September 9, 2003

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat Philadelphia Eagles, 17-0; photos (M)

Elderly are focus of article in Hard Times series on impact of New York's fiscal crisis on people who live, work and spend time in single city block in Ozone Park, Queens; some people, protected by generous company pension and tax exemptions, are feeling no pain, while others are struggling, just scraping by; photos; map (M)

Ahmed Qurei, nominated to be next Palestinian prime minister, says he will not accept post unless Bush administration presses Israel to restrain its military and stop isolating Yasir Arafat; Qurei, an accomplished politician, seems eager to reassure Palestinians of his loyalty to Arafat, who is regarded by Israel as terrorist; his fervently emphasized allegiance underscores standing paradox of Bush administration's policy: it wants whoever becomes prime minister to undermine Arafat, very man from whom he derives authority; Qurei, speaker of Palestinian parliament, would succeed Mahmoud Abbas, who never became popular domestically, in part because he was seen as American and Israeli weapon against Arafat--view that Arafat is said to have encouraged; Abbas was careful to emphasize his loyalty to Arafat and blamed Israel for his failure, but also told Palestinian legislators that Arafat had not backed him; some diplomats expect White House to take more calibrated approach to Qurei than it did to Abbas, if only to avoid stamping him as 'made in America'; photo (M)

Dr Kurt Amplatz, retired University of Minnesota radiology professor and inventor, is credited with numerous breakthrough techniques and devices; Amplatzer occluder, heart defect repairing device, has saved thousands of children and adults from open-heart surgery; detailed description and drawings of Amplatzer are given; Amplatz's previous work and current research with his son Curtis is outlined; drawing (L)

Factory output in Britain increased 0.5 percent in July, fastest pace since November and evidence of economic recovery; prices for some manufactured goods rose at their strongest pace since July 1996 (S)