Andre Agassi prepares for French Open and first-round match; photos (M)

At 33, Agassi Is Out to Prove He Can Still Prevail on Clay

Critics of Microsoft maintain that company is increasing its donation of software to US nonprofit organization as way of undercutting free software movement favored by developers of open source programs; Microsoft, which is distributing to nonprofits through San Francisco-based CompuMentor, is increasing its donations to a level nearing $1 billion annually over next three to four years; photo (M)

Microsoft Finds Some Doubters For the Motives Of Its Largesse

Joyce Purnick comment on Food Bank for New York City, which supplies vast majority of food provided throughout five boroughs at programs for feeding the poor; notes that only small fraction of food in New York's charitiable soup kitchens and pantries comes from nongoverment sources (M)

Metro Matters; Success Is Bittersweet At Food Banks

Some liquor stores in New York State open for business on Sunday for first time since prohibition; store owners have typically been lukewarm to proposition of opening on Sundays; stores that open on Sunday must close at least one other day of week; photo (M)

On the Seventh Day, A New Retail Option; For the First Time in Decades, Liquor Stores Open on a Sunday

Awards are announced at 56th annual Cannes International Film Festival; Gus Van Sant's Elephant wins two prizes: Palme d'Or (top prize) and best director; photo of Van Sant (M)

Van Sant's 'Elephant' Receives Palme d'Or

Carol Niedermayer, mother of Anaheim Mighty Ducks forward Rob and New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott, says she would like to see Ducks win Stanley Cup, as Scott and Devils have won two championships already; photos (M)

Brothers Force Mother To Pick a Cup Winner

 Argentinian Sworn In  N&#233;stor Kirchner was inaugurated in Buenos Aires, and he issued strong challenges to Argentina's armed forces and creditors.   PAGE A3    New Pressure on Iran  The White House says it is pressing Iran to hand over members of Al Qaeda who intelligence officials believe are based there.   PAGE A9

INSIDE

There are biohazard signs on the doors and airflow systems designed to keep viruses from wafting out of laboratories. In one laboratory, a researcher wears gloves, gown and mask. In another, the dress code is a full spacesuit with its own air supply. A visitor, allowed to peer in through glass panels, is warned, only half jokingly, never to shake hands with anyone here who is wearing latex gloves.    This is Building 15, home of the special pathogens branch of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.  

Global Collaboration Bears Fruit As SARS Gives Up Some Secrets

Ousmane Zongo is fatally shot by Police Officer Bryan Conroy in mazelike passages of Chelsea Mini-Storage in Manhattan, where Zongo, native of Burkina Faso and repairer of African artifacts, used storage room as workshop; was unarmed when he encountered Conroy, who was in plain clothes and guarding another room in complex, which was full of counterfeit compact discs after a raid; photos (M)

Police Shooting of Immigrant Happened in Modern-Day Maze

Petty Officer Third Class Philip A Simone stumbles off sidewalk in lower Manhattan and is struck and killed by livery cab; is first sailor killed in New York City in 16 years of Fleet Week celebrations; photo of cruiser Normandy at pier on Staten Island (M)

In Town for Fleet Week, Sailor Is Killed by Cab

Democrats from the West came here in mid-May to share political hopes and fears and to reassure one another that despite President Bush's popularity, their party has a future.    Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, one of the party's handful of big winners last fall, said Democrats had to ''develop a strong economic message'' and ''a strong national security message.'' Mr. Richardson said the security message had to make it clear that ''if we need to use force, we do it.''  

Democrats Seek a Stronger Focus, and Money

Terms of Sprint chief executive Gary Forsee's departure from former employer BellSouth are seen as potentially hampering Sprint's business strategy; arbitration decision permitting Forsee to leave BellSouth prevents him from disclosing information on BellSouth's business strategy as well as negotiating on any merger and acquisition for one-year period; many analysts see Sprint, which is not a leader in any of its business lines, as a likely takeover candidate; photo (M)

Sprint's New Boss Is Handcuffed By His Past Job

William C Rhoden Sports of The Times column discusses New Jersey Nets dependence on guard Jason Kidd in upcoming NBA finals against San Antonio Spurs (M)

Sports of The Times; Kidd's Injury Scare Reveals Fragility of Nets' Success

The sudden shift in postwar strategy in favor of an American and British occupation authority has visibly deflated the Iraqi political scene, which earlier this month was bustling with grass-roots politicking and high expectations for an all-Iraqi provisional government.    This week Kurdish leaders are clearing out of Baghdad to return to the north to consult with their constituents about a course of action. They have asked the new American civilian administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer III, to visit northern Iraq to confront the popular disenchantment.  

