August 31, 2000

Vladimir Vasilyev is dismissed as director of Bolshoi Theater, Russia's premier opera and ballet company, along with his deputy, Vladimir Kokonin, in decree signed by Pres Vladimir Putin that subordinates theater to Ministry of Culture; ministry says the extremely expensive project to renovate Bolshoi's main 143-year-old building needs a financial manager, not an artistic director; Vasilyev photo (M)

High-tech telecommunications is making it easy to keep love alive in long-distance relationships; long-distance relationship of Simon Wong and Chiunwei Shu and others described; photos (M)

Drs Jordan B Pollack and Hod Lipson of Brandeis University create first robot that designs and builds other robots, with little human help; advance could lead to new industry of inexpensive robots customized for specific tasks; revives concerns about eventually creating robotic species that could supplant biological life; photo (M)

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, which is trying to determine how much Ford Motor Co knew about defective tires used on its Explorers, demands that company provide detailed information on any tire problems in 16 countries outside US; company and agency are under increasing political pressure, particularly as it has become clear that for nearly two years Ford received complaints from overseas about possible problems with Firestone tires on its Explorers but did not recall them until now; Venezuelan agency is expected to issue a report criticizing both Ford and Firestone for the way they handled tire problems there; photo (M)

US Open tennis tournament continues; men's first round and women's second round results noted; photo (M)