January 23, 2001

Bribery scandal is threatening to bring down Fukushiro Nukaga, Japanese cabinet member responsible for economic and fiscal planning as time runs out to enact important economic measures before Japanese fiscal year ends on March 31; acknowledges that his secretary accepted 15 million yen, or about $128,000, from a business association in 2000, when he was deputy chief cabinet secretary, but says money was returned; Asahi Shimbun links Ryutaro Hashimoto, former prime minister and head of party faction to which Nukaga belongs, to business association, writing that in February 1998 when he was prime minister, he attended large rally and spoke favorably off-the-cuff in support of project favored by association's director, creation of university to promote manufacturing skills; photo (M)

New York Giant quarterback Kerry Collins answers questions about himself, including problems with alcohol, his broken family and racist remark he made when he was with Carolina Panthers; his strategy is to set record straight and then concentrate on football during Super Bowl week; photo (M)

Ssangyong Motor, Korean company that makes sport utility vehicles, says its creditors approved one-year extension on repayment of 2.2 trillion won ($1.7 billion) in debt (S)

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators push ahead with what both sides say could be most serious and detailed effort yet to reach comprehensive peace agreement since failed Camp David meetings six months ago; Palestinians issue memorandum harshly criticizing Clinton administration's 'mistakes and failures' in earlier negotiations; suggest exit of Clinton administration is one of factors prompting new push; accuse Clinton diplomatic team of making peace process goal in and of itself and pursuing policy of 'constructive ambiguity' that left issues unresolved with disastrous consequences for region; additional factor in push for new talks is possibility that Prime Min Ehud Barak may lose February 6 election to Ariel Sharon, hawkish leader of Israeli opposition; photo (M)

Federal immigration Judge Henry S Dogin in Newark, NJ, ordered in October that Malachy McAllister, who had been imprisoned for terrorist activities in Ireland, be deported, but granted asylum to his wife Bernadette McAllister and three of their four children; deportation order is being appealed and Immigration and Naturalization Service is appealing grant of asylum; article details Malachy McAllister's actions as member of Irish National Liberation Army and follows family's flight from Ireland to Canada and eventually to New Jersey; photo (M)