January 2, 2002

Article speculates on possible roster moves that will be made by New York Giants during offseason; photo (M)

John Tierney The Big City column critiques New York City Mayor Michael R Bloomberg's inaugural address; deplores his speaking style but extols his message, which he terms realistic; points to his experience in private sector as positive development for city in financial trouble (M)

Absence of government oversight of dietary supplement industry leads three companies to get into business of analysis and certification; some critics of supplement industry are pleased to see any effort at all, but others believe that consumers will be more confused than enlightened; there is barely any government oversight of safety and efficacy of vitamins, minerals and herbal and nonherbal supplements; three companies are United States Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com and NSF International; photos (M)

New York Gov George Pataki seeks amendment to Clean Air Act that would allow waiver of air quality controls on state's transportation projects for four years; three staff members of agency that did work of meshing transportation and air quality plans, as well as voluminous records, were lost in Sept 11 destruction of World Trade Center; officials says that old transportation plan is no longer valid because of disruption brought by attacks; commuting patterns have changed and new and pressing needs have arisen; waiver would give state flexibility, time to rebuild and make allowances for immediate improvements in response to disaster, although critics of request contend reasoning is overstated and waiver would set dangerous precedent, undermining Clean Air Act (M)

Convoy of approximately 200 marines leaves Kandahar, Afghanistan, to secure abandoned Taliban compound in Helmand Province, where special forces are searching for Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar and where perhaps 2,000 Taliban are still in hiding; move is most extensive American ground operation of military campaign in Afghanistan; Pentagon weighs sending larger number of ground troops to Baghran to help in search for Omar; Afghan officials say Taliban holdouts in Baghran are surrendering weapons and equipment in keeping with agreement for full surrender; some Afghan commanders deny knowledge of Omar's location, but regional intelligence director, Hajji Gullalai, says he is negotiating with people close to Omar over his surrender; photos (M)