September 10, 2004

Health fund covering 55,000 New York City janitors is nearing insolvency, and janitors' union officials threaten strike against more than 1,000 office buildings in October if real estate industry does not come up with money to close fund's $175 million operating deficit; James F Berg, industry's chief negotiator, says there is no way that building owners and operators would be willing to increase their annual health contributions by $175 million a year (M)

Attack on World Trade Center was one of most observed catastrophes in history, but many facts about those who jumped from upper floors are still not known, on eve of third anniversary; even specific number is not known; some researchers say more than 200 people fell or jumped to their death, while others say number is half that, or fewer; none have been officially identified; 9/11 commission report mentions them only as they affected people on streets below; many families of victims cannot bear to discuss topic, and many of those who were there are loathe to confront it; National Institute of Standards and Technology is reviewing amateur and professional videotapes that recorded many of people who jumped or fell, trying to gauge strength and speed of fires; those who dropped from windows also provide powerful testimony on adequacy of exits; more than 1,000 people who survived plane crashes, many on floors distant from impact, had no way out; whatever form future research takes, it is unlikely to try to identify those who died by falling from buildings, since injuries suffered in fall are similar to those received by people who were crushed in a collapse; photos; diagram (L)

Beer maker InBev says first-half profit rose 20 percent, to to 205 million euros ($250 million); sales increased 7 percent, to 3.5 billion euros; photo (S)

Air Deccan, India's first no-frills airline, is beginning to make flights between major cities affordable for many middle-class Indians; discount carrier flew its first glight on Aug 25; some tickets are 700 rupees ($15); photo (M)

Orders for Japanese machinery fell seasonally adjusted 11.3 percent in July from month earlier; graph (S)