Taliban begins destruction of Buddha statues
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia said today that they had started destroying all statues in the country, including the world's tallest standing Buddha in the central province of Bamiyan.

PSU privatisation will continue: Sinha
The Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, today said the Government was determined to go ahead with large- scale privatisation of public sector enterprises despite opposition. At the same time, he warned the industry not to adopt a partisan approach towards labour sector reforms, saying it would make the labour suspicious of the Government and the industry.

Will U.S. also ban Lashkar?
The decision by the United Kingdom to ban the activities of a number of terrorist organisations is being seen here as the first tangible gain from the extended Indian diplomatic campaign against international terrorism over the last couple of years.

Fiji court upholds 1997 Constitution
A five-judge bench of Fiji's Court of Appeal has declared the interim civil administration of the Prime Minister, Mr. Laisenia Qarase, illegal and upheld the validity of the multi-racial, democratic Constitution of 1997.

Few choices for Cong. in T.N.
The Congress appears caught between a rock and a hard place on the question of its alliance in Tamil Nadu. Its position is compounded by the reluctance of the Tamil Maanila Congress chief, Mr. G. K. Moopanar, to lead the ``third front''.

Colonel killed in Anantnag
At least six people, including a Colonel, two soldiers and a Pakistani militant were killed and a Brigadier injured when militants attacked a convoy in Anantnag this evening.