News Digest October 3-9

By William R. Doerner, Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Brigid O''Hara-Forster, Jeffery C. Rubin, Megan Rutherford, Sophfronia Scott Gregory

WORLD

Re-Election Drill

Egypt's Hosni Mubarak celebrated his never-in-doubt re-election as President at an elaborate salute, with precision drill teams and flash-card shows, in Cairo Stadium. Mubarak's total in the yes-no referendum was 94.9%. He promised to spend his third term working "to improve the level of income of the simple citizen."

Another Peace Feast?

While Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds cautioned against hoping for an "overnight resolution," he and British officials expressed interest in a fresh peace initiative for Northern Ireland. Advanced by two prominent Roman Catholic leaders in Ulster, the still secret proposal appeared aimed at arranging a cease-fire that in turn could lead to the inclusion of Sinn Fein, the political arm of the outlawed I.R.A., in direct talks with the British and Irish governments and the political parties in Ulster.

BUSINESS

Fast Forward in Japan

The annual Japan electronics show, which in recent years has limped through a new-products dry spell, may have regained some of its cachet. Among new consumer products, Sony and other manufacturers viewed lines of video compact- disc players, which provide fare for viewing as well as for listening on standard-size CDs. Sanyo Electric's eye catcher was 3-D television, which does not require users to wear polarized glasses -- and initially will cost at lest $57,000 a set. Both products will be avaiilable in mid-1994.

Bomb-Alert Beepers

The Ulster peace feelers notwithstanding, the City of London has devised a plan to foil I.R.A. terrorists, who have made the financial center a favorite target. Beginning immmediately, British Telecommunications expects to rent some 5,000 pocket pagers to braodcast police bomb alerts. The beeper units, which have a small screen display to give the location of a suspected explosive, will cost about $37.50 quarterly.