February 14, 2004

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders accept Sec Gen Kofi Annan's plan for ending decades-long division of Cyprus and pledge to negotiate reunification in time for island's May 1 entry into European Union; deal between Greek Cypriot Pres Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is reached after three days of talks at United Nations; only Greek Cypriot government would be entitled to join union if reunification was not achieved; Turkey accepts plan, aware that failure in Cyprus would jeopardize its own candidacy to become first Muslim nation to join union; chronology of political events in Cyprus; map (M)

Jere Longman News Analysis discusses indictments against four men in connection with distribution of steroids and previously undetectable stimulant THG; athletes suspected of using steroids have thus far not been named, leaving many to wonder when and if names of athletes will be released to public; photos (M)

About New York column on 'Mr Average Joe Queens,', whose name is actually Bob and who was selected by Queens Tribune to be set up with dates in manner of television show Average Joe; Bob will sort through responses to newspaper's feature and pick four women to squire around boro (M)

Thousands of book reviews posted on Amazon.com's US site with generic signatures like 'reader from New York' are listed under their authors' real names on company's Canadian site; weeklong glitch is fixed after outed reviewers complain; it provides rare glimpse at how writers and readers are wielding online reviews as tool to promote or pan book; John Rechy is one of several prominent authors who have apparently pseudonymously written themselves five-star reviews, Amazon's highest rating; admits to praising his new book The Life and Adventures of Lyle Clemens on Amazon under signature 'reader from Chicago' (M)

Guyanese enclave in Richmond Hill section of New York City is shocked by corruption investigation involving police detective Rudranauth Toolasprashad, well-liked community affairs officer who chatted in Hindi with ethnic Indian immigrants and often arranged security for Sikh temples; photo; no charges have been brought (M)