July 21, 2004

Quirk in FDA rules allows labels of existing drugs to say nothing about clinical tests that have led FDA to turn down company's application to have drug approved for new use or category of patients; labeling issue is another facet of expanding debate over incomplete disclosure and publication of results of clinical drug trials; doctors worry ambiguous or incomplete drug labels may lead them to prescribe drugs for treatments that FDA-reviewed tests have shown to be ineffective or potentially risky; some drugs tested for pediatric use, with equivocal results, carry labels saying safety and effectiveness has not been established in children; American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups are pressing Congress for bill requiring companies to list tests of drugs and medical devices in public database; Rep Henry A Waxman has asked Health Sec Tommy G Thompson to release data from all pediatric drug trials conducted under federal laws that encourage such tests; table of labels that fail to show pediatric trial results; photo (M)

New York Yankees defeat Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 4-2; photo (M)

Former national security adviser Samuel R Berger resigns as adviser to John Kerry's presidential campaign after disclosure that he improperly removed classified material on terrorism from National Archives secure reading room last year, while he was reviewing documents for testimony before Sept 11 investigation commission; says he deeply regrets honest mistake in taking copies of papers related to failed 1999 plot to bomb Los Angeles airport; calls Republican charge that he stashed material in his clothes ridiculous and politically inspired; photo; FBI began investigating in January; lawyer Lanny Breuer says Berger inadvertently put memos into portfolio with other papers, put handwritten notes made during review into pockets, has returned two documents and apparently discarded others by mistake (M)

New York City police investigate whether off-duty transit officer Joseph Rodriguez, who reported finding burning backpack in Times Square subway station, was responsible for planting and detonating pipe bomb inside; photo; Rodriguez, burned in incident, was on force for last day, forced to retire on psychological disability pension after four years; incident rattled riders and prompted huge police response; Rodriguez reportedly was buried under rubble in Sept 11 attack and suffered maladies afterwards, but did not want to retire (M)

Inco, Canadian nickel producer, reports second-quarter net loss of $14 million on profit of $156 million before extraordinary charges; chairman and chief executive Scott M Hand cites strong demand, interview; photo (M)

Russia acts to seize and sell, possibly at hefty discount, Yuganskenftegaz, which produces some 60 percent of all Yukos oil, as payment for company's back tax bill; plan dismays investors, who fear possible renationalization; trial of Yukos founder Mikhail B Khodorkovsky on fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion charges continues; photo (M)

Many who grew up in New York City never saw swimming pools and therefore never learned to swim; some such city residents end up taking lessons as adults to overcome lack of skill that is seemingly unique to urban living; photos (M)

Peter Applebome Our Towns column discusses environmental artist Roy Staab, who has become cult figure all over world for his iconic but ephemeral creations and has erected new structure made of reeds in Hudson River at Cold Spring (NY); photo (M)

Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan tells Senate hearing that economic expansion seems to be 'self-sustaining'; warns that interest rates could rise more swiftly if inflation turns out to be worse than he expects; says he hopes to keep raising rates at 'measured' pace over next year; dashes hopes that Fed might slow rise in rates in response to recent signs of economic slowing; holds recent price increases are mainly result of 'transitory factors'; photo (M)

Ben Ratliff reviews book Moanin' At Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolf by James Segrest and Mark Hoffman; photos (M)

Article on Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry who, with opening of movie Catwoman, will become first African-American actress to headline expensive, effects-laden movie; pre-release word on movie, however, has been less than encouraging and market research shows relatively weak interest among all but young women; photos (M)

Farmers sell their produce at boarded-up corner of Bronx Terminal Market, once prime portal for farmers to sell to city food markets and restaurants; market has been taken over by Related Companies and will be demolished to make way for combined retail center and public park; its disappearance prompts questioning about what New York City can do to support area farms and provide its citizens with farm-fresh food; photos (L)