News stories from Sunday July 11, 1982
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Clear signs of economic recovery are needed to protect the Republican Party from fall election losses that could be serious enough to jeopardize President Reagan's precarious coalition in Congress over the next two years, Republican strategists say. Democrats and some Republicans say that Republican candidates may already be "locked into" an unfavorable economic picture. Even White House officials say there must be a clear upward trend soon to help their party in the congressional campaign. [New York Times]
- Warnings of hazardous wind shifts were broadcast to pilots from the New Orleans airport tower while the Pan American World Airways plane that crashed in a New Orleans suburb Friday afternoon was preparing to take off, federal officials said. The warnings reinforced the general view of government and other experts that a sudden change of direction of surface winds -- called a "wind shear" -- generated by rainstorms was a likely cause of the crash. [New York Times]
- Organized crime's influence on the largest casino union in Atlantic City is feared by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. It has asked the Casino Control Commission to reyoke the commission's certification of Local 54 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders Union to operate in casino hotels. The local represents 12,000 hotel service employees. Authorities believe that organized crime might use the union to extract payments from the casinos in return for labor peace. [New York Times]
- A fierce artillery fight in west Beirut seemed to indicate that the Palestinian guerrillas besieged by Israeli armored units still had a great deal of ammunition, weapons and resolve. For the first time, the Palestinians fired back on Israeli gun positions in Christian east Beirut. The battle broke up negotiations for a settlement as all diplomatic efforts focused on a cease-fire. [New York Times]
- Philip Habib needs more time to bring about an agreement in Beirut for the withdrawal of Palestinian forces, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger said. "A realistic assessment" of the time needed by Mr. Habib, the special American envoy, is three more weeks, Mr. Weinberger said. Other administration officials said, however, that they were far from certain that Israel would continue to hold off an invasion of west Beirut for that long. [New York Times]
- A sullen mood of uncertainty hangs over Argentina a month after its surrender over the Falklands. The defeat, combined with recession, three-digit inflation, political confusion, international isolation and even the loss in the World Cup have left many Argentines demoralized. [New York Times]
- Italy won the soccer World Cup, its first in 44 years, by defeating West Germany, 3-1, in the tournament final in Madrid. Paolo Rossi scored the first goal and set up the second. [New York Times]
- Abuse of political prisoners in Poland was complained about in a letter said by Roman Catholic Church sources to have been smuggled out a prison in southern Poland. It said that political prisoners have been beaten by guards, that many are sick because of poor food and that religious objects have been destroyed. [New York Times]