Advantage Outsiders
With the balance tilted against it, the Taliban regime will soon find itself vanquished.

Lull Before The Storm
Amid calls for a quick and decisive end to the conflict, Afghanistan has been abuzz with talk of an imminent Northern Alliance ground war against the Taliban.

History's Pointers
The Soviet Union's 10 years campaign in Afghanistan — a conflict that led to a humiliating withdrawal and, some say, its eventual breakup
— can be a learning experience for
the US.

METROSCAPE

Class Of 2001

Watching a fashion show by design students is sometimes like viewing a commercial Hindi film. Don't dissect the logic; enjoy the show if you can. After all, there's no explaining the newsprint strips, exposed photo film mixed with cotton and unusually moulded denim fabric that won Richa Risbud the first prize in the national finals of the Smirnoff International Fashion Awards 2001 in Mumbai last week. For letting her imagination run riot, the 19-year-old student of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi, walked away with gift vouchers worth Rs 25,000. She also gets to compete with 30 international contestants next month in Toronto for prizes worth £50,000 and a seat at London's Central St Martin's College of Art and Design.

Getting this far wasn't easy. The eight finalists in Mumbai were picked from 700 pan-India entries. But after all this, Risbud says, "My family and friends seem more confident of my success than I am." Modesty will take you places, girl. At least as far as Toronto.

-Himanshi Dhawan

The sculpted jaw, bulging biceps and leather jacket are all there. But he's not Arnold Schwarzenegger. He's the Hollywood superstar's studio double, here in India for a Shopper's Stop promo and a Bollywood stopover. In a chat with Senior Correspondent Methil Renuka:

Q. When did Lyndall Grant become The Schwarzenegger Double?
A. In 1981, shortly after Arnold made his first Conan the Barbarian movie, I had kids asking me if I was Conan. I didn't even know who Arnold Schwarzenegger was. We looked so identical most people thought I was either his twin or the man himself.

Q. Has it helped?
A. Well, I can't go out. People stare like I'm a monkey at the zoo. But the chauffeured limos, five-star hotels, and media attention are all swell.

Q. But that's borrowed glory ...
A. It's okay so long as I don't confuse my identity with his.

Q. Are you guys the same age too?
A. No. I am 47. He's 54. When people see me they think, Arnold is still young, which is good for Arnold.

Q. How did you work on getting Arnold's biceps?
A. I pump iron and do long-distance running. Bodybuilding is a pastime.

Q. Do you zip around on motorcycles?
A. No. That's one Arnie act that has been tough to follow.

MetroScape

Looking Glass

Mumbai Restaurant:
India Jones

Mumbai Puppetry Festival: Toccata

Bangalore Restaurant: Chung Wah

Kolkata Exhibition : Life Is Beautiful