July 7, 1998

Negotiations break down between Hungarian Government and Martha and Ted Nierenberg of Armonk, NY, over Nierenbergs' request that Hungary return art collection that her family was forced to leave behind in Budapest when Nazis invaded city on March 19, 1944; many of artworks, which were in collection of Mrs Nierenberg's maternal grandfather, Baron Maurice Herzog, now hang in Hungarian museums, where they were left for safekeeping during the war or placed after being stolen by Nazis and later returned to Hungary; Hungarian authorities agree that Nierenbergs have some claims, but add 'we don't know how much'; photos (L)

Natalie Angier article on scientists' speculations about diversity and ornateness of phallus among different species, in light of fact that up and down phylogenetic scale, in all creatures where female's eggs are fertilized internally, male phallus must perform same basic task: penetration and ejaculation; notes that as comparative biologists have found, penis and its accessory parts are often far more complex than utilitarian design would seem to require; among insects, male reproductive organs differ so dramatically from one species to another that entomologists rely on particulars of cerci, epiprocts and other bits of arthropod genitalia to distinguish between species that otherwise look alike; researcher from Sweden, Goran Arnqvist, conducts detailed study of insect genitalia and its association with insect sexual practices; his results indicate that male reproductive organs are pelvic equivalent of peacock feathers--fruit of sexual selection; drawings (L)

Part of troubled Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, where most serious nuclear power accident in US history occurred in March 1979, is being sold by owner, GPU Inc; Fred D Hafer, GPU's chairman and chief executive, says negotiations have been under way for months with unidentified prospective buyer for Unit 1, which was not involved in accident; sale would help establish whether nuclear power can compete in the increasingly deregulatd electricity market; maps; photos (M)

Charter Revision Commission Chmn Peter J Powers, in abrupt change of course, urges newly created panel to stop exploring contentious changes in balance of power in city government and to focus on much less controversial issue: campaign financing; he has been criticized for considering changes that could increase Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani's authority at expense of other branches of city government, particularly Office of Public Advocate; Powers says he will also ask panel to focus on questions of whether to eliminate partisan elections for city offices and whether to make membership on City Council full-time job (M)

Reebok International's decision to sever ties with Shaquille O'Neal of Los Angeles Lakers is apparently part of evolving strategy being adopted by shoe companies to trim ranks of well-paid athletes and rely on quality of product; O'Neal photo (M)

Shares of Profitt's Inc fall 9.6 percent after company announces plans to acquire Saks Holdings Inc; investors apparently fear that price negotiated by R Brad Martin, chairman, is too high, that acquisition may depress earnings and that Saks is too big to be easily absorbed; graph of Proffitt's stock price (M)

A retired major general who was the Army's deputy inspector general engaged in ''inappropriate behavior'' or adulterous affairs with the wives of four officers under his command, the Pentagon said in a report given to members of Congress.

Paul Griffiths reports on rise of female composers in United States; discusses question of what is women's music, or what might it be; Lincoln Center Festival is presenting number of works by women composers; photo of Lori Phillips and Elaine Valby (M)

Helmut Kohl is fighting uphill battle for fifth term as German Chancellor; stubbornly high unemployment in former East Germany and nationwide malaise confront Kohl and Christian Democrats with cruel irony that German unification, the biggest single triumph of his 16 years in office, could could deprive his coalition of majority in Parliament; economic tribulations in eastern Germany are of particular significance since politically volatile region has swing voters who can make or break narrow margins of success; election on September 27 could fundamentally redraw Germany's political landscape and determine future of Europe, just as continent confronts upheavals of globalization and its own striving for economic unity; map; charts; photos (M)

James R Oestreich deplores Shanghai cultural authorities' decision to deny Kunqu Opera Company permission to travel to United States to present The Peony Pavilion at Lincoln Center Festival; The Peony Pavilion, written by Tang Xianzu in 1598, is considered one of great masterpieces of Chinese literature; production by Chen Shi-Zheng, gifted American director at center of storm, was derailed by Ma Bomin, director of Shanghai Culture Bureau; Ma contends Chen's production is unworthy to represent Kunqu tradition to the world; photos (L)

Dave Anderson Sports of The Times column notes that as Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr and Sammy Sosa gather for All-Star Game, they each have realistic chance to break Roger Maris's record of 61 home runs in one season; McGwire photo (M)

President Clinton has agreed to travel to Russia in early September to meet with President Boris N. Yeltsin, although the Russian legislature has not fulfilled a request to ratify an important arms control treaty, the White House announced.