September 19, 1997

Federal Appeals Court extends for 90 days an order blocking state from notifying communities of whereabouts of paroled sex offenders; United States Court of Appeals for Third Circuit grants extension of stay, which has been in effect for 14 months, in order to give State Public Defender time to ask United States Supreme Court to review constitutionality of Megan's Law; appeals court upheld law on Aug 20 (S) (New Jersey Daily Briefing)

New York City Board of Elections declares Ruth W Messinger Democratic nominee for Mayor, and Rev Al Sharpton files suit in Federal court to overturn board's determination that Messinger would not have to face him in runoff; Mayor Giuliani begins what he promises will be unceasing series of attacks on Messinger; table shows official results of Democratic primary for mayor; photo (M)

Cable News Network founder Ted Turner tells United Nations Association that he will donate $1 billion to benefit UN agencies; says gift, largest charitable donation ever, will be used to establish not-for-profit foundation to benefit UN programs aiding refugees and children and clearing mines and fighting disease; says he will give UN $100 million a year for next 10 years; urges US to pay $1.5 billion it owes UN in back dues and calls on other wealthy people to follow his example; Turner receives association's Global Leadership Award (M)

New AIDS Cases in U.S. Drop for the First Time For the first time in the 16-year history of the AIDS epidemic, the number of cases diagnosed in the United States declined last year, a drop that Federal officials have attributed to some aggressive new therapies and to the possibility that there were fewer new infections in the first place. Page A26. Attack on Tourists in Egypt Gunmen attacked a tour bus outside a Cairo museum, killing 10 people, 9 of them German tourists, and igniting a fierce firefight. Page A3. C.I.A.'s Master of Disguise When American spies wanted to disappear during the cold war, Tony Mendez was the man they went to see. Page A24. New Sickle Cell Treatment Regular blood transfusions may prevent strokes in children who have sickle cell disease, an international study has found. Page A26. Welsh Approve Assembly By a surprisingly narrow three-hundredths of 1 percent, the Welsh voted to accept London's offer to create a local assembly. Page A6.

Clyde Haberman comments on New York City Elections Board finding that Ruth Messinger won Democratic mayoral primary, and that runoff with Al Sharpton will not be necessary; notes ruling upsets Sharpton supporters, who see racial machinations at work, despite fact that Sharpton had criticized idea of runoff when he first announced his candidacy; photo of Sharpton (M)