Reporters on the Job

• You Want to Go Where? Going to Basra on one's own from Baghdad is no easy feat these days, says correspondent Sam Dagher (see story). "Everyone discourages you from taking the seven-hour road trip, recounting horror stories about bandits and corrupt security force members."

Although there are two flights a week to Basra on Iraqi Airways, the plane only leaves if there are sufficient passengers, Sam says. "We didn't go on the first attempt, because there were only six passengers. The second time, there were 15 passengers. Coming back was easier because the governor, Muhammad Mosabeh al-Waeli, was on the same flight."

– Amelia Newcomb
Deputy World editor

• Monday, Sept. 17:
Islamabad, Pakistan – Supreme Court resumes hearing on petition against President Pervez Musharraf's military rule.

• Tuesday, Sept. 18:
Jerusalem – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice travels to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

• Thursday, Sept. 20:
Manaus, Brazil – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Venezuela's Hugo Chávez to meet to discuss energy and trade ties.

• Friday, Sept. 21:
Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.
Washington – The US, China, France, Russia, Britain, and Germany meet to discuss Iran and UN sanctions.

• Saturday, Sept. 22:
Beijing and Shanghai, China – No car day.

• Sunday, Sept. 23:
Tokyo – Ruling party leadership election.

– Associated Press