March 9, 2005

Profile of American Halal Meat, Newark, NJ, slaughterhouse that is emblematic of growing presence of Muslims in America, now estimated to number more than seven million; it is one of region's biggest operations, shipping animals to butchers and restaurants as far as Philadelphia and Albany; slaughterhouse is drafty and damp, warmed by camaraderie and shared faith of those who work there; profiles of several key workers, and of overall operation; photos (M)

PET-FRIENDLY POLICIES, once the preserve of the top end of the hotel business, have become more common as a way to attract customers. In some properties, this amounts to no more than a willingness to accept an animal, usually with a size limit and an additional cleaning charge. But other hotels offer elaborate welcomes with personalized greetings and services. [C9.] EVEN IN A CITY -- known for its development battles, Boston's 1.3-million-square-foot Columbus Center, with its skyscraper proposal, stands out as a contentious project. [C8.]

Gucci Group names Frida Giannini creative director of women's wear, replacing Alessandra Facchinetti after only her second collection; some company executives say move is in response to lackluster reception by retailers and critics of Facchinetti's collections; photos (M)

Senate Removes Obstacles To Bankruptcy Overhaul The Senate assured final passage of a major overhaul of the nation's bankruptcy laws when it cleared the remaining political obstacles to a measure that the nation's credit and retail industries have sought for years. The bill would disqualify many families from taking advantage of the more generous provisions of the current bankruptcy code that permit them to extinguish debts for a ''fresh start.'' It would also impose major new costs on those seeking bankruptcy protection and give lenders and businesses new legal tools for recovering debts. [Page A1.] Financial Firm to Restate Results MBIA Inc., a financial services conglomerate, disclosed that it was restating its financial results for the last seven years. [C2.] Claims Focus on Insurance Broker The Minnesota attorney general said he had documents that indicated that Willis Group Holdings, an insurance broker, might have cheated its commercial insurance clients. Willis took issue with his statements. [C2.] BHP Billiton Tops Offer for WMC BHP Billiton offered 9.2 billion Australian dollars ($7.3 billion) for a fellow Australian mining company, WMC Resources, topping a hostile bid. [C4.] Studies on Pfizer Drugs Are Mixed Two large studies offered mixed news for Pfizer's two best-selling drugs, the cholesterol-lowering medicine Lipitor and the hypertension drug Norvasc. The two drugs together accounted for about 30 percent of Pfizer's sales, and an even higher share of its profit. Pfizer sponsored both of the studies. [C16.] Qualcomm Names New Chief The technology firm Qualcomm Inc. said that Paul E. Jacobs would succeed his father, Irwin M. Jacobs, as chief executive. [C6.] McDonald's Promotes Exercise A new marketing campaign from McDonald's urges people to exercise. Advertising. [C6.] Decision Against Intel in Japan Japan's Fair Trade Commission ruled that Intel violated antimonopoly law and ordered it to stop some sales practices. [C7.] 3 New Products From Microsoft Microsoft introduced three software products meant to blur the lines between phones and computer networks at corporations. [C7.] Oracle Plans an Offer for Retek Oracle said it was planning to make a cash offer for the software maker Retek. [C6.] Boeing Executive Is Identified The Boeing executive whose relationship with Harry C. Stonecipher led to his ouster has been identified as Debra Peabody, who has been at the company for more than 20 years. [C2.] Free Snacks, but No More Pillows Delta Air Lines will stop selling food on flights and give passengers a choice of snacks. It is also eliminating pillows to save money. [C4.]

Chaats, India's national snacks, can be sweet, sour, salty, spicy, crunchy, soft, nutty, fried and flaky, doused with cool yogurt, fresh cilantro and tangy tamarind and sprinkled with chaat masala, spice mixture; chaat shops are increasingly common in New York region; list; photos (L)