October 16, 2004

Kimberly Cummins, senior at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, says she was told by school officials that she could not apply to Harvard University because she was not among top five students in school; Cummins's older sister, Kelia, law student at New York University, took matter up with city and education officials, who say that citywide rules allow students to apply to any college; photo (M)

American forces stepped up their pressure on the insurgent-controlled city of Falluja on Friday, unleashing an aerial and artillery bombardment of suspected guerrilla positions and encircling the city with hundreds of marines at checkpoints along its main roads. Beginning Thursday, American jets began their most intense bombardment of the city yet, dropping 11 satellite- and laser-guided 500-pound bombs on suspected guerrilla safe houses and weapons depots, as 1,600 American marines moved forward under artillery fire to set up the checkpoints, designed to snare insurgents moving out of the city.

Importing Canadian Drugs Might Not Lower Prices Many economists and health care experts say that importing drugs from countries like Canada that control their prices would do little to solve the problem of expensive drugs in the United States. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said that allowing Canadian drug imports would have a negligible effect on costs. And drug makers say they would simply reduce their shipments to distributors in the countries supplying the drugs. [Page A1.] No Deal on Russia-China Pipeline Russia and China failed to seal an agreement on a proposed gas pipeline from eastern Siberia to northern China. President Vladimir V. Putin, left, of Russia visited China this week amid hopes that a deal was near. Instead, the two countries signed a loose agreement that left the door open to future talks. Many said the two countries remain wary neighbors. [C3.] Layoffs and Write-Down at Sprint Sprint plans to lay off 700 sales representatives and write down the value of its network to reflect the eroding market for traditional phone services. The company has already eliminated 7,500 positions this year. [C2.] Delta Expects a Large Loss Delta Air Lines said that it expected to lose as much as $675 million for the third quarter, renewing speculation that it could seek bankruptcy protection later this month. [C12.] Greenspan Eases Fears on Oil Alan Greenspan said higher oil costs had hurt the gross domestic product this year, but he said the long-term outlook for global oil supplies was reassuring. Crude oil prices climbed 17 cents, to $54.93 a barrel. [C4.] British Bankers Face Extradition A judge ruled that three British bankers can be extradited to the United States to face charges of wire fraud related to off-balance-sheet dealings with Enron. [C3.] Retail Sales Surged in September A large increase in September retail sales and gains in producer prices indicated stronger economic growth. But a surprisingly soft reading on consumer confidence showed that high oil prices were a threat. [C3.] Economic Reports Lift Stocks Stocks rebounded as a retail sales report showed that higher oil prices were not keeping consumers from spending. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose 4.91 points, to 1,108.20, and the Dow Jones industrial average rose 38.93 points, to 9,933.38. [C4.] Judge to Decide Fate of Oracle Bid The two-week trial to decide the fate of Oracle's $7.7 billion hostile tender offer for PeopleSoft moved to the judge, who said the parties had moved closer together. [C2.] Warning Labels on Antidepressants The Food and Drug Administration ordered pharmaceutical companies to add strong warnings to antidepressants, saying the drugs can cause suicidal thoughts and actions in children and teenagers. [A9.] Inquiry on Bonds at Bear Stearns Bear Stearns said it had received subpoenas from federal investigators looking into its municipal bond business. [C12.] Bitumen Price-Fixing Charges The European Commission plans to file charges against several companies for fixing the price of bitumen, an oil-based product used in making houses and road surfaces. [C3.] Flu Vaccine Not Salvageable None of the flu vaccine made by Chiron that was quarantined in Britain is safe for Americans to use, federal health officials said. [A14]

The last time Roger Clemens was pitching for a team in his home state with its back pressed firmly to the outfield wall, he was a junior at the University of Texas, and the Longhorns were staring elimination smack in the steer's eye. It was the 1983 N.C.A.A. regional at Disch Falk Field in Austin, and though Texas had reached the finals, the Longhorns were coming out of the loser's bracket and needed to beat Mississippi State twice on that Sunday to get to the College World Series.

Dan Barry, in About New York column, notes that New York University's Conservation Center of Institute of Fine Arts, which restores paintings of old masters, restored oil painting depicting firefighters rescuing people from building that was painted by Jeannette Capriano and donated to elite Rescue Company One in Manhattan in 1976; photo (M)