Belgrade to break for Easter
The Yugoslav leadership today declared a unilateral cease-fire in Kosovo starting at 8 pm local time (1.30 am IST) to mark the Orthodox Easter. It was unclear if the cease-fire would continue past the holiday, which begins on Friday and lasts through Sunday.

Russia could reactivate biological arms in months, says defector
Russia has retained a clandestine offensive biological weapons capability and could return to production in ``just two or three months,'' according to a top germ warfare defector.

Liberty Media Group's deal invigorates News Corp
Cable magnate John Malone's Liberty Media Group announced plans on Tuesday to take a big stake in News Corp Ltd, a vote of confidence that added more than A$2.5 billion to the market value of Rupert Murdoch's group.

  Lanka elections off to peaceful start
  A bombed out shelter of the spirit
  World at a glance
  South Korean grain importers seek US corn
  Japan's imported vehicle salesfall 14.3 per cent in 1998
  New York copper ends higher
  Asian traders lay eyes on Iraqi Basrah light crude
  New York gold scales new low, silver under pressure
  Speculative selling and ample supplies plunge CSCE coffee futures