Reporters on the Job

My Fugitive Ex-Boyfriend: Correspondent Lisa Abend has more than a passing interest in the corruption surrounding real estate development in Spain (see story). She once dated the brother of the mayor of Marbella. The mayor, her ex-boyfriend's sister, is now in jail. Lisa says she hasn't had any contact with the ex-boyfriend (who taught her how to flamenco dance some 20 years ago during a study abroad program in Cordoba). He's now a fugitive. "He's been implicated in the corruption and is now on the run," she notes.

And, yes, Lisa does own a second home in Spain, but it's not in Marbella and it was built in the 1800s.

David Clark Scott
World editor

This Week's Look Ahead

Wednesday, May 9:

São Paulo, Brazil – Pope Benedict XVI visits the world's most populous Roman Catholic nation.

Seoul, South Korea – North and South Korea hold family reunions at the North's Diamond Mountain resort.

East Timor – Second round of voting for East Timor's presidential elections.

Harare, Zimbabwe – Court to rule whether a former British special forces officer alleged to be the ringleader in a coup plot against Equatorial Guinea will be extradited to the West Africa nation.

Thursday, May 10:

Buenos Aires – Biofuels Congress forum with Al Gore invited as keynote speaker.

Saturday, May 12:

Helsinki, Finland – Final of the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest.

– Associated Press

Cultural snapshot
(Photograph)
A Day for Vets: Bulgarian World War II veterans attended a military parade Sunday in Sofia. The eastern European nation celebrated the Day of Bulgarian Army and Bravery.
Valentina Petrova/AP

Let us hear from you. Mail to: One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115 via e-mail: World editor

Get Monitor stories by e-mail:
(Your e-mail address will be protected by csmonitor.com's tough privacy policy.)
(Mary Knox Merrill/Staff)
EDITOR'S PICK Five cities that will rise in the New Economy
From Seattle to Huntsville, Ala., five cities are poised to prosper in the New Economy because of exports, innovation, clean technology, and healthcare.

In Pictures:
Get ready for gridlock
POLITICS Patchwork Nation
The American voter beyond red and blue

Daily podcast

Monitor Reports

Discussions with Monitor reporters from around the world


Today

Peter Grier

The Monitor's Peter Grier talks with reporter Ron Scherer about how Black Friday will effect the economy this year.




Making a difference
Making a Difference

What happens when ordinary people decide to pay it forward? Extraordinary change. See how individuals are making a difference, finding solutions, overcoming adversity, and giving back globally.

Batdorj Gongor convinces residents to set up savings groups as a way of teaching them the power they gain by banding together in neighborhoods.

Lee Lawrence

People making a difference: Batdorj Gongor

In Mongolia, he shows former nomads how working together benefits everyone.