January 13, 2000

CBS News anchor Dan Rather calls decision to superimpose digitally created CBS logo to block out NBC-sponsored sign in Times Square during CBS's news coverage of New Year's Eve celebrations 'a mistake' that he regrets; CBS decision to use form of technology that allows electronically created images to replace actual structures has stirred debate inside CBS News; CBS News president Andrew Heyward, responding to questions about article on topic in Jan 12 edition of The New York Times, defends CBS's use of technology, developed by firm called Princeton Video Image; network has regularly used it on its morning news program, The Early Show, to display CBS promotion; adds Rather has not been part of 'internal discussion' about using technique; CBS Television president Leslie Moonves supports Heyward, who says there has been 'vigorous debate' on use of technology inside CBS News; Jeff Zucker, executive producer of NBC's Today program, says NBC was offered same technology and passed on it; ABC News spokeswoman Eileen Murphy says ABC decided not to use technology (M)

British government ends its ban on openly gay men and women serving in armed forces, following European court ruling that Britain could no longer keep the exclusion; this ends Britain's decades-old practice of subjecting gays in military to intrusive investigations and dishonorable discharges; change brings Britain into line with almost all other NATO nations, which allow openly gay men and lesbians to serve in their armed forces; United States, with its 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, is at variance with trend; Britain's about-face became inevitable after European Court of Human Rights unanimously ruled last September in favor of four former servicemen and servicewomen who were discharged in mid-1990's because of their homosexuality; photo (M)

Turkish leaders postpone execution of country's most prominent Kurdish rebel, Abdullah Ocalan, in response to European pressure; postponement of his sentence means he will probably remain alive for at least year, and perhaps escape death sentence altogether; decision is to postpone execution until European Court of Human Rights rules on Ocalan's appeal, but there is no guarantee that Turkey would accept court's ruling; Ocalan's fate has become major factor in debate among European leaders over Turkey's entry into European Union; all current members have banned death penalty; latest Turkish decision also holds possibility of improved relations between Turkish government and Kurds who sympathize with Ocalan; government decision marks victory for Prime Min Bulent Ecevit, who opposes death penalty and is very eager to lead his country toward European Union (M)

Roberta Smith Critic's Notebook article on exhibition at Roth Horowitz gallery featuring 60 photographs of lynchings in United States between 1883 and 1960, mostly in the South and mostly of black victims; photos, which were collected by James E Allen, are largely original photographic postcards that were produced by the hundreds and sent through mail; book published this month, Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America, reproduces 98 images from collection with accompanying essays; photo (M)

On Pro Football column discusses new New York Jets owner Robert Wood Johnson IV and his chances of re-signing Bill Parcells as coach (M)