December 20, 2003

Tom Coughlin, leading candidate for New York Giants head coaching job, is known as demanding disciplinarian; photo (M)

New Jersey Nets defeat Washington Wizards, 97-87; photo (M)

Trade experts warn that refusal by US to allow certain countries to bid on Iraq reconstruction contracts, worth $18.6 billion, will result in retaliatory bans by excluded European countries against American companies; list of excluded countries includes France, Germany, and Canada, all of whom opposed recent Iraq war; new policy is also faulted for creating confusion regarding bidding rights of multinational companies, some of which are jointly owned by American and European firms (M)

Herbert Muschamp appraisal of revised design for Freedom Tower; contends that in its present form tower is much closer to being piece of architecture than public had right to expect; says forced collaboration between architects David M Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Daniel Libeskind might have brought out worst instincts of each; says with some shrewd editing, design could become one of 'noblest' skyscrapers ever realized in New York; holds that it is possible for first time in two years to think of ground zero in architectural terms; says building's strongest features are adaptability of its structural system to different site conditions and balance that design almost achieves between delicacy and toughness; says its weaknesses are sloped roof at summit of building's inhabited portion, and broadcasting mast that rises from open-lattice super structure above; photo shows original design for Freedom Tower (M)

Federal Communications Commission conditionally approves News Corp's acquisition of control of Hughes Electronics and its DirecTV subsidiary from General Motors; imposes number of restrictions aimed at preventing Rupert Murdoch's News Corp from using DirecTV acquisition to drive up programming fees it charges to cable and satellite operators; among most controversial is requirement that News Corp accept arbitration of any disputes with cable operators over fees for its local Fox stations or Fox regional sports network (M)