March 13, 2003

Soldiers at Fort Drum, NY, hardly have time to pay tribute to comrades who died in Black Hawk helicopter accident because they are so focused on preparing for war in Iraq; accident serves to remind people that even training missions can be deadly; photo (M)

With CD sales dropping, recording industry gives new priority to two formats, SACD, or super audio compact disc, and DVD-Audio, both of which contain music remastered in high-resolution digital audio; companies are re-releasing classic albums and planning releases of new albums; hardware makers are lowering prices on players and home theater systems and are planning to put format into cars and portable players; industry hopes to attract listeners who still pay for music and those who are eager for enhanced sound; photos (M)

Russian government commission recommends that country stop extending tax breaks to its aluminum industry; system of tax breaks, known as tolling, began in Russia in early 1990's as way to help domestic producers; dropping breaks will cost biggest aluminum producer, Russian Aluminum, $70 million to $80 million per year (S)

New York City agrees to pay $2.25 million to family of Patrick M Dorismond, unarmed black security guard who was fatally shot by Det Anthony Vasquez in 2000, concluding civil suit; killing was seen by some as emblematic of concerns about racism in law enforcement and of temperament of former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; Dorismond family believes criminal charges should be filed against Vasquez; photo (M)

Orders for new machinery in Japan rose 7 percent, better than expected, in January compared with Decembe, suggesting that capital spending has stabilized (S)