December 16, 1996

Article discusses case against Oliver Jovanovic, who is accused of sexually torturing 20-year-old Barnard College student last month after meeting her on Internet; Jovanovic, 30-year-old Columbia University doctoral student, reportedly enjoyed role-playing games and the macabre and mythical; Alan R Kaufman, Jovanovic attorney, holds his client did not force student to do anything (L),

With limited amount of oil flowing to foreign buyers for first time since Persian Gulf War in 1991, ordinary Iraqis are eagerly waiting to witness alchemy that promises to turn oil into food; Iraqi Government has promised as part of deal with UN to fatten meager package that has become main source of sustenance for most of country's 20 million people; redemption of promise may have to wait until revenues from new contracts reach new UN account; photo; map (M)

John Wetteland reportedly has signed $23 million, four-year contract with Texas Rangers; photo (M)

Thousands of tourists flock to New York City to enjoy Christmas holiday magic; more than one million are expected in city in December, in what economists and city officials predict may be one of busiest Decembers since 1979; economists attribute surge in tourism to lower value of dollar, which has made city relatively cheap for foreigners, and to publicity surrounding recent drop in crime, which has convinced many visitors that city is not as dangerous as they had imagined; photo (M)

Joyce Purnick Metro Matters column discusses how New York State Legislature is able to evade issue of late-term abortion; last summer, Republican-led State Senate approved bill banning procedure without holding hearing; now, in apparent effort to placate abortion opponents, especially Roman Catholic Church, Democratic-controlled Assembly is poised to raise politically volatile issue at special legislative session that starts this week; then, after limited debate, Assembly is expected to vote no (M)