IMF, World Bank may cancel annual meetings

WASHINGTON >> Officials at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank said yesterday they are considering cancellation of their annual meetings this month because of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Officials at the international lending institutions said no final decision had been made. The two were being urged to cancel the meetings or delay them because of heightened security worries after Tuesday's terrorist attack.

The Sept. 29-30 meetings already had been cut to just two days instead of a week because of mounting costs of providing security in the face of expected demonstrations. The event was expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters. Local police had been hoping for help from other forces, including the New York City Police Department.

Attack affects Morgan Stanley sex bias lawsuit

NEW YORK >> The New York offices of the federal agency suing Morgan Stanley in a sexual discrimination case were destroyed in the attack on the World Trade Center, but one plaintiff's lawyer said yesterday the case files lost in the rubble are only a temporary setback.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which had filed suit on Monday against Morgan Stanley for sexual discrimination, had offices at 7 World Trade Center.

In other news ...

New York >> The major U.S. television broadcasters will lose millions of dollars in advertising sales for each day they provide nonstop coverage of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, analysts and media buyers said.

General Electric Co.'s NBC, Viacom Inc.'s CBS, Walt Disney Inc.'s ABC and News Corp.'s Fox are among broadcasters that dropped most commercials to cover events. U.S. newspapers likely will lose ads from airlines after the attacks.

LOS ANGELES >> The publisher of the online role-playing game "Majestic," an interactive thriller involving murder and corporate intrigue, said yesterday it suspended the popular game after Tuesday's attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and on the Pentagon.

"Some elements of that game that may be objectionable to some people" considering the current circumstances said Jeff Brown, spokesman with game publisher Electronic Arts . Brown said that he expects the game will be restarted late this week or early next week.

Taking notice

PROMOTIONS

>> Valentina Abordonado was named director of the Teaching and Learning Center at Hawaii Pacific University. She will oversee planning, researching, developing and conducting workshops, orientation sessions, seminars and conferences sponsored by the center. Abordonado also coordinates HPU's service learning program and continues to serve as an associate professor of English. She joined HPU in 1998 as an assistant professor of English. 

>> Wayne Ogawa has been named regional vice president of branch operations at American Savings Bank. He will be responsible for the retail performance in deposit acquisition and loan production of 14 ASB branches on Maui, Molokai and Kauai. Ogawa, who has been with the bank since 1978, previously oversaw ASB branches on Kauai and Oahu.

>> Spa Without Walls, the hotel spa at the Orchid at Mauna Lani, has named Barbara Bates spa director. She will be responsible for overall operations at the spa, as well as oversight of the hotel fitness center and all affiliated staff. Bates most recently served as spa operations manager at Spa Without Walls.

RECOGNITION

>> Nancy R. Arnold recently achieved the certified administrative professional rating from the International Association of Administrative Professionals. She is executive secretary to the commander of the Pacific Regional Dental Command, Tripler Army Medical Center. The distinction requires an individual to meet education and experience requirements, then pass a comprehensive examination covering finance and business law, office systems and administration, management, and organizational planning.