Bono's New Casualty: 'Private Ryan'
Date: 21 November 2004
By Frank Rich
Frank Rich
Frank Rich column suggests that if Steven Spielberg's movie Saving Private Ryan can be censored by 66 ABC stations that fear film's expletives would lead to punishment by FCC, we run danger that reports on war in Iraq can also be censored; says mere threat of FCC punishment can push broadcasters into self-censorship; asserts even now news organizations reporting facts that disagree with administration version of events risk being called traitors; photos (L)
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Japanese Official Warns of Fissures in North Korea
Date: 22 November 2004
By James Brooke
James Brooke
Indications of change within North Korean government prompt Japanese officials and media to speculate about future leadership of Chairman Kim Jong Il; recent defections of military leaders, estimated by editor of Monthly Chosun, South Korean magazine, at around 130 Generals, or 10 percent of military leadership, and spring 2004 explosion that narrowly missed train carrying Kim suggest unrest and possiblity of coup attempt; some observers hold that minor changes, such as removal of Kim's picture from some buildings, could be precursor to new political agenda; photo (M)
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Cameraman Details Marine's Role in Mosque Shooting
Date: 22 November 2004
By James Glanz and Edward Wong
James Glanz
Kevin Sites, freelance photojournalist working for National Broadcasting Company, discusses recent incident he filmed while accompanying Marine's assault on Falluja; video, which shows Marine apparently shooting and killing unarmed and wounded Iraqi prisoner in mosque, raises questions about incident and events leading up to shooting; Sites explains that video was not intended as anti-war piece, but news reporting; incident described; photo (M)
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For Nascar, Playoff Gamble Wins Big
Date: 21 November 2004
By Viv Bernstein
Viv Bernstein
Nascar's decision to change end-of-season format to 10-race playoff known as Nextel Cup Chase for Championship is perceived as success as television ratings, fan enthusiasm and media attention enjoy boost (M)
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Ford Engineer Is Promoted
Date: 22 November 2004
Ford Motor Co promotes Hau Thai-Tang, top engineer of redesigned Mustang, to direct future product development at company (S)
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Killer of Journalists Sentenced to Death
Date: 21 November 2004
Former Taliban fighter Reza Khan is sentenced to death in Kabul for his role in killing of foreign journalists Harry Burton, Maria Grazia Cutuli and Julio Fuentes and Afghan photographer Azizullah Haidari in November 2001; also was convicted of raping Cutuli before she was killed; Taliban members ambushed party on road between Kabul and Jalalabad shortly after Kabul fell (S)
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NEWS SUMMARY
Date: 22 November 2004
INTERNATIONAL A3-15 Large Iraqi Debt Lowered, Easing Economic Burden The world's leading industrialized nations agreed to cancel 80 percent of Iraq's nearly $39 billion debt, a critical step in rebuilding the country's devastated economy and an important precedent for other creditors. A1 A marine who appears to shoot and kill an unarmed and wounded Iraqi prisoner in an NBC video was not aware that the incident was being recorded, and moments later approached the cameraman with seemingly remorseful words, according to the first public description of the events by the cameraman, Kevin Sites. A12 Iraqi electoral officials scheduled national elections for Jan. 30, but voter registration is badly hampered because of violence. About 90 of more than 540 registration centers have been shut down because of violence or threats of it. A13 Iran Pledges to Meet Deadline Iran pledged to meet its deadline and suspend its uranium enrichment activities today. Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for electricity production only, but the United States has accused it of trying to make nuclear weapons. A team of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency is in place to police the project. A8 Aid for Palestinian Elections Secretary of State Colin L. Powell arrived in Israel and said he would work with Palestinian leaders to come up with an American financial aid package to facilitate elections and improve their security forces. Mr. Powell also suggested that he would press Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to describe other steps Israel might take to help. A6 Guerrilla Suggested for Office A former ethnic Albanian guerrilla commander widely believed to be under investigation for war crimes is being put forward to become prime minister of Kosovo, a prospect that is causing alarm among international officials there. A10 55 Die in Chinese Crash A China Eastern Airlines commuter plane crashed, killing all 53 people on board and 2 on the ground. The initial reports suggested that the plane broke into flames and began falling apart after takeoff. There was no immediate indication whether the crash was caused by a major malfunction, a terrorist attack or some other problem onboard. A15 Chinese Party Leader Resigns The leader of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong, Yeung Sum, announced that he would step down next month, taking responsibility for the party's worse than expected showing in legislative elections in September. Mr. Yeung will remain a member of Hong Kong's 60-member Legislative Council. A14 Chile Downsizes Bush Dinner President Bush's visit to Chile ended on a bizarre note when the Chilean government disinvited more than 200 guests to a dinner with the president rather than let the Secret Service screen them for weapons. A8 NATIONAL A16-24 Bush Will Seek to Revive Blocked Intelligence Bill President Bush vowed to work with Congress to revive a bill to enact major recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission, as Republicans struggled to explain why House Republicans blocked the bill's passage despite the president's lobbying. A1 Rest Easy, TV Sinners The election will have little impact on which