Today's Story Line

Coup rumblings in Pakistan. At press time, the airport in Islamabad and the prime minister's home were surrounded by troops. Tension between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his generals has been high in the wake this summer's battle between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Two weeks ago, the US government warned that it "strongly opposed any attempt to change the government through extra-constitutional means."

Real men don't rape: A controversial ad campaign challenges the masculinity of South African men.

- David Clark Scott, World editor

REPORTERS ON THE JOB *HEY BUDDY, GOTTA BUCK? Indonesian rupiahs are still in common use in Dili, East Timor. But last week, while reporting today's story on rebuilding the island state, the Monitor's Cameron Barr was stopped in the street by an East Timorese. His polite request: Would Cameron sell some dollars in exchange for rupiah?

The dollars the man wanted were American. "You might expect that East Timorese would seek financial security in Australian dollars," notes Cameron, in light of Australia's massive effort to create physical security in East Timor. But no - the US greenback is the currency of preference even in Dili.

FOLLOW-UP ON A MONITOR STORY *LOBSTER ROW: Last week, the Monitor reported on tensions among fishers in Canada, after a court ruling upheld a 240-year-old treaty that allows natives to fish year-round. In an effort to defuse the situation, the Fisheries Ministry set limits on Oct. 10 on the numbers of lobster traps that natives can set. The limits were imposed after the two native groups refused to agree to a 30-day voluntary fishing ban launched by 33 other bands. Many aboriginals say they're angry their newly won treaty rights will be restricted.

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