Today's Story Line:

A year ago this week, NATO began a 78-day bombing campaign in Kosovo. Today, a Kosovo village stripped of its men tries to rebuild, and its citizens reflect on the price they paid for freedom (page 1).

A massacre Monday put visiting President Clinton smack in the middle of the Kashmir conflict. And for the first time, India asked the US for help in mediating its dispute with Pakistan (page 7).

Russians go to the polls March 26 in a race verging on the ludicrous (page 6).

- David Clark Scott World editor

REPORTERS ON THE JOB

* RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN LIFELINE: Reporter Fred Weir didn't plan to watch Russia's version of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire." But last Saturday afternoon, his mother-in-law was watching the hugely popular TV show. Fred wandered by and stopped in his tracks when he recognized several Russian presidential contenders participating. Answer all 15 questions, and the contestant wins 1 million rubles. "Of course, 1 million rubles (about $35,000) is considerably less than what the US or British version of the show offers. But it does show that some formulas transcend all cultures," says Fred.

* A $14,000 PAINT JOB: Shortly after arriving in Moscow, the Monitor's Judith Matloff came face to face with the kind of corruption she writes about in today's story. She asked the owners of the building to paint her apartment and office. "They hadn't been painted in years," she says. The response was that it would cost $14,000 for the paint job. Judith declined. Instead, she hired her own painter. But the guards at the entrance to the building took the painter hostage. "They held this poor woman for two days, until we agreed not to let her paint," says Judith. Finally, Judith, her husband, and a friend bought some paint and did the job themselves over a weekend. "The paint and brushes cost $200," says Judith.

CULTURAL SNAPSHOT

SHOWER CAP? NO WHEY. Britain's Prince Philip declined to wear hygienic overcoat or cap during a tour of an Australian cheese factory. If contaminated, the day's production of cheese will have to be thrown out, said factory officials.

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