October 28, 2002

Bruce Weber Critic's Notebook column on current Harlem theater productions celebrating black divas: Classical Theater of Harlem's production of August Wilson's play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; Hadley Players' presentation of A Song for You: The Civil Rights Journey of a Negro Woman by Wendi Joy Franklin; and American Jazz Theater's production of Marian Anderson: The Lady From Philadelphia; photos (M)

Bill Pennington The Day in The NFL column discusses change of 10 quarterbacks among NFL teams in one day, as teams scramble to bolster struggling offenses by naming new starters (M)

William H Webster, named to head new Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, must define, with his four colleagues, all board's basic functional and procedural methodologies; will determine whether to enforce or alter current rules on conducting audits; will deal with issue of separating accounting firms' auditing and consulting activities; must determine and mete out punishment for errant and unscrupulous auditors; board's effectiveness at protecting investors from future scandalous corporate surprises is still unknowable (M)

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, leftist labor union leader, is elected president of Brazil, taking 61.2 percent of vote to defeat centrist Jose Serra; overwhelming victory, with nearly 52 million votes, is seen as mandate to remake Latin America's most populous country; is likely to reverberate abroad, energizing left throughout Latin America and further unnerving international financial markets; da Silva's Workers' Party has been consistent critic of US and values it espouses; photo (M)

Prosecutors in Virginia say they have evidence that 17-year-old John Malvo, charged with John Allen Muhammad in sniper attacks in Washington area, was gunman in at least one of shootings; are using revelation to buttress argument that Virginia is best venue for first trial of the two, who would be eligible for death penalty under state law; Commomwealth Atty Robert F Horan Jr says investigators believe teenager was killer in Oct 14 shooting of Linda Franklin in shopping mall in Falls Church; federal officials say that they will support holding first trials in Virginia, but that federal court would be best venue for prosecution; have custody of two men and will have final say on which jurisdiction conducts first trial; photos (M)

Echostar Moves to Rescue Troubled Deal for DirecTV In a last-ditch attempt to rescue its proposed acquisition of DirecTV, EchoStar Communications has tentatively agreed to transfer dozens of communications frequencies and three satellites to Cablevision, the cable-television company that is making a push into the satellite business, people close to the companies said. EchoStar and Cablevision have presented the plan to the Justice Department as a way to potentially salvage EchoStar's proposed $25.8 billion acquisition of Hughes Electronics, which includes DirecTV. [Page C5.]

Joe Drape On College Football column contends that ranking by Associated Press poll and USA Today/ESPN poll, which places undefeated Notre Dame University at sixth and fourth, underrates team; photo (M)

Former Sen Frank L Lautenberg is delighted to be back in limelight after two-years of self-imposed retirement; Lautenberg re-emerged on political landscape when Democratic leaders recruited him to fill ballot spot suddenly vacated by his long-time nemesis, Sen Robert G Torricelli; photo (M)

This Week column: Exhibit of small group of illustrations from 16th century Persian epic Hamzanama will open at Brooklyn Museum of Art; Giorgio de Chirico and the Myth of Ariadne will open at Philadelphia Museum of Art; Thalia Book Club's fall season will open at Symphony Space with conversation between author Alice Munro and journalist and novelist Robert MacNeil and reading from Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories by Kate Burton; F Murray Abraham and Vivienne Benesch will star in staged reading of Merchant of Venice at Hunter College; photos (M)

Joyce Purnick Metro Matters clumn comments on Gov Pataki's refusal to participate in debates unless up to five minor-party candidates are included (M)

Speculation abounds about successor to Citigroup chairman and chief executive Sanford I Weill, 69; he has not indicated that he is ready to step down; is working to resolve probes into research practices at bank's Salomon Smith Barney unit; some analysts expect Citigroup share price to drop when he retires; photo (M)

Anaheim Angels defeat San Francisco Giants, 4-1, in Game 7 to win World Series for first time; Giants slugger Barry Bonds leaves Series without elusive championship ring but hit very well in playoffs and World Series; photos (M)