October 21, 2002

Electronic Arts, world's biggest video-game publisher, flourishes amid high-tech woes; recent introduction by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft of new gaming hardware drives industry growth cycle; company holds back new product to avoid cannibalizing sales of its other games during coming holiday season; success of The Sims Online, Internet-based game that will be released for Christmas sale, will largely determine who is right -- those making lofty predictions of Electronic Arts' future profitability while accumulating its stock, or its short-sellers; photos; stock-price graph; list of 10 most-popular video games (M)

Bush administration presses harder than ever for United Nations inspections of Iraq's weapons program to be carried out quickly and forcefully, to avoid any delay that could postpone retaliation for Iraq's noncompliance; delays could occur if inspectors take their time in choosing hundreds of sites or visit places that yield little conclusive evidence of Iraq's weapons programs; major factor in need for speed is military officials' claim that optimal time for using troops in Iraq is winter months, before heat and sand storms set in; negotiations to hammer out Security Council resolution are said to be close to fruition; goal of US is to have resolution refer to unspecified 'consequences'--which could be interpreted as use of force--if Iraq fails to comply with inspections and disarmament demands; US would implicitly accept idea of role by Security Council in determining what consequences should be; diplomats say US wants resolution to ensure that inspections themselves are aggressive; say some in Bush administration want inspectors to include American officials who can point them to right places (M)

Outlook for flagship telecommunications venders like Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks and Cisco Systems discussed in light of Federal Communications Commission Chmn Michael K Powell's recent speech urging telecommunications companies to spend more on new equipment to insure their survival; brutal recession in telecommunications industry heightens likelihood that suppliers will be forced into bankruptcy; some analysts just foresee their downsizing; graph of sales of telecommunications equipment (M)

Independent gubernatorial candidate Tom Golisano and Democratic gubernatorial candidate H Carl McCall accuse New York State Republican Governor George E Pataki of favoritism and corruption in televised debate, pointing to Pataki's alleged trading of paroles for campaign contributions (M)

Vatican's reservations about American bishops' new zero-tolerance policy on sexual abuse stir hopes of Chicago parishioners whose much-loved pastor was removed from parish for his sexual misconduct with two 15-year-old boys in 1976; Rev John Calicott had long ago admitted his misconduct; is beloved at Holy Angels Church as favorite son, as much for his connection to impoverished community surrounding church as for his spiritual guidance within its walls; is one of five ousted priests in Archdiocese of Chicago who have filed appeals asking Vatican to reconsider their suspensions; Cardinal Francis George, speaking at Mass at Holy Angels Church, says he is sympathetic to 'difficult period' parish is going through, but he does not hint at whether he believes priests should be reinstated; photos (M)