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records, were lost in Sept 11 destruction of World Trade Center; officials says that old transportation plan is no longer valid because of disruption brought by attacks; commuting patterns have changed and new and pressing needs have arisen; waiver would give state flexibility, time to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)

Oregon defeats Colorado, 38-16, to win Fiesta Bowl; photo (M)

News analysis of crackdown by Pres Pervez Musharraf on two Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist groups accused of launching attacks against India; Indian officials consider for first time possibility that Musharraf may be prepared to alter Pakistan's longstanding strategy of fomenting anti-Indian violence in Kashmir, yet remain deeply suspicious; say that Musharraf may be bending under severe pressure from US and extreme military threat from India and that arrests of Islamic militants may only signal tactical retreat to buy time or disguise some new strategy; photo (M)

French Institute will celebrate film director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director of Amelie, with four-film retrospective at Florence Gould Hall; comment on exhibition Shakespeare and the Book, at Kempner Gallery of Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Butler Hall, Columbia University; cabaret singer Donna McKechnie is returning to Arci's Place; photo; Museum of Television and Radio is presenting three months of screening and listening under title The Artistry of Leontyne Price, to celebrate Price's 75th birthday, February 10; photo (M)

Pres Pervez Musharraf reportedly orders Pakistan's military intelligence agency to end support for Islamic militant groups fighting in disputed territory of Kashmir; Pakistani officials say future support will go only to groups with local roots that are not part of Islamic holy war movement that has most notorious expression in Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network; say order will end armed activities of two Pakistan-based Islamic militant groups that have been accused by India of involvement in Dec 13 attack on Indian Parliament as well as of other militant organizations that have used bases in Kashmir to mount attacks across Himalayas; move comes at critical moment in relations with India, as nations mass forces along 1,800-mile border for possible war over incident; Pakistani officials question evidence presented by India against two groups, while acknowledging their responsibility for vast majority of attacks in Indian-ruled Kashmir in last three years (M)

New Argentina President A veteran Peronist was chosen as the fifth president in less than two weeks. He said he would form a government of national unity to avert national ''chaos.'' PAGE A6 U.S. Envoy to Mideast The United States is sending retired Gen. Anthony C. Zinni back to Jerusalem for talks with Ariel Sharon and Yasir Arafat. PAGE A3

Each side in bitter dispute over rights to Martha Graham's name and choreographic repertory -- Martha Graham Trust and Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance -- is planning performance for April 18 to commemorate 76th anniversary of Graham's first formal concert; Graham left her work on her death in 1991 to Ronald Protas, director of Graham trust, which is trying to prevent center from presenting Graham's dances (M)

Regina Schrambling comments on pleasures of simple crepes as dessert; photos; recipes (L)