March 3, 2001

Chicago Bulls defeat New York Knickerbockers, 81-72; photo (M)

Citibank officials admit at Congressional hearing hat there are considerable lapses in their dealings with two Caribbean shell banks used to launder millions of dollars from drug trafficking and bribery; shell banks have no physical presence; money laundering experts agree that American banks have no legitimate reason for doing business with shell banks (M)

Plea to Taliban on Buddhas The United Nations led an 11th-hour drive to save two towering Buddhist statues as troops of Afghanistan's Taliban government were reported to be set to obliterate them. PAGE A3 Salvadorans' Stay Extended About 150,000 Salvadorans, most without visas, will be allowed to remain in the United States temporarily to help El Salvador recover from devastating earthquakes. PAGE A7

British farmers fear for their futures as foot-and-mouth disease, highly contagious virus that attacks cloven-hoofed animals like cows, pigs and sheep, spreads; are barring visitors and leaving farms only when necessary; hunting, fishing and sports events have been cancelled to deter spread of virus, which rarely affects humans but can be carried by people, cars, clothes and even wind; photos (M)

Mexican Pres Vicente Fox is pushing to create financial networks to let Mexicans in United State send money home at much lower fees than high-cost wire transfer services; some systems are coming on line already and could cut cost from current 10 to 25 percent or more to 2 or 3 percent; such funds play key role in Mexican economy, totaling as much money as tourism generates, often going directly to poor and exceeding all government spending in some states; Fox, in shift from past Mexican government, hails migrant workers as 'heroes' and created cabinet post to represent them (M)