March 8, 2003

Air Force Academy Warning The Air Force chief of staff said top Air Force Academy officials could be held accountable for the mishandling of rape complaints. PAGE A13

Labor Department reports loss of 308,000 jobs in February, most since two months after September 11 terrorist attacks; unemployment rate nudges up to 5.8 percent from 5.7 percent in January; Treasury Secretary John Snow calls figures disappointing but says they show need for quick action on Pres Bush's tax cut plan; Democratic Repr Richard Gephardt says Bush's economic plan has left country unprepared for future and without strategy to spur meaningful economic growth; Senate minority leader Tom Daschle accuses Bush of turning US economy into 'job-destroying machine'; photo; graphs; charts (M)

Harvey Araton Sports of The Times column discusses Fair Lawn High School (NJ) senior Kim Salwa, who has raised eyebrows and tempers in taking on high school boys as one of state's top wrestlers; photo (M)

Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, world's tallest at 1,438 feet, has much unrented space because rents have been kept at double the market rate during an economic slump; building management added airport-style security since Sept 11, complete with X-ray machines and metal detectors; tenants are required to undergo training for three types of disaster, and can evacuate 88-story building in just 32 minutes; Asian cities vie to establish economic dominance and lay claim to tallest-building title, putting aside any fears about tempting terrorists; Shanghai and Taipei are building towering buildings, and Seoul plans one; photos (L)

Salvador Dali work missing from locked display case at Rikers Island prison complex in New York City is listed on international Art Loss Register, one of many outside organizations police rely on when it comes to solving art crimes; law enforcement officials say investigators are close to cracking Rikers Island case, focusing on deputy assistant warden, longtime veteran who is believed to have financial troubles; photo (M)