October 18, 1999

John Tierney, in Big City column, notes that Donald J Trump will remove two 'glitzy' signs that spell out his name on General Motors Building in midtown Manhattan and replace three other gold-colored signs; maintains that skyscraper, which Trump bought with partners last year and renamed General Motors Building at Trump International Plaza, has always seemed out of place to architects (M)

Philanthropic Research Inc to post on its Web site charities' detailed tax returns, giving quick and easy access for first time to comprehensive details on how charities use their money; Ford, Kellogg and Mellon foundations, which fund project, expect scrutiny to spur major changes in charitable world's financial practices; photo (M)

Article on recent destructive onslaught by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia against towns in Shamali Valley north of Kabul to take control of 10 to 20 percent of country not yet under its control; binge of blood lust and mayhem involved wanton killing, emptying of entire towns, machine-gunning of livestock, sawing down fruit trees and blasting apart irrigation canals; Taliban, largely ethnic Pathans, seek to rid area of ethnic Tajiks whose resistance to them has been steadfast, and to leave enemies with nothing; onslaught has sent 65,000 Afghans fleeing to Panjshir Valley and created refugee population estimated at 130,000; maps; photos (L)

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, in major strategy shift, plans to overhaul its brokerage business and offer all its clients option of trading stocks on line at discount prices; reportedly plans to offer on-line option immediately, beating Merrill Lynch & Co by at least six weeks; envisions rolling its existing on-line discount brokerage unit, Discover Brokerage Direct, together with traditional Morgan Stanley brokerage services; will convert its 450 offices nationwide where brokers work into walk-in retail centers (M)

Robert Westmoreland, part owner of Valusoft, promotes company's first Christian action computer game; game's playful approach to religious instruction is raising skepticism in Christian community and qualms among some retail chains; photo (M)