IRAQIS FRUSTRATED BY SHIFT FAVORING U.S.-BRITISH RULE

At Engine Company 204 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, the police used two vans to cart away 12 protesters who had invaded the firehouse to keep it alive. At Engine Company 212 in Williamsburg, protesters rushed in and jammed pieces of lumber to prop open the door. One man chained himself to the bumper of the fire truck, and others sat down in front of it. Eight people were arrested.    After months of debate and legal battles, the city closed six fire companies yesterday in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. Several of the closings went smoothly, although bitterness and sadness lingered outside the buildings' front doors. But confrontations in Harlem and Brooklyn exposed emotions so raw that their intensity surprised the police officers and fire officials on hand to keep order on the overcast Sunday morning.  

Some Firehouses Go Quietly, Some With Rage

New counterfeit-resistant $20 bill has faint peach, turquoise and gold tones; photos show varying portraits of Andrew Jackson on three different $20 bills (M)

Old Hickory, Hang On To Your Noggin

Henry Grimes, one of most respected jazz bassists working in mid-1960's, who disappeared in early 70's after moving to California, re-emerges after three decades and is playing again; will perform in New York with William Parker and others as part of avant-garde jazz Vision Festival; photos (L)

Silent 30 Years, A Jazzman Resurfaces; Left New York in '68, Plays Again Tonight

Expected relaxation of FCC rules on media cross-ownership may not produce immediate wave of acquisitions by newspaper and media companies; barriers include high price of many television stations, perception that newspaper industry is in decline, reluctance of local advertisers to pay for expense cross-media campaigns and difficulty of achieving economies of scale in unionized environment; some companies, however, including Tribune Co and Media General, do intend to pursue acquisitions aggressively; photo, chart (M)

Easier Rules May Not Mean More Newspaper-TV Deals

San Antonio Spurs defeat Dallas Mavericks, 102-95, to lead Western Conference finals series, 3-1; photos (M)

Spurs See Nothing but Nets After Beating Mavs

The Israeli government for the first time officially accepted a Palestinian claim to eventual statehood today, as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon persuaded his right-wing government to endorse the steps of a new American-backed peace plan, known as the road map.    The action came after Mr. Sharon made his most sweeping statement about the need to compromise for peace, telling an Israeli newspaper, ''The moment has arrived to divide this tract of land between us and the Palestinians.''  

ISRAEL APPROVES BUSH'S ROAD MAP TO NEW PALESTINE

Time Inc faces difficult task of broadening appeal of elite lifestyle magazine Wallpaper; has hired Jeremy Langmead as new editor in chief, replacing founder Tyler Brule, who created Wallpaper in 1996; photos (M)

A Chic Style Magazine Now Tries To Make the Exclusive Accessible

Eurovision Song Contest draws pop stars from 26 European nations to Riga, Latvia, where they perform previously unpublished songs; winner is Turkey's Sertab Erener; photos (M)

Rise of the New Europe in Euro Pop

AOL Time Warner is in midst of lobbying campaign to reverse FCC rule requiring that it open its instant messaging networks to competitors as condition of expanding service to include audio and video connections; restriction was imposed when AOL's acquisition of Time Warner was approved in 2001; company's chances of overturning rule are seen as favorable since current FCC chairman Michael Powell, who was a commissioner when merger was approved, vigorously opposed the restriction at that time; photo (M)

As Instant Messaging Comes of Age, AOL Fears F.C.C. Rule Holds It Back

Many New Yorkers suspect that city will issue more citations for violations of City Code this summer in order to boost revenues; leaders of police union accuse management of using quota system to increase issuance of more expensive tickets; Mayor Michael R Bloomberg dismisses accusation (M)

Will This Year Be the Summer Of Citations?

