November 15, 2001

David Pogue column on what to look for in new computer in market in which prices have steadily come down and features have steadily improved; drawing (M)

Eight Western aid workers, including two Americans, are plucked out of Afghanistan by United States military helicopters and flown to Pakistan; they were arrested and imprisoned by Taliban in Kabul on Aug 5, accused of preaching Christianity; they were put on trial and threatened with death penalty; their trip out of captivity involves International Committee of Red Cross as well as local Pashtun militia leader; details of rescue mission are unclear; spokesman for American Embassy in Islamabad refuses to provide futher details, citing privacy laws; two Americans, Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer, as well as two Australians and four Germans, were working for German-based charity, Shelter Now; Pres Bush hails their safe exit from Afghanistan; photos (M)

Corporate bankruptcies in Japan rose 11.7 percent in October from month year; analysts expect pace to accelerate and total bankruptcies for 2001 to reach 20,000 (S)

Henry Blodget, stock analyst who became symbol of Internet mania that enriched some investors but ultimately cost many others dearly, says he is giving up business of publicly rating stocks; says he accepted buyout offer that Merrill Lynch extended to 50,000 employees; Blodget, 35, was top-ranked Internet analyst in influential annual survey by Institutional Investor magazine yaer ago; his ranking fell to No 3 this year, and some investors say his stock calls have less resonance in market; Deepak Raj, Merrill Lynch official, denies that Blodget's resignation is result of pressure from Merrill's clients or management; Blodget says he will write book to explain, but not to defend, what happened with Internet stocks and will provide analysis of them in last few years; photo; graphs (M)

Japan's Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries and Sumitomo Heavy Industries say they will combine their tanker and warship divisions into 50-50 joint venture, to be called Marine United (S)