February 15, 2001

New York City unveils NYCMap, interactive database that has quilt of aerial photographs layered with geographic information; all of data is assembled using complex algorithms; map covers about 35 miles and is accurate to within 12 inches; photo (M)

European Union Parliament passes measure establishing strict rules on genetically modified organisms, preparing to end Europe's unofficial moratorium on bioengineered seeds and food; strictness of new controls is intended to respond to intense suspicions about genetically modified foods; rules govern testing, planting and sale of crops and food for humans and animals and testing and sale of pharmaceuticals; all genetically altered products will be tracked in database that will also mark locations of all crops; separate bill to set tough food labeling and tracing requirements is to be ready by April, and is widely expected to pass in some form; under European Union law, all 15 member countries are required to make their laws conform to new rules in 18 months; governments of France and Denmark say they would resist approvals; defying laws would open countries to suit in European Court of Justice to force compliance (M)

EXi Telecoms, British company specializing in construction of telephone networks, will offer jobs to some of 6,000 steel workers facing dismissal by Corus, Britain's biggest steel maker (S)

Microsoft Corp names Richard E Belluzzo, who has been group vice president overseeing deelopment of Windows.NET operating platform and MSN Network of Web sites for 18 months, to be its president and chief operating officer; appointment gives clearest signal yet that future of computing, and Microsoft's future, lies beyond personal computer, foundation of its business and still source of about 70 percent of its revenue; Belluzzo succeeds Robert J Herbold, who is retiring; Microsoft confirms Justice Department has opened new inquiry into company's $135 million investment in Corel Corp, rival software maker; photo (M)

Bitter citywide dispute betweeen Korean greengrocers and their Mexican workers is volatile clash that combines economics, immigrant ambitions and labor union's sense of opportunity; dispute is fueled by aggressive campaign by Local 169 of Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees; conflict has dominated city's Korean-language media for year; some Korean merchants are fighting union, saying that working conditions for Mexicans--long hours, no vacations or benefits--are same ones they endured while learning business from earlier generation of Jewish and Italian greengrocers; merchants also claim that concessions to their workers would threaten already slim profit margins; both union and state attorney general, Eliot L Spitzer, say there are widespread violations of labor laws at greengroceries, with workers being paid as little as $3 an hour for workweeks that sometimes exceed 70 hours; union, which has signed contracts with only seven of city's greengrocers, has stepped up efforts by picketing or leafletting outside more than 60 stores across city; photo (M)