Today's Story Line:

President Clinton's visit to Palestinian territory next week will help end a war of words. The words are anti-Israel clauses in the 1964 charter for the Palestinian movement. Israel wanted them removed as a way to pin down Palestinian sincerity about peace. Mr. Clinton's mediation and now his visit have persuaded most Palestinian leaders to deal with the issue.

Imagine a US president barring certain reporters from press conferences for their "biased" reporting and you'll understand how Japanese journalists think about such a move by the ruling party. Tokyo correspondent Nicole Gaouette dug up the party's internal memo laying out its plan.

Bosnia's conflicts have moved indoors. Foreign donors want faster economic reform to cement the peace.

Corruption is still a drag on much of Latin America. We recently ran stories on new ways to improve police in Peru and Colombia. Our Rio-based contributor Jack Epstein looks at efforts in Brazil.

- Clayton Jones

World Editor

REPORTERS ON THE JOB

* Reporters covering Clinton's visit to the Gaza Strip next week must do some unusual planning. Normally, to reach the Palestinian territory from Israel, they must walk a mile between checkpoints. To avoid that, hundreds of journalists are planning to stay overnight before the president's arrival. Unfortunately, Gaza's seven hotels have been booked solid for more than a month. As for our Jerusalem reporter, Ilene Prusher, she'll be spending the night on the floor of the Monitor's long-standing Palestinian helper (and father of five), Mohammed Dawwas, along with a half-dozen other reporters in need of a place to stay.

FUTURE NEWS

* STANDING UNDER THE OZONE HOLE: Scientists say marine life around Antarctica is being damaged by the hole in the ozone layer. Writer Colin Woodward has a report soon from his trip to Antarctica.