April 23, 2002

Federal Judge George B Daniels sentences Sotheby's ex-chairman A Alfred Taubman to year and day in prison and fine of $7.5 million for role in price-fixing scheme with rival Christie's; under little-known provision, Taubman is also ordered to pay for his incarceration, expected to be at least $21,601 per year; judge rejects surprise recommendation from United States Probation Office that Taubman be spared incarceration in part for reasons of health (M)

Clyde Haberman NYC column decries how Roman Catholic church is dealing with allegations of sexual abuse by priests; says church officials are tip-toeing around heinous crimes using soft language for what is, in fact, criminal behavior (M)

Jqpan's customs-cleared trade surplus grew 39 percent in March from year earlier as imports declined faster than exports; trade surplus stood at 1.27 trillion yen ($9.77 billion) in month; imports fell 12.7 percent; exports dropped only 3.1 percent (S)

In a Surprise, Celera Picks A President From Within Celera Genomics named one of its own executives, Kathy Ordoñez, as president, succeeding J. Craig Venter, its founder, who left under pressure in January. The move was a surprise because Celera had said it was looking for an experienced pharmaceutical executive to transform the company from a provider of genetic information into a drug company. But Ms. Ordoñez, who now runs Celera's diagnostics business, has little experience in drug development. [Page C2.]

Footlights: Collegiate Chorale, led by Robert Bass and featuring soprano Deborah Voigt, will complete its 60th anniversary season with concert version of Carl Maria von Weber opera Oberon; Boston University acquires major W Somerset Maugham archive from Loren and Frances Rothschild; New-York Historical Society will observe 100th anniversary of Flatiron Building with exhibit of photos, drawings, paintings, prints and ephemera; Russian ballerina Nina Ananiashvili wins annual Dance Magazine award; photos (M)