October 3, 2001

Mark Bittman column gives menu for leisurly meal with friends that includes leg of lamb, persian rice with potatoes,green beans and tomatoes and apple or pear tart; recipes; photo (M)

GlaxoSmithKline is creating national discount program for low-income elderly people who lack prescription drug coverage, reducing price of its drugs by 25 percent or more; says it wants to help elderly customers who cannot afford prescription drug coverage and who do not qualify for government programs (M)

Federal Reserve cuts benchmark interest rate one-half percentage point to 2.5 percent, lowest in 39 years, as it continues trying to pump vigor back into economy that has deteriorated further since Sept 11 terrorist attack; graph; Pres Bush says he and Congressional leaders have agreed in general terms on need for tax cuts and spending increases to put more money in consumer hands, encourage investment and help people who have lost jobs; Congress and White House reach final agreement on $686-billion package of routine spending bills for fiscal 2002, $25 billion more than Bush had proposed; Federal Reserve, making second half-point rate cut since Sept 11, also cuts discount rate on loans to banks to two percent, from 2.5 percent; says economy's underlying strengths should become apparent once 'unusual forces' recede (M)

Pentagon shapes war plan against terrorists to minimize use of Pakistani bases for strike against Osama bin Laden and Taliban in Afghanistan, fearing extensive deployments could destabilize crucial but volatile ally, one that has tested nuclear weapons; growing anti-American sentiment in region prompts Pentagon to scramble to make new arrangements; Defense Sec Donald Rumsfeld leaves for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Uzbekistan to discuss using bases; new alliances are linking US to several authoritarian governments that have records of corruption and rights abuses but also fear radical Islamic movements; Rumsfeld points out importance of Uzbekistan's position bordering Afghanistan; US already trains Uzbeks in counterterrorism, drug interdiction and weapons smuggling; US now has more than 300 warplanes on ships and land bases from Indian Ocean to Red Sea; photo of USS Essex (M)

Swissair Group abruptly stops flying because it lacks cash to pay for jet fuel and landing fees and fears that its planes will be seized by creditors at foreign airports; at least two planes are seized, at Heathrow Airport, though one is later released; UBS and Credit Suisse, in possible reprieve, agree to accelerate part of restructuring plan for airline and pay it $159 million immediately; Swissair warns of even more layoffs than 2,650 already announced this week; union leaders say as many as 10,000 of its 72,000 workers might be at risk; Sabena, carrier in which Swissair holds 49.5 percent stake, is furious at Swissair for reneging on promise to inject $123 million into Sabena, and has threatened legal action; photo (M)