shows they put on television, representatives of the four big broadcast networks as well as Hollywood production studios said in a series of interviews. A1 A Religious Perspective in Law At the Liberty School of Law in Lynchburg, Va., a class in civil procedure began with a prayer. Some schools are bringing a religious perspective to the law and a moral component to legal practice. A16 Deferral Strategy Fails Amtrak Amtrak's strategy of scraping by on limited budgets by deferring capital investments is not working, according to the inspector general of the Transportation Department, recommending that Congress either give the railroad more money or tell it to cut back operations. A16 Outcry Over Tax Provision Some Republicans denied any ill motives even as senators from both parties expressed outrage over a clause in a spending bill to allow some Congressional officials to examine income tax returns. A22 Enforcing Civil Rights Law Federal enforcement of civil rights laws has dropped sharply since 1999, as the level of complaints received by the Justice Department has been constant, according a new study. A17 5 Dead in Deer Hunting Dispute A dispute among deer hunters over a tree stand in northwestern Wisconsin erupted in a shooting that left five people dead and three injured, officials said. A20 Hotel Workers to Return A group representing 14 luxury hotels in San Francisco has agreed to end an eight-week lockout, allowing about 4,000 maids, bellhops, and cooks to return to their jobs. A17 Judge Denies G.O.P. in Recount An effort by the Republican Party to force Washington State's most populous county to stop counting some ballots in the recount of the governor's race was denied by a federal judge. A20 EDUCATION Power Shifts to Schools State and school officials now have more power to shape the terms for providing services to disabled children. In updating the law governing special education, Congress pared down rights that advocates for disabled students won during the Clinton administration. A22 NEW YORK/REGION B1-8 New York Port Bustling With Asian Trade The Port of New York, which fell into a slump in the second half of the 20th century, is beginning to thrive again because of an explosion of trade with China. Trade through the port has grown faster in the last five years than at any time since World War II. Last year, $100 billion of wares moved through the port. A1 A Conflict Heads West Hundreds of demonstrators from across the globe are flooding the streets of New York to press their case that the Chinese government is persecuting the practitioners of Falun Gong, a form of spiritual calisthenics and meditation. Supporters say 1,100 have died and thousands more tortured and imprisoned for their beliefs, chiefly in China, but increasingly in other countries. B1 Immigrants Off to Oxford Two CUNY students, both from the former Soviet Union, are among several first-generation United States immigrants named as Rhodes Scholars. B1 Cross Burned on Long Island A cross was burned on the front lawn of the home of an interracial couple in Lake Grove, Suffolk County. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime, the police said. B7 Neediest Cases B8 SPORTSMONDAY D1-9 Players Suspended After Brawl The National Basketball Association imposed its harshest collective penalties ever, suspending the Indiana Pacers' Ron Artest for the remaining 72 games of the season and suspending his teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal for a combined 55 games for fighting with fans Friday night. A1 OBITUARIES A25 Dr. Robert F. Bacher Nuclear physicist and one of the leaders of the Manhattan Project, he was 99. A25 BUSINESS DAY C1-8 Division on Tax Code President Bush is likely to be pulled by conflicts between parts of his political base, as key Republican groups are already divided about how or even whether to proceed with an overhaul of the tax code. C1 Digital-Only Record Label Major record labels are looking to digital sales as a first step on the road to the larger music marketplace after years infighting over how to sell music online and grappling with the Internet, which the record industry says has threatened its underlying economic structure. C1 TV, Phone and Web PackagePhone companies and satellite providers are offering inexpensive all-in-one packages that bundle TV with Internet and phone services, in an effort to cater to cable companies' disgruntled customers. C1 Paper Catalog Method E-commerce companies, who see their Web sites as strong order-taking venues, but weak vehicles to reach new customers, are increasingly using paper catalogs to reach customers who are not frequent Internet shoppers. C1 Business Digest C1 World Business W1 ARTS E1-10 EDITORIAL A26-27 Editorials: Costly troop deficit in Iraq; jailhouse blues; radio tags for pharmaceuticals. Columns: William Safire and Bob Herbert. Autos D11 Metro Diary B2 Bridge E6 TV Listings E9 Crossword E6 Weather D12
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Election Over, Fox News Moves Into Canada
Date: 22 November 2004
By Ian Austen
Ian Austen
Canada's broadcasting regulator give cable and satellite television service companies permission to carry Fox News Channel (S)
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Who's Afraid of Kmart and Sears? Not Target
Date: 21 November 2004
By Dan Mitchell
Dan Mitchell
Many analysts say that merger of Kmart and Sears may be great financial deal for both sides, but that new entity, Sears Holdings Corp, will face formidable challenges, not the least of which is falling sales; say Wal-Mart Stores and Target will be better off if they worry more about each other than about Sears Holding; photo (M)
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Plane Crashes in Frozen Lake in Northern China, Killing 55
Date: 22 November 2004
By Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn
China Eastern Airlines commuter plane carrying 47 passengers and 6 crew members, crashes shortly after takeoff from Baotou en route to Shanghai, China; two people on ground are also killed when plane bursts into flame and crashes into Nanhai Park lake; no immediate cause for crash is established; map (S)
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