November 17, 2002

Article by Janusz Glowacki discusses relationship of his play The Fourth Sister to Chekhov's Three Sisters, which was inspiration for piece; photo (M)

Iraq's acquiescence to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, which promises 'severe consequences' for 'continued violations of its obligations,' resembles just one more turn in dysfunctional relationship; latest events in Security Council and in Iraq appear to follow unhealthy pattern dating back to 1991, when Resolution 687 brokered end to Persian Gulf War and earned commitment from Saddam Hussein to disarm and allow UN inspectors to come in and oversee things; each new period of cooperation by Iraq has been quickly followed by stalling and sidestepping, then by limited cooperation again; timeline with significant moments in year 2002; photos (L)

Loans made to telecommunications and cable television industries and deal linked to Enron Corp weigh down JP Morgan Chase balance sheet, causing Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's Corp to reduce ratings on bank's debt; chief executive William B Harrison, who insists that economic recovery will revive Morgan's profitability, faces dilemma in that by staying the course he would fail to address investors' anxieties but by discount selling of bank's loan portfolio he could incur further lowering of credit ratings and attendant increased operating costs; most recent quarterly report shows 91 percent earnings drop compared with year earlier; Morgan's management could change if results do not improve soon; photos; graph (M)

Republican Party election victories are likely to speed legislative action to propel overhaul of American tort law; defenders of current civil litigation system say it works equitably and does not overload courts; critics point to large caseloads and punitive damage awards as signs that changes are necessary; odd alliances, ideological paradoxes, politics and money will determine extent of changes in civil justice system; photos; graphs (M)

FIELDS OF FURY The American Civil War. By James M. McPherson. Byron Preiss/Atheneum, $22.95. (All ages)