Reporters on the Job

from the November 17, 2008 edition

• Tea Time: When staff writer Tom A. Peter went to report on the emergence of new neighborhood markets in Baghdad , he thought it would be a perfect opportunity to do a little shopping for himself.

"When you work in Iraq you can't really ever just go out to the market and pick up gifts like you can in other countries," says Tom. "As a result of the security situation, you only leave the hotel compound to go out reporting. In fact, you can't even buy your own groceries, you have to make a list and have a security team pick them up for you."

That's why Tom was excited to do this story. "Unfortunately for me though, I wanted to buy a tea set and the only story on the street selling them was closed because the owner was taking a tea break himself," says Tom.

– David Clark Scott

World editor

• Monday, Nov. 17:
Dharmsala, India – The Dalai Lama meets with Tibetan exile communities and political organizations to discuss how to deal with China in the future.

• Thursday, Nov. 20:
Lima, Peru – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation – a 21-nation group – summit.

• Friday, Nov. 21:
Caracas, Venezuela – Russian warships due to arrive off coast of Venezuela for joint exercises.
Geneva – US and Russian officials will hold talks on a replacement for the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

• Sunday, Nov. 23:
Caracas, Venezuela – State and municipal elections.

– Associated Press, Reuters

LOVE LOCKS: Thousands of couples attach their padlock to a fence in Seoul, South Korea, then throw away the key as a symbol of eternal love. Ahn Young-joon More cultural snapshots

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