December 15, 1998

Mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne and bass Samuel Ramey will be honored at French Embassy on Fifth Avenue with insignia of Order of Arts and Letters, which recognizes artistic and literary achievement; Horne photo; mezzo-soprano Rise Stevens to mark 60th anniversary of her Metropolitan Opera debut, with reception at Metropolitan Gift Shop as part of its guest artist series; first major retrospective of Duane Hanson's full-scale sculptures will go on display at Whitney Museum of American Art; photo; modern-dance choreographer Stephen Petronio to have premiere of his first full-evening work, Not Garden, at Joyce Theater (M)

Coach Jim Fassel praises New York Giants for hard way team played in 20-16 upset of Denver Broncos; says Kent Graham might compete for starting quarterback's job next season and could be team's quarterback of future; photo (M)

Report on hepatitis C, viral infection of liver; vast majority of people with hepatitis C carry virus indefinitely, apparently with few ill effects; but about 20 percent develop cirrhosis and liver failure or cancer within 20 to 25 years of being infected, and 8,000 to 10,000 a year in United States die as result of contracting hepatitis C, which has become leading reason for liver transplants; Centers for Disease Control estimates that four million Americans are infected with hepatitis C, and most of them do not know they are carrying it; photos (M)

Federal authorities, after two-year investigation of Chinese political contributions to 1996 election campaign, unearth new evidence indicating Beijing's efforts were part of broader campaign to obtain access to American high technology; evidence, which provides clearer understanding of China's motivations, differs substantially from initial view of Federal investigators and Senate committee that China intended to influence outcome of particular races, including Pres Clinton's re-election; investigators now believe technology was primary motive, and say money was intended to enhance political standing of those passing along contributions to Democratic caucuses, to give them clout in arguing for favorable policies toward China; Johnny Chung, fundraiser connected to inquiry, is sentenceed to five years' probation in Federal court in Los Angeles; pleaded guilty to fraud and received reduced sentence by cooperating with inquiry; admitted funneling contributions from Chinese military officer to Democrats (M)

US deported almost 300,000 immigrants in two years since Congress passed tough laws to stem flow of illegal immigrants, or more than twice number sent back in prior two years; record number attributed to fact that Immigration and Naturalization Service has for first time both Congressional mandate and money to investigate and prosecute violators of immigration law, arrest immigrants with criminal convictions and would-be immigrants at border and swiftly deport them; flush with almost billion dollars earmarked for detention and deportation of immigrants, INS has become largest Federal law enforcement agency; Repr Lamar Smith, chairman of House Immigration Subcommittee and one of architects of immigration law, says deportations demonstrate that law is working, though not yet to his satisfaction; case of Fernando Giraldo, 36-year-old Colombian deported after living illegally in US for almost decade, discussed; photo; chart (M)

Royal Dutch/Shell to Take $4.5 Billion in Charges As the lowest prices in 12 years continue to roil the oil industry, the giant Royal Dutch/Shell Group announced that it would sell 40 percent of its chemicals businesses and take $4.5 billion in charges as part of a reorganization. The announcement was the latest sign of upheaval in the industry after proposed acquisitions of Amoco by British Petroleum and of Mobil by Exxon. The cutbacks, which will include job losses, are expected to affect Shell operations as far afield as Texas, Venezuela, Britain, Norway and France. [Page C2.] Crane Seeks to Block Coltec Deal Crane filed suit to block B. F. Goodrich's $1.5 billion takeover of Coltec Industries, contending that Coltec had spurned a more generous offer from Crane. The suit seeks to allow Crane to present its offer of $1.6 billion, which had never been publicly disclosed. [C6.]

Texas Rangers appear to be front-runners to acquire pitcher Roger Clemens from Toronto Blue Jays; they are also expected to have rights to Ricky Williams, University of Texas running back who won Heisman Trophy; he played outfield for Philadelphia Phillies Class A affiliate last summer; Williams photo (M)

New York State Atty Gen Dennis C Vacco concedes November 3 election to Democratic challenger Eliot L Spitzer, after lengthy challenge to results; says move is in best interests of family; pledges to cooperate fully in transition; Gov George E Pataki praises him and congratulates Spitzer; Spitzer accepts concession; announces official transition committee, which includes dozens of political, business and civic leaders; photo (M)

Book by American anthropologist David Stoll, Rigoberta Menchu and the Story of All Poor Guatemalans, casts doubt on accuracy of her 1992 autobiography--I, Rigoberta Menchu--for which she received Nobel Peace Prize and became overnight celebrity and much-sought-after crusader for human rights, special report, Tarnished Laureate; autobiography, first published in Spanish in 1983 at height of Guatemala's brutal civil war, tells wrenching tale of violence, destruction, misery and exploitation; Stoll, after decade of interviews with more than 120 people and archival research, concludes that key details of her story are untrue; says book is not eyewitness account since Menchu repeatedly describes experiences she never had herself; his assertions are corroborated by New York Times in interviews with members of Menchu's family, as well as with friends, neighbors and former classmates that indicate many of book's main episodes are either totally fabricated or seriously exaggerated; Menchu defends book as part of historical memory and patrimony of Guatemala, dismissing criticisms as part of racist political agenda to gain attention and publicity; photos; map (L)

Mattel Inc plans to acquire Learning Co in $3.8 billion stock deal that would position company as leader in high-growth market for software; warns investors to expect disappointing financial results for fourth quarter and the year, sending its shares tumbling 27 percent, or $8.125, to $22; stock analyst says merger will mean more selection, better distribution and more traditional toys delivered via software; acquisition would also give Mattel $1 billion in software sales and an edge in electronic products over Hasbro Inc, No. 2 toy maker; Mattel's chief executive Jill E Barad comments; photo (M)

Congress is considering ways to regulate derivatives market in light of near-collapse of Long-Term Capital Management, giant hedge fund with big bets in derivatives market; says Congress is concerned that it took fourteen firms to rescue Long-Term Capital in extraordinary deal brokered by Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Presidential working group--with representatives from Federal Reserve Board, Treasury, Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission--will give progress report on Senate Agriculture Committee; former Fed officials and regulators will also testify before committee; three broad areas to be debated detailed; cases involving huge losses from derivatives discussed; graph; photos (M)

Dave Anderson Sports of The Times column contends that New York Giants, with 20-16 upset that should be remembered as one of New York's most memorable pro football games, showed Denver Broncos to be fallible and thereby showed New York Jets, 10-4 after their 21-16 success in Miami, way to Super Bowl; photo (M)