April 4, 2000

Prime Min Keizo Obuchi is in coma, kept alive on respirator, after suffering stroke on April 2; Japan does not learn gravity of his illness until nearly 36 hours after he is hospitalized; Mikio Aoki, chief cabinet secretary, assumes temporary control of government; political analysts predict that country will hold elections before July; leading candidates for prime minister are Foreign Min Yohei Kono and Yoshiro Mori, secretary general of ruling Liberal Democratic Party; photos (M)

Coca-Cola Co, in another sign of how extensively it plans to overhaul sales and marketing of its soft drinks, will disband unconventional in-house advertising agency Edge Creative that has led way in creating campaigns for its flagship brand; decision to close Edge Creative and to reassign its responsibilities to traditional Madison Avenue agencies is indicative of significant shifts company is making in response to pressure from competitiors and investors; ideas for next round of ads for flagship brand, scheduled for summer, will be considered from Leo Burnett unit of B Com3 Group and six other Madison Avenue agencies that have contributed commercials for that product in recent years (M)

Graduate students who work as teaching and research assistants at New York University may organize a union under ruling by Daniel Silverman, regional director for National Labor Relations Board; decision could alter relationship between graduate students and their professors at private colleges and universities across United States; NYU is expected to appeal decision, which clears way for students to join United Auto Workers (M)

Ron Wertheimer reviews CBS show Falcone; photo (S)

Federal Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson rules that Microsoft Corp violated nation's antitrust laws through predatory and anticompetitive behavior; sides with government on most important points in its antitrust suit; Justice Dept and 19 states contend that Microsoft hurt consumers by stifling competition in software marketplace, particularly at expense of Netscape browser; ruling comes after settlement talks collapsed; Jackson rules in Microsoft's favor on one of antitrust charges; says its marketing contracts with other companies did not deprive Netscape of ability to distribute its Web browser; photo (M)