February 6, 2002

R W Apple Jr comments on succulent Cuban-style sandwich known as Cubano, and notes some restaurants, in Miami and elsewhere in country, that serve great Cubanos; photos (M)

People who knew and worked with Andrew S Fastow, former chief financial officer at Enron, and Enron's internal report on company's downfall portray him as brilliant, ambitious and hard-charging executive who grew obsessed with using complex financing techniques to supercharge Enron's earnings while inflating his own paycheck; friends say Fastow, whose wife is wealthy in her own right, was adamant in his belief that amount of money a person makes is only measure of success in business; crucial question with regard to Fastow is whether he was mastermind behind Enron's most suspect financial deals or, as he has maintained through spokesman, whether he was merely doing, with board's knowledge, the bidding of former chief executives he worked under, Kenneth L Lay and Jeffrey K Skilling; photos (M)

Amanda Hesser describes mixed experiences she had going out to lunch in New York City during Restaurant Week, where many of city's restaurants offer lunch for $20.02; cites her meals at Michael Jordan's Steak House in Grand Central Terminal, Gotham Bar and Grill, Artisanal, Rock Center Cafe, One CPS in Plaza Hotel, and Patria; photo (M)

Mayor Michael R Bloomberg turns to wealthy donors, foundations and corporations to help New York City get through its budget crisis; options would include offering corporate naming rights for areas in city parks and extending adopt-a-park concept to institutions like senior centers and to social service programs; Bloomberg is also loosening restrictions governing business improvement districts, which supplement city services, to encourage their expansion across city; photo (M)

Sec of State Colin L Powell tells Senate committee that United States expects to meet Russia's demand for legally binding agreement on reducing nuclear warheads, whether that takes form of treaty approved by Congress or some less formal document; leaves most details unspecified, and officials say they are still being worked out; Sen Chuck Hagel expresses misgivings about Pres Bush's linking of Iraq, Iran and North Korea in 'axis of evil,' and Powell replies that Bush was serious and not using rhetorical flourish (M)

Scene at Manhattan music studio described as Arabic-speaking pop singers and musicians from variety of backgrounds and nations, overseen by Quincy Jones, rehearse for World Economic Forum music showcase; show was preamble to long-delayed US and Canadian tour, which will make stop at Beacon Theater; photos (M)

KT Corp, South Korea's largest telecommunications provider, earned $382 million in fourth quarter, reversing loss of $90 million year earlier (S)

Enron Executives Defend Treatment of 401(k) Fund Enron executives acknowledged that before they temporarily prevented employees from selling company stock in their retirement accounts last fall, they had sharply debated delaying the moratorium because employees could suffer heavy losses from a plunging stock price. House and Senate lawmakers issued subpoenas to compel the testimony of Enron's former chief executive, Kenneth L. Lay, while Congressional and state officials broadened their inquiries into why state pension funds and agencies invested and did business with Enron as it spiraled downward. [Page A1.]

India's privatization program moves ahead with sale of stakes in two companies, telecommunications concern Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, and petroleum products retailer, IBP; Tata Group buys 25 percent of VSNL for 14.39 billion rupees ($306 million); Indian Oil Corp buys 33.6 percent of IBP (S)

Enron Corp chairman Kenneth L Lay's refusal to testify voluntarily before Congress only serves to increase resolve of politicians to get to truth about fall of Enron, even if they never get opportunity to hear Lay's side of story; two Congressional panels send subpoenas to Lay, but lawmakers say they are almost certain Lay will refuse to answer their questions and will instead invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination; two other former Enron executives, Andrew S Fastow and Jeffrey Skilling, are also expected by lawmakers to decline to testify; Congressional leaders and staff members say executives' refusal to cooperate may represent minor problem to 11 Congressional inquiries focusing on company's bankruptcy; extension of Congressional inquiries is mixed blessing for White House because Enron probe in Congress will continue to be distraction from Bush administration's war on terrorism and its efforts to invigorate economy; photo of Sen Ernest F Hollings listening as Sen Byron L Dorgan says he favors issuing Lay subpoena; copy of subpoena issued by House committee (M)

Ryanair announces 35 percent increase in after-tax profits for three months ended in December, to 28.8 million euros ($32.5 million), while passenger numbers rose 30 percent, to 2.7 million; operating costs rose more slowly than revenue, at 15 percent; chief executive Michael O'Leary comments; photo (S)

Saudi American Bank reports Saudi Arabia will suffer its worst recession this year since 1985 because of decline in oil production and prices, stalling efforts to cut unemployment; gross domestic product is expected to contract 2 percent, compared with growth of 1.5 percent in 2001 (S)