February 17, 2002

South Africa shakes off decades of apartheid-era isolation and stretches beyond its borders in powerful explosion of trade and investment that fellow Africans are watching with awe and admiration, but also unease at prospect of ceding so much control to outsiders; development underscores metamorphosis since apartheid ended in 1994 as former pariah state seems poised to dominate continent that once shunned its products and leaders; economic expansion is accompanied by growing political influence; many people praise country's championing of new partnerships among African nations they hope will reduce economic dependency on former colonial rulers, but there are also cries of outrage from politicians and businessmen who view rapid expansion as new form of colonialism; map; charts; photo (L)

New York Gov George Pataki brokers tentative deal with Oneida Indians that could resolve bitter 31-year-old dispute over quarter-million acres Oneidas maintain state bought from them illegally through treaties in 19th century; deal requires state and federal governments to pay three branches of tribe $500 million, and for tribe to drop claim to most of land; tribal leaders would use part of payment to buy back about 35,000 acres from willing sellers in Madison and Oneida counties, with about 5,000 acres set aside as wilderness; land would not be contiguous; current owners would not be forced to give up property; Indians and state would set up $100 million fund to compensate counties for lost tax revenues and will agree not to acquire more than 5,000 acres in first 10 years of deal; Pataki hails agreement as 'historic breakthrough' in decades-long legal struggle; Oneidas claim state violated Federal Indian Trade and Intercourse Act of 1790, which banned states from buying land from Indians without federal approval; between 1795 and 1840, state and local governments acquired more than 270,000 acres from Oneidas through 26 treaties and several other agreements--none of which were approved by Congress; photo (M)

French figure skating judge Marie Reine Le Gougne begins to weep during judges' regular meeting reviewing decisions in pairs competition; Ron Pfenning, head referee, says she also implicated Didier Gailhaguet, president of French Figure Skating Federation, saying he pressured her to vote as she did; other judges viewed her as pathetic figure during meeting; photo (M)

Players and observers of housing market agree that it is driven at least as much by psychology as by economic fundamentals; say pack mentality is evident in national and regional mood swings that market has gone through over decades; describe how different psychological phenomena -- 'anchoring' or loss aversion -- come into play at different stages in market cycle; one student of market says women buy houses and men are almost irrelevant; photos; drawing (L)

Lisa Belkin comment on mutual mentoring of Judy Katz and Dian Griesel; adds her own appreciation for role models who have helped her along the way, particularly strong women who came before her at The New York Times (M)