February 25, 2004

Sacramento Kings defeat New York Knicks, 107-99 (M)

Swiss International Airline says

Pres Bush's impassioned endorsement of constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage seen culmination of his recent efforts to allay concerns and stoke spirits of his restive conservative Republican base; Republican strategists close to Bush say they have no fear that conservatives would defect from Bush; say they worry about keeping core voters, particularly evangelicals, energized and eager to vote given high level of fervor against Bush among Democrats (M)

Europe May Ask Microsoft For 2 Versions of Windows European antitrust regulators are considering a requirement that Microsoft sell two versions of Windows in Europe -- one with the music- and video-playing software stripped out -- should they find the company to be an abusive monopoly, people close to the case said. The European Commission, which is nearing a ruling in the five-year-old case, may also ask Microsoft to propose ''within a few months of a ruling'' what computer code for Windows it should disclose to make the operating system fully compatible with programs and servers manufactured by rivals. [Page C5.]

IBM says it is overhauling way it pays its senior executives so their stock awards only become valuable if company's shares rise by 10 percent or more; analysts say IBM is first large American company to adopt program in which its senior management team is granted stock options at price higher than what shares are selling for at time they are issued; note approach ensures that IBM's public shareholders add at least modestly to their wealth before IBM executives can begin to cash in their stock options (M)