October 16, 1997

Indian writer Arundhati Roy has received more than $1.5 million in advances worldwide for her novel, The God of Small Things, which won Booker Prize in London on Oct 14; officials in Spain say Basque separatist group ETA had planned to blow up new Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao at its inauguration, which is scheduled for Oct 18, as King Juan Carlos looked on; officials say King was not specific target of attack; ETA was hoping to attract international publicity by attacking high-profile ceremony; French archeologists are weighing plans to rebuild colossal statue of Ramses II that has lain in ruins for 2,000 years on west bank of Nile in Luxor, Egypt; Rembrandt's masterpiece Danae, mutilated 12 years ago when a man slashed canvas and splashed it with acid, has gone back on public display at Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia, after being carefully restored by experts there; photos (M)

GTE Joins Chase for MCI With $28 Billion Cash Bid GTE added its name to the list -- it now stands at three -- of companies pursuing MCI in the richest takeover battle in American history, making an unsolicited offer of $28 billion in cash. MCI, which already has an agreement to be acquired by British Telecom for $19 billion in cash and stock, and which is studying an all-stock offer of $30 billion from a smaller telecommunications company, Worldcom, said only that its board planned to meet again soon to weigh its options. [Page A1.]

Warning Given on Tankers The gas tanker explosion that closed the thruway in New York appears to have been caused by a problem found in tankers in 1989. Page B1. Amtrak Strike Threat Amtrak, facing a strike next Wednesday, says even the threat of a shutdown may scare off badly needed passengers. Page A23. Nobels for Science Six scientists have been awarded Nobel Prizes for advances in manipulating atoms and in understanding the basic chemistry of life. Page A16. Final Push in New Jersey Encouraged by polls, the Democratic National Committee plans to help raise $1 million for Democratic candidates across the state. Page B1. Yeltsin Deflects Challenge President Yeltsin staved off a parliamentary vote of no confidence promoted by the Communists. Page A6. Corporate Overtures Concerts for corporations raise funds for orchestras. They also raise questions. Page E1. Special Today CARS/Section G. Making, buying and driving them, plus traffic and safety a New York Times-CBS News survey on how drivers feel, and essays by Richard Reeves and Jay McInerney.

Deadly inferno that closed Gov Thomas E Dewey Thruway, one of busiest highway links to New York City, one week ago after car hit gasoline tanker appears to have been caused by preventable problem pinpointed in 1989 by Federal transportation officials and warned of by New York City Fire Department in 1996; problem occurs when small amounts of gasoline and other hazardous cargo sit in unprotected pipes tucked under belly of tanker trucks; in collision these tanks can puncture and explode; diagram (M)

Apple Computer reports loss of $161 million for fourth fiscal quarter, wider than expected, compared with net profit of $25 million in year-earlier quarter; company has not posted quarterly profit all year, and it is ending its year with loss of $1.045 billion, compared with loss of $816 million in previous fiscal year; Apple's loss for fourth quarter would have been $24 million without special charges related to revamping and repurchase of Macintosh licence from Power Computing Corp; revenue fell 30 percent, to $1.6 billion (M)