December 24, 2002

Analysis of debate in 1950's between surgeons who argued that small breast tumors needed to detected and excised early to stop cancer from spreading and doctors who said early detection was being oversold and that some tumors, regardless of size, would spread beyond breast and kill and others would remain harmless; now, pre-determinist argument is re-emerging but few say it is entirely right or wrong; drawing (M)

New York's Guggenheim museum, retrenching as it seeks sponsor for next exhibit, will close Guggenheim Las Vegas exhibit hall at Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino on January 5; photos (M)

Number of scientists and dog trainers raise concern that mistakes could become more commonplace as thousands of new canine detectives are deployed across US; experts say dogs may overreact when handlers are excited and stressed; see need for more rigorous training and certification standards, more research into how dogs detect scents and relationship between dogs and handlers; photo (M)

Article in series examining life at 125 Cedar Street as residents return to building overlooking site of World Trade Center 15 months after terrorist attack; residents face return with mixture of relief and anxiety after protracted negotiations over cleaning of building; most of apartments were coated with fine ash; dozens artists who live in building sought to have their damaged works restored, with mixed results; photos (M)

North Korea has started to reopen sealed plutonium reprocessing plant at Yongbyon nuclear complex, most provocative and technically important step it has taken in recent days to revive its nuclear arms program; International Atomic Energy Agency says North Koreans have disabled surveillance cameras and broken through seals at pool holding 8,000 spent fuel rods; Bush administration stresses it will continue to deal with situation diplomatically; Defense Sec Donald H Rumsfeld warns United States is capable of confronting North Korea militarily, news conference; bipartisan pressure grows from Congress for Bush to rethink policy of not negotiating until North Korea drops nuclear program; photos; map (M)

World Business Briefing: Germany: Toll Venture

Singapore's five-month deflationary trend ends with 0.2 percent rise in consumer prices in November (S)

New York Giants prepare to face Philadelphia Eagles after tight end Jeremy Shockey and wide receiver Amani Toomer help drive team toward playoffs in game against Indianapolis Colts; photo (M)

General Motors, which has been most reticent major carmaker when it comes to prospects for hybrid vehicles, intends to offer some form of hybrid electric power on five of its major models over next four production year; plan is surprising endorsement of fledgling hybrid technology, which improves gasoline mileage by supplementing internal combustion engine with electric power (M)

Yahoo to Pay $235 Million For Web Search Technology Moving to re-establish itself as a pre-eminent place to search the Internet, Yahoo plans to buy Inktomi, a maker of Web search technology, for $235 million in cash. The acquisition provides somewhat of a soft landing for Inktomi, whose shares hit $231 in March 2000 -- giving it a value of about $25 billion -- but whose expansion plans largely collapsed. Market Place. [Page C3.]

The soot in the air of Lower Manhattan in the first few days after the Sept. 11 attack was less likely to cause cancer and other long-term health problems than many had feared, according to a report released yesterday. The report, by a team of environmental scientists studying the pollution caused by the burning and collapse of the World Trade Center towers, found that dust particles collected at 14 sites from Sept. 12 through 17, 2001, were primarily larger than those much more dangerous particles that are more likely to lodge deeply in the lungs and stay there. The larger particles are more easily expelled.

New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens visits sailors and marines in Persian Gulf, receiving warm welcome that visibly moves six-time Cy Young award winner; photo (M)