March 29, 2004

Glorious Appearing, climactic installament in Tim Lahaye's best-selling Left Behind series of apocalyptic thrillers, goes on sale Mar 30; Christian booksellers across country prepare way with television, radio and newspaper advertisements; series is based on LaHaye's literal, bloody interpretation of Book of Revelation; has become one of biggest surprise hits in American popular culture, selling more than 40 million copies; photo (M)

Anne Midgette reviews New York premiere of concerto by composer and double-bass soloist Edgar Meyer, with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; photo (M)

American soldiers shut down popular Baghdad newspaper and tighten chains across its doors after occupation authorities accuse it of printing lies that incite violence; thousands of outraged Iraqis protest closing of paper, radical Shiite weekly called Al Hawza; see it as act of American hypocrisy; closing of newspaper illustrates quandary Americans face in trying to strike balance between their two main goals--encouraging democracy while maintaining stability; many Iraqis say closing down newspaper will only inflame anti-occupation feelings; among Iraqi journalists, Al Hawza is known for printing wild rumors, especially anti-American ones; paper is considered mouthpiece for Moktada al-Sadr, fiery young Shiite cleric and one of most outspoken critics of Americans; letter ordering paper closed, signed by American administrator L Paul Bremer III, cites what American authorities call false reports in Al Hawza, including Feb dispatch claiming that explosion that killed 50 Iraqi police recruits was caused not by car bomb, as occupation officials say, but by American missile; photo (M)

Study Financed by Insurers Calls for Federal Regulation Researchers at the University of Massachusetts are releasing a study today that advocates a strong federal role in insurance regulation, which has been the province of the states for more than 150 years. The study, financed by insurers and an industry trade group at a cost of $300,000, notes that state regulation is regarded as inefficient, costly and a drag on the competitiveness of insurers as they compete with banks and mutual fund companies for customers. [Page C2.] Prince Opens Online Music Store Prince's love-hate relationship with the mainstream music industry takes another turn today as he opens his online Musicology Download Store, turning his back on download services like Napster, Rhapsody and Apple's iTunes. The move comes a week after Prince appeared to be making peace with an industry he once compared to a form of slavery, announcing that he would team up with Columbia Records to release his new album. Prince's lawyer and business partner said the store was intended to increase membership in Prince's NPG Music Club. [C9.]

Tokyo's Hanshin Tigers (Japan), which played Tampa Bay Devil Rays in two exhibition games, are known to have some of most loyal and vocal fans in all of sports, as thousands gather regularly to support their team; photos (M)