August 22, 2002

French insurer AXA expects operating income for first half-year to rise 17 percent, to 1.02 billion euros (S)2

World Business Briefing: South Korea: Eï

Jim Thorpe Classic, first college football game of season, features Colorado State University against Virginia University in one of earliest starts ever (M)

Pres Bush calls himself 'patient man' who would take his time and consider all options, including nonmilitary ways, before determining how to proceed to replace Saddam Hussein as leader of Iraq; denies that war planning was discussed during two-hour midvacation meeting held at his ranch with Vice Pres Cheney, Defense Sec Rumsfeld and Gen Richard B Myers, chairman of joint Chiefs of Staff; hours later, Rumsfeld tells large gathering of Army troops at nearby Fort Hood, Tex, that such war planning is clearly on Bush's mind; Rep Tom DeLay, House majority whip, describes Hussein as growing threat to American security and declares that US must attack him 'the sooner, the better'; White House aides express concern about growing speculations over what Bush might do about Iraq and when, and about suggestions of divisions in Republican Party over Bush's plans for Baghdad (M)

Farms of upper Hudson Valley are being transformed as resentless New Yorkers seek second home somewhere other than Hamptons; trend is evident in architecture that diverges from traditional, ballooning real estate prices, nascent night scene, high-design party invitations and menus that have swapped turkey and mashed potatoes for Pan-Asian grilled chicken; photos (M)

Comcast Corp appears to be big winner in three-way deal to dissolve Time Warner Entertainment; deal would clear one of last potential roadblocks to Comcast's plan to acquire AT&T Corp's cable unit by removing potential conflict of interest between AOL Time Warner, owner of nation's second-largest cable operation, and AT&T Comcast, which would be largest cable player; deal would also enable Comcast to turn Time Warner Entertainment stake into cash eventually and that would presumably allow Comcast to pay down some of debt it will incur in $47 billion takeover of AT&T's cable division; deal will allow Comcast to strike potentially revenue-rich agreement in which AOL Time Warner will pay generously for AT&T Comcast's cable systems to provide high-speed cable access to subscribers of America Online Internet service; high-speed-access agreement could be step toward revitalizing America Online unit; Comcast president Brian L Roberts and AOL Time Warner chief executive Richard D Parsons comment; photo (Market Place) (M)

Biologists at Rockefeller Univ develop novel agent that could help detect anthrax attack and serve as antidote to the deadly disease; report findings in latest issue of journal Nature; Rockefeller scientists, whose work is financed by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, say important feature of agent is that it attacks only anthrax and rare strain of closely related bacterium; say much research remains before it could be used as drug (M)

Former Enron Executive Tells of Paying Kickbacks A former Enron executive, Michael J. Kopper, told a federal judge that he had paid large kickbacks to the former chief financial officer, Andrew S. Fastow, out of money he received for managing a partnership that was used to help Enron hide debt and increase profits. Mr. Kopper's admission came as he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. His plea agreement, which requires his cooperation in the investigation of Enron's collapse, was considered a major step forward for the inquiry. [Page A1.]

Jack Curry Sports of The Times column discusses effect of looming strike date on teams like Anaheim Angels, which have not yet clinched playoff spot and thus need to play as if every game is last; photo (M)

Defeat of two prominent black House incombents to more moderate black challengers seen as evidence that successful black candidates no longer have to rely soley on rhetoric and tactics of civil rights era; Rep Cynthia A McKinney's loss to Denise Majette in Georgia comes two months after Rep Earl F Hilliard of Alabama is defeated by Artur Davis; in both cases, challengers get out their messages with help of money from contributors not motivated by any single issue, or by any problems in candidates' districts; challengers in both races benefit from outpouring of financial contributions from Jewish Americans and other Israel supportsrs; McKinney's vocal support for Palestinians and campaign contributions she received from Arab-American donors lost her votes not only from Republican and Jewish voters, but also from some blacks; she also angered some black voters by suggesting that Pres Bush might have known in advance about Sept 11 attacks but done nothing so his supporters could make money in war; Rep Hilliard also lost votes for being regarded as unfriendly to Israel and for history of ethical lapses; some black politicians fear that influence of outside groups could depress black turnout; photos (M)

Anaheim Angels defeat New York Yankees, 5-1, in extra innings; photos (M)

Standing next to mangled pieces of steel from the World Trade Center, federal officials announced that they were beginning a two-year, $23 million investigation into how and why the twin towers and a third skyscraper collapsed in raging fires on Sept. 11.