Reporters on the Job
• 'Bye Bye Bush' Shoemaker: Ramazan Baydan claims to be the maker of the famous shoes thrown at President George Bush during his last visit to Iraq . Whether he is or not, correspondent Yigal Schleifer says that he's is clearly a shrewd businessman (see story).
He arrived in Istanbul as an 11-year-old village boy with little schooling. At first he labored in small shoemaking shops and worked his way up to having his own shoe company that last year sold 90,000 pairs.
"My interview with the shoemaker, though, left me wondering whether Baydan was stretching the truth at times. He claimed to have big orders from the United States, but then declined to provide any information about these big buyers. When I asked for details about 'big orders' from Europe, he also refused to provide any details," says Yigal.
But Baydan's shop was clearly working in overdrive to make copies of the famous shoe for delivery to Iraq. "Still, his low-tech workshop didn't give me the sense that it was the kind of place that could meet all of the demand that Baydan says he is now being asked to supply," says Yigal.
– David Clark Scott
World editor
• MONDAY, Dec. 29:
Bangladesh – Parliamentary elections.
• WEDNESDAY, Dec. 31:
Baghdad – Trial begins for Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at President Bush.
Iraq – Macedonia to pull its troops out of Iraq after a five-year engagement.
Vienna – Deadline for nominations to replace UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei, the IAEA's chief.
• THURSDAY, Jan. 1:
Santiago, Cuba – Celebration of 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution with Raul Castro presiding.
