TODAY'S HEADLINES
The New York Times on the Web
Friday, December 21, 2001
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For news updated throughout the day, visit www.nytimes.com


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QUOTE OF THE DAY
=========================
"Whatever we do is of small comfort, and I realize that. We
do, however, aim to provide some appropriate compensation,
some limited measure of comfort."
-KENNETH R. FEINBERG, special master of the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/nyregion/21FUND.html?todaysheadlines


NATIONAL
=========================
Killings Increase in Many Big Cities

Homicides have increased sharply this year in many large
cities, a development that may signal a return to rising
crime rates.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/national/21CRIM.html?todaysheadlines

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Few States Track Prescriptions as a Method to Bar Overdoses

Public health and law enforcement officials say too few
states are monitoring the over-prescribing of the
painkiller OxyContin.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/health/21OXYC.html?todaysheadlines

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Funeral Company Accused of Desecration

Relatives of three people buried in local Jewish cemeteries
accuse the nation's largest funeral company of desecrating
their remains.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/national/21FUNE.html?todaysheadlines

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


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INTERNATIONAL
=========================
Argentine Leader Quits as Economy Begins a Free Fall

President Fernando de la Rua resigned on Thursday,
swamped by violent protests and looting that erupted when
his government failed to reverse an economic crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/international/americas/21ARGE.html?todaysheadlines

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Citing India Attack, U.S. Aims at Assets of Group in
Pakistan

President Bush moved on Thursday to freeze the assets of a
Pakistani-based terrorist group that he blamed for the
attack on the Indian Parliament last week.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/international/asia/21PREX.html?todaysheadlines

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British Marines Arrive Near Kabul to Protect Officials

Fifty-five British Royal Marines landed near the Afghan
capital on Thursday night as the vanguard of an
international security force.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/international/asia/21AFGH.html?todaysheadlines

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




BUSINESS
=========================
Argentine Leader Quits as Economy Begins a Free Fall

President Fernando de la Rua resigned on Thursday,
swamped by violent protests and looting that erupted when
his government failed to reverse an economic crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/international/americas/21ARGE.html?todaysheadlines

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Insurer Shield in Terror Costs Dies in Senate

Congress abandoned efforts to protect the insurance industry
from losses in any future terrorist attacks when the Senate
failed to bring a measure to the floor in the final hours
of the session.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/business/21INSU.html?todaysheadlines

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Wireless Deal Falls Apart in Congress

The $16 billion deal to transfer more than 200 airwave
licenses to the nation's largest wireless carriers
collapsed after Congress failed to adopt the necessary
legislation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/technology/21SPEC.html?todaysheadlines

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




TECHNOLOGY
=========================
Wireless Deal Falls Apart in Congress

The $16 billion deal to transfer more than 200 airwave
licenses to the nation's largest wireless carriers
collapsed after Congress failed to adopt the necessary
legislation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/technology/21SPEC.html?todaysheadlines

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How the Comcast Deal Came Together

Comcast's acquisition of AT&T Broadband marks the
culmination of four decades of growth and, some say, the
fulfillment of its destiny.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/business/media/21CABL.html?todaysheadlines

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Juniper Networks Has Reduced Fourth-Quarter Profit Forecast

Juniper Networks halved its fourth-quarter profit forecast
and cut its sales estimate as customers pared spending. The
shares fell 18 percent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/technology/21JUNI.html?todaysheadlines

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




POLITICS
=========================
Clinton and Aides Lay Plans to Repair a Battered Image

Frustrated that his image has been battered since he left
office, Bill Clinton has been devising ways to defend his
legacy and his accomplishments.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/politics/21CLIN.html?todaysheadlines

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Both Parties Deflect Blame for Stalemate on Economy

Leaders of the two parties in Congress said that they would
take up the issue of an economic package again next month.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/politics/21STIM.html?todaysheadlines

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Senators Press for an Inquiry on U.S. Intelligence Lapses

Senators put the Bush administration on notice  that the
time was nearing for a broad investigation of the Sept. 11
attacks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/politics/21CONG.html?todaysheadlines

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




SPORTS
=========================
Red Sox to Be Sold to Owner of Marlins

A group led by John Henry, owner of the Florida Marlins, won
the Boston Red Sox in a unanimous vote of the team's
majority owner and limited partners.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/sports/baseball/21SOXX.html?todaysheadlines

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Knicks Fail to Answer Late Wake-Up Call

Five attempts for a basket in the final 6 seconds, including
three by Marcus Camby, did not fall for the Knicks, who
lost to the Memphis Grizzlies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/sports/basketball/21KNIC.html?todaysheadlines

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Big 3 of Skating Smile Through Pressure

Irina Slutskaya, Michelle Kwan and Sarah   Hughes, the three
favorites for medals at   the Winter Olympics, will plunge
into the bizarre phenomenon of women's figure skating in
February.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/olympics/21SKAT.html?todaysheadlines

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




ARTS
=========================
From Math to Madness, and Back

Ron Howard's film about the mathematician John Forbes Nash
Jr. (Russell Crowe) elicits genuine emotions from a story
that is almost entirely counterfeit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/movies/21MIND.html?todaysheadlines

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The Gift of Art Ready to Be Opened

Every gift to a museum benefits all of us, not least the
generations of art-hungry New York  tourists to come.
Here's a survey of some recent donations on display.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/arts/design/21COTT.html?todaysheadlines

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The Season When Gray Turns Green

Along upper Broadway, scores of  tree sellers have arrived
like fur trappers from the days of old to peddle their
wares for the holiday season.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/arts/21TREE.html?todaysheadlines

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




NY REGION
=========================
Victims' Fund Likely to Pay Average of $1.6 Million Each

Families of victims of the World Trade Center collapse
would, on average, be awarded $1.65 million each from a
federal fund.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/nyregion/21FUND.html?todaysheadlines

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City's Unemployment Rate Jumps to 6.9%, the Highest in
Nearly 3 Years

The rise in the unemployment rate includes adjustments for
seasonal factors over the past few months.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/nyregion/21JOBS.html?todaysheadlines

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Police and Firefighters Win Court Victory in Seeking Raises

The State Court of Appeals ruled that the city's police and
firefighter unions may ask a state panel to help resolve
contract disputes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/nyregion/21POLI.html?todaysheadlines

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




OP-ED
=========================
A No-Win Outcome
By PAUL KRUGMAN
A compromise on the economic stimulus bill wouldn't have
counted as a personal win for President Bush, so he took
his bat and ball and went home.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/opinion/21KRUG.html?todaysheadlines

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Our Friends the Terrorists
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
However hypocritical it may be to battle terrorism by
bolstering backers of terrorism in Pakistan, there is no
good alternative.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/opinion/21KRIS.html?todaysheadlines

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Now Playing: Florida II, With Janet and Jeb
By BOB SHACOCHIS
Florida's gubernatorial race will be another smash-hit
election, sprinkled with delicious subplots.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/21/opinion/21SHAC.html?todaysheadlines

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





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