June 4, 2002

Egyptian Pres Hosni Mubarak says in interview that Egyptian intelligence warned American officials approximately week before September 11 terrorist attacks that Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network was in advance stages of executing significant operation against American target; says information was derived from secret agent with close contact with bin Laden organization; says Egypt's intelligence chiefs tried unsuccessfully to halt operation, but had no indication of target or magnitude of attack; says American intelligence was fully informed; cites warning as evidence that Egypt has become valuable intelligence partner of US in war against terrorism, especially since September 11; photo (M)

New Jersey Nets prepare for Game 1 of NBA finals against Los Angeles Lakers, aware of enormity of task in facing Lakers' center Shaquille O'Neal; photos (M)

Baltimore Orioles defeat New York Yankees, 4-3; photos (M)

Lombard Odier and Darier Hentsch, Swiss private banks, will merge to form Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie, which will be known as LODH; photo (M)

Castorama Dubois Investissement SCA and Kingfisher PLC agree to name Rothschild & Cie Banque to arbitrate their dispute over Kingfisher's 5.3 billion euro ($5 billion) offer for rest of Castorama under terms of 1998 accord under which it bought 55 percent stake; Castorma says former arbitrator, Schroder Salomon Smith Barney, failed to disclose its role as adviser to another company headed by Kingfisher chairman Francis Mackay; photo (S)

Egyptian Pres Hosni Mubarak says he will press Pres Bush at upcoming talks in Washington to support declaration of Palestinian state early in 2003, interview; says he will urge administration to apply international pressure to Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiations; says he is prepared to follow footsteps of Anwar el-Sadat and travel to Israel, but not while killing continues and only if it would help clinch deal; photo (M)

John Tierney column assesses future development of World Trade Center site, noting that it has now been transformed into construction site from scene of devastation and ruin; notes Mayor Bloomberg's comment on issue, that 'You have to see not what we would like but what the marketplace wants' (M)

NASA holds gathering of some 100 astronomers, physicists, chemists, geologists and biologists at Space Telescope Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University for discussions that center on new field of astrobiology; discussions and debates address questions about interstellar weather, nature and history of life on Earth and which parts of galaxy are suitable for life; plans are put forward for generation of spacecraft that will search for extraterrestrial life; photos; graphs (M)

Moldova says it will sell 51 percent stake in state-owned telecommunications monopoly by August (S)

Article assesses outcome of latest Tony Awards, in which Thoroughly Modern Millie, despite mixed reviews, won six awards, including best musical, while acclaimed Urinetown: The Musical, won for best score, book and direction; Pulitzer Prize-winning Topdog/Underdog came away with no Tonys and Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, which received mixed reviews, won best play award; photo (M)

Andre Agassi defeats Paul-Henri Mathieu after he is down two sets by winning last three of five sets in stunning comeback at French Open; photo (M)

Japanese officials attending annual International Whaling Commission meeting in Shimonoseki, Japan, offer what they say is proof, in form of photographic displays of whale digestive systems, that whales are eating fish needed for humans; contend many whale species have rebounded, putting fisheries at risk; Australian and American scientists argue that Japan's whale 'research' is cover-up for hunting and that DNA research could be conducted on feces and skin without killing whales; photo (M)