Today's Story Line

In the Middle East, Iran - a country that promoted population growth to support its revolution 20 years ago - has emerged as a model for family planning, according to the UN.

To the Asian continent, in Bangladesh, a model of producing garments inexpensively - the sweatshop - is being hotly debated again as 150 countries prepare for World Trade Organization talks in Seattle on Nov. 30.

And in Europe, a new model is emerging in Kosovo. Women, more "patient," are being trained to remove land mines planted there during the recent war.

- Faye Bowers Deputy world editor

PRESS CLIPPINGS

*EGYPTAIR FALLOUT: The Egyptian press expressed outrage yesterday at US suggestions that the Oct. 31 crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 may have been the criminal act of an Egyptian pilot, trying to commit suicide. "Egypt refuses American claims surrounding the interpretation of the plane catastrophe," screamed the main headline of the opposition Al-Wafd newspaper.

Editorials in the two leading Egyptian dailies, Al-Ahram and Al-Akhbar, maintained that so far the American claims have no basis. Galal Doweidar, writing for Al-Akhbar, even saw conspiracy behind the American analysis. "There's nothing to this interpretation except the desire to make EgyptAir - through its pilots - responsible for what happened, while proving the American side and the plane's manufacturing company innocent," stated Mr. Doweidar.

But news articles emphasized that the crash investigation is continuing and no conclusions have been reached. "The American investigators recognize the need for additional analysis of the Egyptian plane recordings before knowing the reason for the catastrophe," said Al-Ahram's headline. Al-Akhbar's headline read: "Washington confirms the importance of Egypt's role in listening to the voice recording."

- Sarah Gauch, Cairo

CULTURAL SNAPSHOT..

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