April 11, 2005

Verizon Communications deal to buy 13.4 percent stake in MCI held by Carlos Slim Helu, move that would give Verizon key edge over Qwest Communications International in their battle for long-distance carrier, has angered many MCI shareholders who have supported Qwest's higher bid; Verizon has agreed to quickly pay Slim $25.72 per share in cash, while other shareholders would get $23.50 in stock and cash only after regulators approve merger; William H Miller III, whose Legg Mason Funds Management owns major MCI and Qwest stakes, demands other shareholders get same terms as Slim, letter to MCI chief executive Michael D Capellas (M)

Tiger Woods wins Masters tournament; beats Chris DiMarco in one-hole playoff; wins first Major since 2002 US Open; photos (M)

Tiger Woods wins his fourth Masters golf title and his first major championship in almost three years; announces his return to pinnacle of golf with 15-foot birdie putt on first playoff hole; he and Chris DiMarco are locked in battle for 27 holes; game recalled; photos (M)

Edward Rothstein Connections essay compares Alexis de Tocqueville's reflections on America in his 1831 book Democracy in America with current project being undertaken by French philosopher, journalist and gadfly Bernard-Henri Levy, who was commissioned by Atlantic Monthly magazine to repeat Tocqueville's journey and chronicle his observations; photo (M)

Lawyers for American International Group former chief executive Maurice R Greenberg reportedly have approached regulators to try to limit scope of issues discussed when he is deposed at New York Atty Gen Eliot Spitzer's office; Spitzer says he has evidence Greenberg committed fraud in initiating AIG deal with Berkshire Hathaway's General Re unit, television interview; notes AIG has already admitted over billion dollars of accounting frauds; says he has not uncovered evidence against Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren E Buffett; again says Buffett is not probe target; federal and state regulators plan to interview Buffett (M)