Reporters on the Job

from the January 28, 2008 edition

• Old Habits Die Hard: Correspondent Laura Winter has reported from Pakistan, off and on, since 2001. When President Pervez Musharraf spoke Friday in London, were Laura is based now, it was her first opportunity to see him as the civilian head of state. "After 46 years of military service, Mr. Musharraf took off his khaki uniform just two months ago," she notes. The former commander of Pakistan's military, spoke at the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank focusing on security issues (see story). But, Laura notes, old habits are hard to break.

"He started to salute members of the audience, which included His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, husband of queen. He saluted not once, but three times before catching himself amid the welcoming applause," she observes.

Musharraf was relaxed, making jokes to a crowd that seemed to appreciate his challenges. And as he left to a hearty applause, he saluted three more times before walking out of a side entrance, says Laura.

– David Clark Scott

World editor

This week's look ahead

• Thursday, Jan. 31: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Heads of state of African Union nations open a three-day summit, which comes amid bloody political turmoil in Kenya and sluggish deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur.

• Friday, Feb. 1: Vienna – OPEC oil ministers consider increasing output amid recent price retreat.

• Sunday, Feb. 3: Belgrade, Serbia – President Boris Tadic is in a runoff election against an ultranationalist challenger, Radical Party leader Tomislav Nikolic. Mr. Tadic says the vote will determine whether Serbia moves closer to European Union or sinks back into isolation.

– Associated Press

Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open tennis tournament Sunday. He's being touted as the first Serbian to win a 'major.' Tim Wimborne/Reuters More cultural snapshots

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