April 20, 2004

Boston Red Sox defeat New York Yankees, 5-4; photos (M)

SEC lawyers file brief in WorldCom securities class action, arguing that analysts like Jack B Grubman do affect price of company's stock and bonds and may be held accountable for misrepresentations they may make; Citigroup, parent of Grubman's employer, Salomon Smith Barney, contends that his unrelenting enthusiasm for WorldCom securities had no impact and that investors were therefore not harmed when they relied on his report; Court of Appeals for Second Circuit will hear arguments on May 10 on whether district court erred in allowing that claims against Grubman and Salomon Smith Barney should go forward as class-action suit; SEC's brief is filed in support of Alan G Hevesi, comptroller of New York, whose New York State Retirement Fund in lead plaintiff in WorldCom securities litigation, having lost $300 million in its WorldCom investment (M)

King Abdullah of Jordan puts off visit to Washington, in rebuff to Pres Bush linked to his recent support for Israel's territorial claims in West Bank; Jordanian government issues statement saying meeting will wait until Bush administration clarifies American position on peace process and final situation in Palestinian territories; Jordanian officials make clear that Abdullah is irked by Bush's declarations in his meeting with Prime Min Ariel Sharon last week, during which Bush broke with American policy and supported Israel's ultimate retention of some settlements in West Bank and also rejected longtime Palestinian demand for right of return to homes abandoned in 1948 in what is now Israel; Jordanian statement follows by week similar protest by Pres Hosni Mubarak of Egypt; administration officials say that they still expect Jordan and Egypt to try to help with security in Gaza Strip and parts of West Bank, from which Israeli forces and settlers are to be withdrawn under Sharon's plan (M)

Article on Haitian agronomist and radio journalist Jean Leopold Dominique, who was slain in 2000; Dominique is subject of Jonathan Demme's new documentary The Agronomist; photo (M)

Anthony Tommasini Critic's Diary column reviews debut solo recital of French trumpeter David Guerrier and premiere of Kaija Saariaho work for viola, cello and piano commissioned by Carnegie Hall for pianist Emanuel Ax (M)