 As Rivals Talk, British Air Considers Its Own Options  Senior British Airways executives are expected to meet tomorrow to discuss business options in the wake of talks between two of its largest competitors. ''We're watching recent developments and not ruling out any options,'' Steve Double, a spokesman, said.    BMI British Midland Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways have had recent talks over a possible cooperation on some routes or even a merger. [Page C2.]    Swiss International Air Lines is considering reducing its fleet as much as 41 percent. [C7.]    'This Week' Comes in Third  Although George Stephanopoulos, left, has won respect from politicians and pundits, his program, ''This Week,'' is behind in the ratings. ABC finished in third place among the Sunday morning news programs as ''This Week'' trailed both ''Face the Nation'' with Bob Schieffer on CBS and ''Meet the Press'' with Tim Russert on NBC. [C6]    Supercomputing With PlayStations  The National Center for Supercomputing Applications has assembled a supercomputer from an army of Sony PlayStation 2's. The system, with components purchased at retail prices, cost a little more than $50,000. [C3.]    Inventing Toys From an Adult View  Recent toy and game patents suggests that many inventors create toys more for themselves than for children. Patents. [C2.]    Japan Seeks Explanation From Bank  Resona Holdings, a Japanese lender set to receive a bailout of about $20 billion from the government, must adopt a more transparent management style and explain how its capital fell below the minimum level, the financial services minister said. [C4.]    A Wireless Etiquette Wilderness  Armed with laptop computers equipped with wireless Internet connections, many executives had only one ear on the speakers at the two-day Vortex conference but both hands on the keyboard, whiling away their time. [C4]    Telecom Italia Merger Vote  Shareholders of Telecom Italia, the phone company, have approved a merger with its parent, Olivetti, clearing the way for the sale of assets and the reduction of debt. Olivetti shareholders vote on the merger today. [C4.]    Web Options for Nonprofit Groups  Nonprofit groups could become more efficient and save $100 billion a year if they reduced costs and improved the effectiveness of their services, in part by making better use of the Internet, according to former Senator Bill Bradley and two colleagues at McKinsey & Company. Groups like the Harlem Children's Zone are already heeding the call. It sends donors e-mail updates about the progress of a system that uses bar-code scanners and ID cards to track children in day care. Bob Tedeschi: E-Commerce Report. [C5.]    Rise of Euro May Hurt BMW  BMW said the rise of the euro against the dollar might begin to hurt earnings next year, when the company, the No. 2 maker of luxury cars, is no longer fully hedged against currency fluctuations. [C7.]    U.S. Markets Closed Today  United States financial markets, government offices and banks are closed today in observance of Memorial Day. Financial markets are open in other countries.  

BUSINESS DIGEST

Kathleen Winsor was an American author. She is best known for her first work, the 1944 historical novel Forever Amber. The novel, racy for its time, became a runaway bestseller even as it drew criticism from some authorities for its depictions of sexuality. She wrote seven other novels, none of which matched the success of her debut.

Kathleen Winsor, American journalist and author (born 1919)

Kathleen_Winsor

Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines Flight 4230 was a chartered international passenger flight, a Yakovlev Yak-42D operated by Ukrainian UM Airlines, which crashed in 2003.

Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines Flight 4230 crashes in the Turkish town of Maçka, killing 75.

May 26, 2003

Headlines from May 26, 2003

At 33, Agassi Is Out to Prove He Can Still Prevail on Clay

Microsoft Finds Some Doubters For the Motives Of Its Largesse

Metro Matters; Success Is Bittersweet At Food Banks

On the Seventh Day, A New Retail Option; For the First Time in Decades, Liquor Stores Open on a Sunday

Van Sant's 'Elephant' Receives Palme d'Or

Billboard 200

Body Kiss

Come Away With Me

On And On

The Very Best Of Cher

Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

Notable Deaths

Historical Events

Historical Context for May 26, 2003