Today's Story Line:

Blessed are the peacemakers.

Around the world, legions of citizen peacekeepers are aiding nations struggling to form civil societies after armed conflicts end. Often enduring hardship and danger, the peacekeepers watch over elections, monitor human rights issues, and help develop civil administrations (page 4).

It isn't cricket. Amid accusations that Britain's beloved gentleman's game has become corrupted by bookies in cahoots with star players, a former Scotland Yard detective has been asked to investigate the international sport (page 3).

Germany is struggling to rescue city centers in the former East Germany as more prosperous residents of grimy Soviet-style buildings in industrial downtowns flee to West German suburbs (page 3).

- Margaret Henry Acting World editor

REPORTERS ON THE JOB..

ELECTION WONDER: Reporting from Moscow on reaction to the US election, Fred Weir says his mother-in-law's reaction was typical of most Russians'. "She was shaking her head in confusion: How could one guy get more of the votes but not win?" Despite press efforts to explain the Electoral College system, most Russians cannot understand the logic of it and some observers have suggested America change it. "That's pretty interesting, having Russians recommend that America institute democratic reforms," Fred notes with a chuckle.

CRUCIAL VOTE: Ilene Prusher in Tokyo was working on a story yesterday about Korea's relationship with the United States, only to find that she, as an absentee voter from Broward County, Fla., has suddenly become the focus of the election in the US. "I've always thought of the absentee vote as something you should do as your civic duty, but that usually doesn't have much impact on election results," says Ilene, who mailed her vote about a week ago. "So I have a new appreciation for the fact that, in a country of our size, you can have an impact."

CULTURAL SNAPSHOT..

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