni (M)

New York Knickerbockers defeat Miami Heat, 96-86, to win second game of NBA playoff series; series is tied 1-1; photo (M)

Elizabeth Kolbert Metro Matters column discusses procedures established by New York City Cultural Affairs for handling applications to become 'certified artist' and therefore entitled to loft in SoHo section of Manhattan (M)

Clinton Administration slows payment of Medicare claims to save money; has also ordered insurance companies that review and pay such claims on its behalf to send fewer notices to beneficiaries and increase use of phone voice mail to answer queries from doctors checking status of unpaid claims; budget for reviewing and paying claims rose little in last few years, while claims soared; Medicare agency is also swamped with new duties (M)

Ordinary Chinese are increasingly suing powers that be, including their employers, state enterprises and police, acts of defiance against their broad and previously unchecked powers over people's lives; respond to far-reaching overhaul of legal system and rapid changes in economic and social order; number of cases resolved in favor of plaintiff is rising fast, despite laws that are sometimes unclear and unpredictable courts; photo (L)