April 19, 2005

General Motors is expected to cut either Buick or Pontiac brand unless company can engineer sharp upturn in its market shares; speculation that GM will eliminate either brand became fevered last month when GM's vice chairman Robert A Lutz referred to two as 'damaged brands' at conference in New York moderated by Morgan Stanley; photos (M)

Many lobbyists, lawmakers and political operatives do not expect Gov George E Pataki to run for fourth term; note slow but steady exodus of aides from his administration, his unenviable poll numbers, and indications that some of his supporters are cozying up to Atty Gen Eliot Spitzer, leading Democratic contender in 2006 race; former Sen Alfonse M D'Amato, who helped make Pataki governor, has met with Spitzer and praised him publicly; D'Amato's former chief of staff John Zagame is listed as sponsor to two fund-raisers Spitzer held last year; former Mayor Edward I Koch, another Pataki supporter, has donated money to Spitzer's campaign and says he hopes Pataki will not seek fourth term, because he would lose; current and former aides and advisers to Pataki claim he has not made decision yet, and they expect him to try to keep people guessing until last possible minute; photo (M)

Lance Armstrong, the strong-willed Texas cyclist even cancer could not stop, announced yesterday that he would retire after this summer's Tour de France, an event he has won a record six straight times. Armstrong, 33, said he struggled with the decision but, in the end, wanted more time with his three young children.

Iran, facing threat of global sanctions from US and Europe because of suspicions that it is turning its nuclear program to weapons production, is fighting back swith its vast oil and gas resources; Iran's ruling clerics are arranging energy sales and building partnerships with influential countries, including China and India, as way to win stronger friendships around world; renewed push to turn underground riches into political power complicates Bush administration's attempt to isolate Iran, which holds 10 percent of world's oil deposits and has second-largest gas reserves; high-profile talks with European negotiators continue over future of its nuclear program, as does threat of United Nations sanctions and American action in background; Iran has approached China and India, promising them long-term supplies of gas and access to oil exploration; Iran last year granted Japan even greater access to oil; map; graph; photo (M)

The murder case has crawled along for years, with two men claiming they were wrongfully convicted in the 1990 shooting death of a bouncer outside the Palladium nightclub on East 14th Street. On Friday, a third suspect was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the case, and yesterday another bouncer who was present on the night of the killing testified at a dramatic court hearing. Prosecutors continue to say the arrest of Thomas Morales on Friday does not affect the convictions of the two men, David Lemus and Olmedo Hidalgo, in the killing of the bouncer, Marcus Peterson. They insist that Mr. Lemus and Mr. Hidalgo were both present when Mr. Peterson was shot, that both men intended to kill him and that officials have always maintained that a third suspect might have been involved.