July 1, 2003

Brazil's gross domestic product fell 5 percent in most recent quarter; GDP totaled 344.3 billion reais ($120 billion) in period, which was first quarter of 2003 fiscal year, down 5 percent from fourth quarter; economy grew 15 percent from first quarter of 2002; exports in most recent quarter rose 61.7 billion reais from 34.2 billin reais year ago (S)

Article noted on Iraqi Shiite cleric's condemnation of US-sponsored constitutional council

China analysts say conflict between supporters of Pres Hu Jintao and predecessor Jiang Zemin exposes tensions within top leadership and makes it more difficult for new generation to put its stamp on politics; Jiang, 76, retains enormous political muscle by keeping allies in key posts and staying on as chairman of Central Military Commission; Hu, 60, solidifies his stature with strong handling of SARS epidemic, but has to navigate between liberal intellectuals calling bluntly for political change and Jiang allies, who fear instability and reportedly try to reverse trend toward government openness (M)

Mark Philippoussis defeats Andre Agassi in five sets in fourth round of Wimbledon; photos (M)

Summer performing arts festivals throughout France are being threatened by workers protesting deal between three unions and French employers' association that would reduce unemployment benefits to 8 months from 12 for part-time workers; police storm theater in Caen and evacuate 100 strikers staging sit-in; Montpellier Dance Festival and performances at Comedie Francaise and several other Paris theaters are cancelled; photo (M)

Stock market posts best quarterly performance since end of 1998, producing most encouraging rally since long slide began in 2000; 14.9 percent climb in Standard & Poor's 500-stock index was eighth-best performance since World War II; 470 of 500 stocks rose, as did all ten industry sectors, bringing back many retail investors despite skepticism of others; graph (M)

Clyde Haberman NYC column on John Beltzer, who writes and produces songs for sick children, incorporating their favorite things into melody and written in style of child's choosing; Songs of Love churns out about 100 songs a month, and has produced several thousand since its inception (M)

New York Yankees defeat Baltimore Orioles, 6-5; photos (M)

World Business Briefing: Ireland: Builder

Kerry Kennedy Cuomo is seeking divorce from husband Andrew M Cuomo; couple has been married since 1990 and relationship has fascinated political watchers because it united two powerful Democratic families; photo (M)

Many vaccines are currently being tested and expected to soon be given to adolescents to prevent variety of diseases, including ones transmitted by sex, drug use, travel and dormitory living; Anne A Oplinger, spokeswoman for National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, acknowledges potential roadblocks in mandating that teenagers get shots such as cost, instituting new school requirements and convincing parents of need, sometimes far in advance, of potential risk; Dr Stanley A Plotkin, inventor of rubella vaccine and researcher of many others, predicts, in Jordan Report annual survey of vaccine development, that within 10 years vaccines will be available for herpes and several other diseases; photos (L)

He said he would be back, didn't he? And so Arnold Schwarzeneggar returns once more from the future to deliver one-liners with his trademark leaden whimsy. It has been 12 years since the last "Terminator" movie, and nearly 20 since the first, and the franchise risks a certain obsolescence. As does the old T-1 himself; his nemesis this time is a sleek new model, T-X cyborg human-hunter (Kristanna Loken), who turns up naked on Rodeo Drive and proceeds to wreak havoc in a red leather pants suit and a Lexus sports coupe. Jonathan Mostow lacks the operatic humanism of James Cameron, who made the first two episodes, but he brings an air of unassuming B-movie competence to the many chase and explosion scenes. Nick Stahl and Claire Danes are the future resistance leaders whom the good terminator must protect from the bad one. They also must try to short-circuit the evil machine's takeover of the world, and the annihilation of most of its human population. All in under two hours. — A.O. Scott