March 17, 2003

Haim Saban is on verge of acquiring coveted assets of KirchMedia, German media empire, in partnership with French broadcaster Television Francaise 1; deal is reported to be worth slightly more than $2 billion; Saban, Israeli billionaire who was born in Egypt and lives in Los Angeles, would be first non-German to break into Germany's giant, stubornly ingrown television industry; Kirch's holdings include rich film library as well as majority stake in in Germany's largest commercial broadcaster, ProSiebenSat.1; photo (M)

Ben Brantley reviews ...A, new play by Suzan-Lori Parks at Joseph Papp Public Theater; director is Michael Greif; photo (M)

Many New Yorkers are unhappily preparing for ban on tobacco in bars and restaurants, effective Mar 30; some will miss smoky bar atmosphere; many workers dread having to tell patrons that smoking is not permitted; photo (L)

First article in series profiling servicemen deployed in Persian Gulf for possible war with Iraq; Lieut Dewaine Barnes is one of three black fighter pilots among 79 others on aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln; his goal is deeply rooted in history since he attributes career as aviator mostly to exploits of Tuskeegee Airmen, decorated World War II air squadron, whose members were first African-American pilots permitted to fly for US military; photos (M)

Raging fire in Yonkers, NY, leaves more than 300 residents homeless; second big fire in three days tests stamina of firefighters and rescue workers; photos (M)

Growing number of all-girls schools nationwide are declaring financial literacy educational priority, essential to real gender equality; about two dozen schools are at leading edge of trend to systematically teach teenagers how to earn, spend, save and invest wisely; are mainly private girls' schools, which see mission as producing strong independent women and are not constrained by curriculum requirements in public schools; curriculum at Marymount School in Manhattan and elsewhere described; photos (M)

Number of standout basketball players will lead their college teams through NCAA tournament, including Oklahoma University senior Hollis Price; photos (M)

Developers in Raiz, fast-growing metropolis of Tucson, Ariz, fight court-ordered decision by US Fish and Wildlife Service designating 1.2 million acres in and around city of 900,000 people as 'critical habitat' for estimated 18 rare pygmy owls; controversy discussed; fights over endangered species like 7-inch-high owl have become staples of land-use battles in West, but new complication has arisen from designation as critical habitat; Fish and Wildlife Service has begun imposing it in earnest under orders from courts, even though it has long been required under 1973 Endangered Species Act; maps; charts; photos (M)

Connecticut University, seeded No.1 in women's NCAA tournament's East Regional, has good shot at championship, but youth and inexperience of team could prove detrimental; photo (M)

Microsoft Said to Abandon Goal of Overtaking AOL IDC, the big technology research firm, said in a report that Microsoft had abandoned its goal of trying to overtake America Online as the largest online service. ''MSN,'' the report states, ''has adopted a new strategy -- to ultimately become a portal or software company, with customers obtaining their own Internet access from any source.'' [Page C5.]

HBO and James Gandofini consider deal to drop their lawsuits against each other and resume negotiations over Gandolfini's contract to star in The Sopranos after Gandolfini agrees to return to work on series; HBO was adamant that any concessions made under threat of lawsuit would set unacceptable precedent for its negotiations with stars of its other shows; Gandolfini's suit, alleging that his contract had been breached, infuriated HBO, which had already agreed to double Galdofini's pay of $5 million a year; photo (M)

Israelis Kill U.S. Protester An Israeli Army bulldozer crushed to death an American woman who had tried to prevent it from destroying a Palestinian home in the southern Gaza Strip. PAGE A3 Mystery Ailment's Trail China gave health officials sketchy details about a mysterious respiratory ailment that is believed to have started there in November, and said it has tapered off. PAGE A10