February 5, 2001

Trial in bombings of two American embassies in East Africa is to begin in Federal District Court in Manhattan and indications are that government's first witness will be an informer who worked for Saudi exile Osama bin Laden until 1996, when he agreed to cooperate with American authorities; government has been concealing identity of witness, convicted terrorist known only as CS-1 for almost 5 years (M)

Ricoh, best-selling copier brand in Japan, is intent on making name for itself in United States; it has been slowly buying other copier companies whose products it makes; company's various brands command 14 percent of total copier market in United States, and nearly 20 percent for digital machines; Ricoh is now revamping its sales and back-office operations, adding dealerships, fleshing out its product line and mounting its most expensive advertising campaign ever, using tag line 'Dependable Digital'; photos (M)

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, slim paperback, has sold 1.3 million copies in 15 months, moving on and off New York Times best-seller list and becoming best-selling title in 35-year history of Chronicle Books; co-authors, David Borgenicht and Joshua Piven, provide little color with their just-the-facts prose; on closer inspection, everything about book appears carefully considered, from crude, 50's-style Boy Scout-manual illustrations to deadpan delivery, reflecting brand of arch humor currently popular among writers in their 20's and 30's; excerpt from book on strategies for wrestling free of alligator's grasp and for escaping from quicksand; photos (M)

Article contends that from moment in 1999 when four men from Hasidic village of New Square, NY, were convicted of swindling millions of dollars from government, campaign to protest convictions, and perhaps win men's early release from prison, was started; early visits with New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Senator Charles Schumer proved fruitless and it was not until August 8 meeting with Hillary Rodham Clinton that push for political help began to bear fruit; case reviewed; photo (M)

New Jersey Nets defeat Philadelphia 76ers, 96-89; photo (M)