World at a glance

Holocaust fundBONN: German attempts to set up a fund to compensate Holocaust victims is historically courageous'' and Washington is rea...

Holocaust fund

BONN: German attempts to set up a fund to compensate Holocaust victims is 8220;historically courageous8221; and Washington is ready to help, a US official said on Wednesday. 8220;The US government is willing to be a partner with the German government in trying to make this occur,8221; said Stuart Eizenstat, Under-secretary of State for economic, business and agricultural affairs. Eizenstat, who met on Wednesday with Bodo Hombach, minister in the office of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, said he was 8220;impressed with the determination of the Schroeder government to pursue this course.8221; Germany could 8220;end this century and go into the next century having asserted its moral leadership,8221; he added.

High-speed trains

WASHINGTON: A federally-funded company that runs the passenger trains in the United States has said that it is preparing to launch the nation8217;s first high speed trains later this year, beginning with 150 miles per hour, between Boston and Washington. With punctual, sleek and fasttrains, improved stations,polished service and staff, who would be ordered to be courteous, Amtrak hopes to meet the Congressional deadline to break even by 2002 or be liquidated.

Indo-African links

JOHANNESBURG: Two South Africa-based academics claimed to have found similarities between African and South Indian cultures on the basis of some customs and practices prevalent among both the peoples. Phyllis Nonhlanhla Zungu conducted a research to show the similarities. 8220;There are similarities that apply to South Indian Americans and their Zulu counterparts,8221; they said. Social practices like worshipping ancestors, paying bride price were the same in both the cultures. 8220;Dravidians worship snakes as gods to which Zulus consider as ancestors, a daughter-in-law in a Zulu household has to keep her head covered in the presence of elders, similarly among various Indian castes,8221; she said.

The Taliban touch

ISLAMABAD: Seeking to impose the Taliban brand of Islam in Pakistan, the Taliban Tehrikhas announced a house-to-house search in the tribal areas of North West Frontier Province NWFP on Sunday to seize and destroy radio, television sets, drugs and other 8220;Un-Islamic8221; items. The Tehrik on Wednesday warned of severe punishment if such articles were found in any house after Sunday8217;s operation.