December 1, 2006

Harvey Araton Sports of The Times column discusses Bowl Championship Series and its idiosyncracies (M)

New York Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer says he will unilaterally stop accepting campaign contributions over $10,000 and will refuse to take advantage of loopholes in state's campaign finance laws that allow corporations to circumvent donation limits; also unveils series of new ethics rules for members of his administration, saying that he plans to hold his administration to higher standard than law demands; says he hopes Legislature will follow his lead by passing far-reaching laws that would apply to all state officials and candidates (M)

A Chance to Own a Chateau, Complete With Gallic History Overburdened with castles, villas and other historic buildings, France is putting them up for sale to defray the national debt. BUSINESS DAY, PAGE C1 Kerkorian Cuts G.M. Holding The investor Kirk Kerkorian sold a big block of General Motors shares, and may no longer hold any. PAGE C1 Ailey Dancers Flex Their New Muscle The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has opened its season at City Center showing signs of moving to an even higher level. WEEKEND, PAGE E1 Spitzer Sets His Own Limit Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer said he would refuse large campaign gifts despite what the law allows. PAGE B1

Child sexual abuse remains stubbornly resistant to change in sub-Saharan Africa; child advocates say perpetrators are shielded by traditionally low status of girls, lingering view that sexual abuse should be dealt with privately, and justice systems that constitute obstacle courses for victims; data is sparse and sexual violence is notoriously underreported; but sweep of child victimization is evident in South African police reports of more than 22,000 cases of child rape in year ending in March 2005; World Health Organization survey finds highest incidence of child sexual abuse in Namibia, where more than one in five women report being sexually abused before age 15; relatives are frequent perpetrators in Africa and elsewhere, but in Africa children face added risks from male teachers or classmates; researchers cite various economic and political reasons that abuse is so common; they attribute climate of relative tolerance in African countries to vast gap there between status of men and boys and that of women and girls; one family's fruitless efforts to get justice for their young daughter's vicious rape by uncle in Madagascar detailed; photos; map (L)

New York Jets players Mike Nugent and Nick Mangold and Green Bay Packers player A J Hawk are lighting up NFL after growing up in same town of Centerville, Ohio; photos (M)

Gov. George E. Pataki of New York embraced a partial return to the state control of hospitals that his administration once shunned.

A O Scott reviews film The Nativity Story, directed by Catherine Hardwicke; Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Isaac star; photos (M)

New York City police arrest Stanley Smith, Timothy Smith, LaToya Smith and Christopher Keyes on charges of criminal possession of weapon after finding 9-millimeter semi-automatic in apartment on 147th Street in Queens; arrests are believed to be part of broad police effort to locate witnesses in fatal police shooting of Sean Bell outside nightclub on Nov 25th and are contributing to rising tension in neighborhood over both shooting of unarmed Bell and police tactics in investigating incident; photos (M)

The company has transcended the trauma of its founder’s death and has forged into the future with a strong roster of dancers and a steady touring schedule.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater seems to be rising to new level with company filled with talented newcomers and newly upgraded home at Joan Weil Center for Dance on West 55th St in Manhattan; upcoming season detailed; photos (M)

France is selling dozens of historic properties in Paris and provinces, using proceeds to move government bureaucrats into less expensive properties and to help pay off national debt; has unloaded dozens of chateaus, villas and 'hotels particulars,' stone mansions of Paris's golden age; foreigners, primarily American pension funds and private equity firms, are biggest buyers so far; soon on block will be Hotel Majestic, once huge luxury hotel in central Paris that Hitler seized for his military government headquarters in occupied France; France's foreign ministry took over building after war and used it for diplomacy; France spends 2 billion to 3 billion euros ($2.65 billion to $4 billion) each year to maintain properties; some properties detailed; photos (L)

Article on myriad of winter activities available for families at ski resorts in Stowe, Vt; photos; map (L)