TODAY'S HEADLINES
The New York Times on the Web
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
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For news updated throughout the day, visit www.nytimes.com


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QUOTE OF THE DAY
=========================
"This is what Afghanistan is. We kill each other."
-FAQIR MUHAMMAD, military chieftain.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/international/asia/19BORA.html?todaysheadlines


NATIONAL
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U.S. Will Offer Anthrax Shots for Thousands

Health officials said they would offer the military's
anthrax  vaccine to thousands of Capitol Hill workers and
postal employees who were exposed to the disease.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/national/19VACC.html?todaysheadlines

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Death Sentence Overturned in 1981 Killing of Officer

A federal judge in Philadelphia threw out the death sentence
for Mumia Abu-Jamal, a former journalist and Black Panther
convicted of a 1981 police shooting, but upheld the murder
conviction.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/national/19PHIL.html?todaysheadlines

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Ex-Lawmaker From Jordan Is Held in Chicago

A retired Jordanian lawmaker who was leading  local Muslims
in a celebration to mark the end of Ramadan is being held
on immigration charges.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/national/19ARRE.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE NATIONAL NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/index.html?todaysheadline


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INTERNATIONAL
=========================
Hundreds of Qaeda Fighters Slip Into Pakistan

Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters have crossed into Pakistan
through frozen mountain passes to disappear into remote
tribal areas, Western and Pakistani officials said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/international/asia/19STAN.html?todaysheadlines

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Arab Soldiers in the Israeli Army Are Viewed as an Enemy
Within

In Rafah, the clash between Palestinians and youthful
Israelis has its own particular twist: the combatants on
both sides are Muslims.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/international/middleeast/19MIDE.html?todaysheadlines

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Rumsfeld Asks NATO to Shift to Wide Fight Against Terror

Declaring that the war on terrorism will continue, Defense
Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday urged NATO to shift
its focus to fighting terror around the world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/international/europe/19NATO.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/index.html?todaysheadline




BUSINESS
=========================
UBS Ousts President After 7 Months in Job

UBS A.G., the Swiss banking giant with an expanding presence
on Wall Street, unexpectedly fired its president, Luqman
Arnold, just seven months after he took the top job.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/business/19BANK.html?todaysheadlines

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The Danger in a One-Basket Nest Egg Prompts a Call to Limit
Stock

Plunges in retirement accounts that were heavily   invested
in company stock are prompting some calls   for change by
employee rights groups and lawmakers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/business/19RETI.html?todaysheadlines

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LTV Seems on the Verge of a Shutdown

After more than half a century in business, the LTV
Corporation will soon shut its doors, barring a
government-supplied miracle.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/business/19LTV.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE BUSINESS NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/index.html?todaysheadline




TECHNOLOGY
=========================
A Bright Spot in a Bleak Holiday Retailing Season

Internet sales, while growing more slowly than in past
years, are expected to increase by about 30 percent,
according to recent surveys.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/technology/19ONLI.html?todaysheadlines

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U.S. Expands Investigation Into Piracy of Software

Investigators say the inquiry into thrill-seeking software
piracy has expanded exponentially since it was announced
late last week with raids at several universities.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/technology/19PIRA.html?todaysheadlines

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AT&T Board to Meet on Sale or Spinoff of Cable Unit

Amid a late push by AOL Time Warner, AT&T's board is to
meet in Manhattan Wednesday to decide whether   to sell the
company's cable television operation or instead spin it off
as an independent company.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/business/19CABL.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE TECHNOLOGY NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/technology/index.html?todaysheadline




POLITICS
=========================
Senate Approves Bill to Expand Federal Role in Public
Education

The Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that sets a 12-year
timetable for closing gaps in student achievement, and
mandates annual testing for grade-school children.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/politics/19EDUC.html?todaysheadlines

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Congress Agrees on Emergency Relief for New York

Negotiators for the House and the Senate agreed to provide
New York with an additional $8.2 billion in emergency
recovery aid.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/politics/19AID.html?todaysheadlines

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Talks in Congress Break Down Over Health Benefit for Jobless

Democrats and Republicans in Congress remained divided over
how best to deliver health insurance subsidies to the
unemployed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/politics/19STIM.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE POLITICS NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/index.html?todaysheadline




SPORTS
=========================
Duke-Kentucky Classic Has Familiar  Ending

Jason Williams carried Duke back from a blowout, and the
Blue Devils remained undefeated with a win over Kentucky in
the Jimmy V Classic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/sports/ncaabasketball/19HOOP.html?todaysheadlines

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Martinez and Knoblauch Land on Their Cleats

Two core members of the recent Yankees' championships  Chuck
Knoblauch and Tino Martinez   found work elsewhere on a
busy day in baseball.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/sports/baseball/19YANK.html?todaysheadlines

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Hill's Season Ended Again

Grant Hill, who has missed all but 18 games the   past two
seasons, will undergo season-ending surgery for the second
time in a year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/sports/basketball/19HILL.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE SPORTS NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/index.html?todaysheadline




ARTS
=========================
A Heroic Quest Through Middle-Earth

The director Peter Jackson has done an altogether heroic job
in tackling perhaps the most intimidating nerd/academic
fantasy classic ever.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/movies/19RING.html?todaysheadlines

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To Stay or Go? City Opera Is Deciding on Its Home

The New York City Opera's future is now the center of
attention in the debate about Lincoln Center's proposed
$1.2 billion redevelopment plan.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/arts/music/19MOVE.html?todaysheadlines

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As City Ticket Plan Grows, Some Off Broadway Grouse

Some Off Broadway producers have voiced concerns that their
theaters are missing out on the city's purchase of tickets
to Broadway shows.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/arts/theater/19TIX.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE ARTS NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/arts/index.html?todaysheadline




NY REGION
=========================
Congress Agrees on Emergency Relief for New York

Negotiators for the House and the Senate agreed to provide
New York with an additional $8.2 billion in emergency
recovery aid.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/politics/19AID.html?todaysheadlines

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Fire Damages North Wing of St. John the Divine

A wing of the Cathedral Church of St. John   the Divine
erupted in flames Tuesday morning after the blaze spread
from the gift shop.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/nyregion/19FIRE.html?todaysheadlines

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Radio Used on Sept. 11 Is Questioned

Fire Department officials are investigating whether some
firefighters engaged in rescue efforts on Sept. 11 did not
hear an order to evacuate the buildings due to faulty
radios.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/nyregion/19RADI.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE NY REGION NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/nyregion/index.html?todaysheadline




OP-ED
=========================
All Alone, Again
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Anyone in Washington planning to take the war on terrorism
to Iraq after Osama bin Laden is eliminated should not
count on the rest of the world's help.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/opinion/19FRIE.html?todaysheadlines

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The Prettiest of Them All
By MAUREEN DOWD
Muhammad Ali stumbled into being a symbol of many things
faith, defiance, athletic courage, racial pride.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/opinion/19DOWD.html?todaysheadlines

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Equity for All Victims
By PETER H. SCHUCK
America's dedication to justice for   the victims of Sept.
11 is admirable. Even more inspiring would be a commitment
to treat all accident victims with equal justice and
compassion.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/opinion/19SCHU.html?todaysheadlines

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MORE OP-ED  NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/opinion/index.html?todaysheadline





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