On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
In 2002, the world population was approximately 6,337,730,342 people[†]
2002Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro, Spanish tennis player[†]
Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro is a Spanish professional tennis player. She has career-high rankings of world No. 52 in singles by the WTA achieved on 28 October 2024, and No. 201 in doubles, attained on 9 January 2023.
2002Youssouf Togoïmi, Chadian politician (born 1953)[†]
Youssouf Togoïmi was a Chadian politician who served in the government under President Idriss Déby but subsequently led a rebel group, the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT), against Déby.
2002Mike Webster, American football player (born 1952)[†]
Michael Lewis Webster was an American professional football center in the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1990 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 1997. Nicknamed "Iron Mike", Webster anchored the Steelers' offensive line during much of their run of four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979 and is considered by many the greatest center in NFL history.
Federal grand jury indicts Adelphia Communications founder John J Rigas, his sons Michael and Timothy, former vice president James R Brown and former director of internal reporting Michael C Mulcahey, charging them with conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud; charges address what federal prosecutors say was scheme by defendants to hide about $2.5 billion in debt and other funds that Rigas family misappropriated from Adelphia; US Atty James Comey says scheme is one of most elaborate and extensive corporate frauds in US history; indictment says Rigases set up system of buying stock in Adelphia whenever company issued new shares so that their holding would not be diluted; says they set up credit line that allowed family to borrow money, with loans guaranteed by Adelphia, to assure themselves capital to buy stock; holds false documents were drawn up to make it look as if family members paid money for their stock; Rigas says he and his sons are not guilty and that borrowing agreements were legal and proper; photo (M)
Article on Pauline Alexander, 76, nurse who dispenses medicine and clothing to poor villagers in drought-stricken Rajasthan, India; photos; map (M)
Brazil's real falls by more than 4.5 percent and stock and bond markets also fall sharply, as investors conclude from opinion poll in newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo that left-wing presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva may be on his way to outright victory in first round of voting Oct 6, outcome many businesspeople in Brazil dread; poll shows Silva with support of 44 percent of respondents, widening his lead over center-right government's candidate, former Health Min Jose Serra, to 25 points from 19 points of 10 days ago; main stock index Bovespa falls 3.4 percent, Brazilian real loses 4.9 percent of its value against dollar, and traders are bidding just 51.5 cents on dollar for benchmark government 'C' bond, down from 54.44 cents on dollar; graph; photo (M)
First public meeting of New York City's new Panel for Educational Policy is study in blandness and efficiency, hallmarks of administration of Mayor Michael R Bloomberg, and is in stark contrast to those of powerful and unapologetically political Board of Education it replaced; described; panel votes to approve its own bylaws, appointment of themselves as trustees of Fund for Public Schools, measure making Chancellor trustee of Board of Education Retirement System and contract agreement with union representing custodians' helpers; photo (M)
San Francisco Giants are poised to make playoffs, giving star left fielder Barry Bonds chance to add one more accomplishment to resume: World Series appearance; photos (M)
George Vecsey Sports of The Times column contends that New York Jets coaches, especially Herman Edwards, must make changes to have hope of competing after series of disappointing losses; photo (M)
Footlights column; 24th year of New York Is Book Country starts tomorrow and runs three days; Metropolitan Opera presents exhibition World of Enrico Caruso; Nonesuch Records will release CD's of landmark Explorer Series; Yale Center for British Art opens exhibition of landscape paintings from 18th to 21st centuries (S)
Clyde Haberman comment on New York City City Council's propo0
Federal Centers for Disease Control instructs states to prepare to vaccinate every American in event of biological attack using smallpox; issues most comprehensive smallpox preparedness plan to date showing how each state can quickly inoculate as many as one million people in first 10 days; says even one case of virus might result in nationwide program of voluntary vaccinations since it could be harbinger of larger outbreak and because it would undoubtedly spark panic and clamor for vaccine; experts complain plan fails to answer questions about timing, cost and logistical hurdles of preparing thousands of health professionals and volunteers to conduct mass vaccinations while keeping public calm; say superficial plan could sap public confidence, worsening effects of smallpox crisis (M)
Fans react with mixed emotions when netting is installed at NHL stadiums in effort to protect fans from flying pucks; some are grateful for added safety precautions and others complain about impaired visibility; photos (M)
New York Jets, in attempt to change direction of disappointing start to season, will start from scratch in analyzing team's weaknesses; photo (M)
Article on research by team headed by biologist Dr David Gardiner at University of California at Irvine into how salamanders regenerate limbs, tails, parts of their hearts and retinas and lenses in their eyes; while regenerative medicine has focused on stem cells and transplants, some scientists theorize that better approach is to induce natural regeneration with drugs or genes; drawing; photos; chart (M)