February 16, 1999

Broad shape of agreement to end ethnic conflict in Serbian province of Kosovo emerges, with Russia playing key role at talks in Rambouillet, France, to persuade Serbs to allow NATO peacekeepers on their territory; French Pres Jacques Chirac says Russians, traditional ally of Serbs, feel ground force in Kosovo is best solution to stopping bloodshed in separatist province and that Russian soldiers are likely to be part of deployment; photo (M)

Wal-Mart Stores' victory in opening store in Vermont has been echoed throughout Northeast, where retail has lately been mounting aggressive expansion drive with little of uproar that accompanied its rocky start earlier in decade; what is particularly significant about latest Northeast push is that most of new stores are supercenters; average Wal-Mart supercenter rings up about $55 million to $65 million in annual sales--almost double volume of regular Wal-Mart and seven times that of rival discounter like Ames Department Stores; some analysts believe Wal-Mart is expected to triple its supercenter presence in region in just next two years--expansion that could draw $3 billion more in annual sales; map; chart; photo (M)

Credit Suisse Group will acquire Warburg Pincus Asset Management Inc for $650 million, a move that allows asset management arm of Credit Suisse to expand its sales of mutual funds and retirement investment products in US; deal is expected to close this summer following regulatory approvals (M)

Prime Min Sidya Toure and other top Guinea officials meet plane carrying home body of Amadou Diallo, street peddler shot to death by four New York City police officers; Diallo, in death, has attained status of national hero; several Gunieans say media coverage has provided eye-opening account of black political activism in United States; Diallo's parents accompany body, escorted by Rev Al Sharpton, who made flight arrangements; map (M)

Emergency beacon belonging to French solo sailor Isabelle Autissier, who competes in Around Alone, single-handed race around world, indicates her yacht has capsized in South Pacific Ocean west of South America's tip; race officials send competitor to look for her; her mayday, on heels of recent yachting disaster in Australia, raises issue of safety in long-distance yacht racing; map; photo (M)