March 8, 2002

Bungled robbery of Staples store in Valley Stream, New York, leads to nine-hour standoff with 12 employees held hostage, and ends with arrest of four Brooklyn residents; photos (M)

Christina Ricci, above, is among the large cast of actors who portray residents of a Wyoming town coming to grips with homophobia in ''The Laramie Project,'' tomorrow night on HBO. Based on Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project's stage play, the film explores the aftermath of the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student. TV Weekend by Julie Salamon appears on Page 32.

Adidas-Salomon AG says net income growth in 2002 will slow from year ago; chief executive Herbert Hainer says earnings will rise no more than 10 percent and sales will rise about 5 percent; graph (S)

Comment on importance that car makers attach to new model's 'launch,' crucial period when cars start moving from factory to showroom to street; examples cited; photos (L)

Britain's Imperial Tobacco Group agrees to buy 90.01 percent of Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken of Germany for 5.22 billion euros ($4.58 billion) from Tchibo Holding, deal that will give Imperial larger presence in lucrative markets of Eastern Europe and Asia; Imperial has option of purchasing remaining 9.99 percent of Reemtsma for 580 million euros until January 2005; photo of Imperial chief executive Gareth Davis (M)