October 11, 2005

When the stage version of J. R. R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" opens in Toronto, the show is expected to feature about 18 songs, a cast of 55 and about 12 million investors.

China re-emerges as world's leading tea exporter, posing challenge to some of world's poorest nations; China's government has been subsidizing tea industry in last few years, causing alarm in countries that depend on growing tea, like India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe; history of tea reaches back to ancient times in China; in China, after millennia of popularity, tea consumption is growing by only 2 percent a year, while tea production rises 8.7 percent; Beijing sees tea industry as answer to lingering poverty and unemployment in rural areas; government is offering subsidies to industry; photo; graph (M)

Article on Gretchen Worden Room in the Mutter Museum at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia; opened on September 30, room is dedicated to woman who spent her adult life as museum's director and curator of medical oddities; photos (M)

European Union's trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, cautiously welcomes proposal Rob Portman, US trade representative, to slash some agricultural subsidies by 60 percent over next five years in exchange for tariff reductions of 55 percent to 90 percent; says European Union is willing to go 'substantially beyond' proposed American cuts, but declines to comment on whether Europe could meet American demands on tariff reduction; farms groups in US say cuts in subsidies would cause some economic pain, particularly for crops like corn and soybeans; critics of Portman's plan say subsidy cuts would not address main long-term issue of declining commodity prices and unchecked tendencies by farmers to overproduce; Portman photo (M)

New York officials scaled back security in the city's subways yesterday after federal and local law enforcement authorities discounted the report of a terrorist threat to the city's underground transportation system. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that the extraordinary measures put in place on Thursday -- police officers on every train, major shows of force at transportation centers -- would be relaxed, but that the city would continue many of the enhanced measures it has taken to protect the subways since the bombings in London in July.

Angela Merkel is expected to become first woman and first person from former East Germany to serve as chancellor of Germany; Merkel, leader of Germany's main conservative party, announces deal to form coalition government with Gerhard Schroder's Social Democratic Party; her victory ends three-week political stalemate, but concessions she was forced to make leave it unclear whether she will be able to push through changes most economists agree are needed to shake off years of stagnation and high unemployment; under deal, Social Democrats will control such key posts as finance, foreign affairs, labor and justice, with Merkel and her allies receiving ministries of economy, defense, interior, agriculture, education and family; some see 'grand coalition' as formula for kind of gridlock, perpetuating very conditions--too much social spending and too litle labor market flexibility--that are root causes of Germany's economic stagnation; photo (M)

Fernando Ferrer is having trouble getting New York City's prominent donors to contribute to his mayoral campaign; unlike his mayoral run four years ago, few of deep-pocket supporters candidates traditionally rely on are donating to him; Ferrer aides and supporters express confidence that they will be able to raise money they need, but there are roadblocks; group of wealthy Democratic fund-raisers and donors are supporting Bloomberg; in addition, some of Ferrer's fund-raisers say his campaign has been leaning increasingly to left, making some potential donors nervous that Ferrer administration would be antagonistic to business; many potential donors do business with city or need administration's approval for their projects; some fear that Bloomberg, who holds commanding lead in polls, would not look kindly on donors who give to his opponent; photo (M)

Robert S Miller, chief executive of auto parts maker Delphi, predicts that General Motors and Ford Motor could find themselves following Delphi into bankruptcy in next few years unless they take drastic steps to reduce their own labor costs; says his company will do what it can to prevent more bankruptcies in the industry; believes that major auto companies are now engulfed in same industrial turbulence that forced revamping of steel and airline industries, with which he was intmately familiar; photos (L)

THE Yankees' up-and-down season is finally over. There will be no World Series ring, no World Series appearance, after last night's 5-3 loss to the Angels. Once again, the team with baseball's highest payroll was done in by its own misplays and spanked by a well-rounded team. Now the burning question for Yankees fans and the team is whether Joe Torre's reign as manager is over.

For a steerable piece of dust, look somewhere at Dartmouth College. Researchers there have built what they say is the world's smallest untethered, controllable robot. When placed on a penny, it looks like a mole on the side of Lincoln's chin, measuring a hundredth of an inch by one four-hundredth of an inch.

Roche, maker of main drug that would be used against possible bird flu epidemic, is under growing pressure to allow production of generic versions of medicine; but it and some outside experts say production of drug, Tamiflu, is so complex and time-consuming that even generic makers could not quickly expand global supplies; those putting pressure on Roche, Swiss company, include United Nations Sec Gen Kofi Annan and health officials in some nations; photo (M)

Auto industry observers believe that Kirk Kerkorian, one of General Motors' largest shareholders, will want to place Jerome B York on GM's board--a threat to GM chairman Rick Wagoner; Kerkorian and York are in fact reprising their roles of decade ago, when Kerkorian was Chrysler's largest shareholder and turned to York to be his right-hand man in what became unsuccessful and contentious takeover bid; people briefed on situation say several of GM's assets are viewed as expendable, including parts of General Motors Acceptance Corp and Saab and Hummer brands; photos of Kerkorian and York (L)