February 2, 1998

Federal prosecutors obtain more than 100 written communications between American subsidiary of Reuters Holdings PLC and consulting company suspected of being hired to steal information from computers of competitor, Bloomberg LP; they have memos from subsidiary, Reuters Analytics Inc, requesting detailed information about technical programs for analyzing investments; consultant allegedly broke into Bloomberg's corporate computers electronically and obtained information, then passed it to Reuters, sometimes directly to parent company's London headquarters; computer consulting company, whose name is not yet determined, was said to be founded by former Bloomberg employee; Reuters has already placed three executives in subsidiary on paid leave in wake of scandal; from its earliest days, Reuters Analytics has faced accusations that it used unsavory business practices to obtain other companies' technologies (M)

Long Branch, NJ, is embarking on innovative urban planning renewal project; five developers are negotiating with city to build housing, restored pier, entertainment center, restaurants and shops all connected by resculptured streets; in preparing master plan that sets guidelines for developers, city officials incorporated all state's development regulations into local zoning laws; strategy guarantees that developers who meet local guidelines automatically comply with state law (M)

US Sec of State Madeleine K Albright scolds Israeli and Palestinian leaders for delaying fundamental decisions necessary to revive flagging peace talks, news conference, Tel Aviv; says issues at stake are difficult and complex, but that both sides should make difficult decisions and exercise leadership necessary to secure peace; reassures Israel of swift and forceful US retaliation in event of Iraqi missile attack on Israel or its neighbors; photo (M)

William H. Ginsburg needs no introduction now, two weeks after the California lawyer arrived in Washington as a Beltway nobody to defend Monica S. Lewinsky in the criminal inquiry into President Clinton's behavior. By midday yesterday, the 54-year-old lawyer had managed to appear on all five major national talk programs in one morning. He hopscotched studios, and he was nowhere near winded. Article, page A19.

Elizabeth Kolbert Metro Matters column discusses New York City school principals rejecting proposal to offer bonuses to principals based on their school's academic improvement (M)