World Watch

AFGHANISTAN
Fighters and Leaders Look to the Future
The military assault on the Taliban moved into a decisive phase as the U.S. stepped up air attacks and deployed around 1,000 ground troops to close in on Kandahar and the underground bunkers possibly sheltering al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. As U.S. Marines went into combat for the first time and a Russian Emergencies Ministry team flew into the capital, the cia confirmed that one of its agents was among those killed during a three-day revolt by Taliban prisoners at a compound near Mazar-i-Sharif. Human-rights groups called for an inquiry into the 500 or so deaths, some of them caused by U.S. air strikes, at the Qala-i-Jangi fort. The incident formed the backdrop to talks in Bonn at which key Afghan parties agreed in principle to the formation of an interim governing body.

THE E.U.
The Terror Trail
Antiterrorism investigations in three countries led to the arrests of more alleged al-Qaeda collaborators. German police detained Mounir el-Moutassadeq, who is believed to have had links with the Hamburg cell members who died in the Sept. 11 hijackings. Prosecutor Kay Nehm said el-Moutassadeq is accused of “knowingly supporting the terrorist organization with logistical measures.” In Belgium, an Algerian man was arrested for passport forgery. He and two men being held in France may have been part of a ring suspected of supplying false papers to the assassins of Afghan leader Ahmed Shah Massoud. And in Italy, police took two alleged al-Qaeda recruiters into custody.

BRITAIN
One Fell Swoop
In an unprecedented global swoop, police on four continents broke up an online child-pornography ring, arresting more than 130 people suspected of trading images of young children. Twenty countries took part in the 10-month-long British-led investigation, codenamed Operation Landmark.

SWITZERLAND
A Global Epidemic
AIDS is spreading faster in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union than anywhere else in the world, according to a report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Geneva. The virus continues to plague Africa, where it has killed more than 2 million people this year. Cambodia, Thailand and Uganda won praise for their prevention campaigns. But unaids executive director Peter Piot said that the crisis “will get worse before it gets better” and warned of complacency in the West. The report came out in advance of World AIDS Day, which was marked with vigils, memorial services and fund raisers.

ISRAEL
Internal Dissent
A suicide bombing overshadowed Prime Minister Ariel Sharons departure for the U.S. for talks this week with President Bush. A Palestinian killed himself and three others on a bus in northern Israel. Sharon pledged “to put an end to these acts” and refused to compromise on his call for seven days of “absolute quiet” before resumption of peace talks. But Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said that this stance was an invitation to opponents of peace and urged the use of dialogue, not just military force.

ZIMBABWE
Tightening the Grip
The government unveiled new legislation that would permit the jailing of journalists who violate “professional and ethical standards” set by the state. The law, which still requires parliamentary approval, would require journalists to be licensed by the Information Ministry. And in an apparent swipe at members of the foreign press, which the government recently called terrorists, only Zimbabwean citizens would be eligible for accreditation. The action is seen as part of President Robert Mugabes effort to consolidate control in advance of presidential elections that must be held by next April.

NEPAL
Red Alert
King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency and ordered troops into battle after Maoist guerrillas broke a four-month truce with a series of deadly attacks. The country had previously relied on its under-equipped police force to contain the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which has been fighting to topple the monarchy since 1996. At least 220 people died in the weeks fighting, which included the rebels first-ever strike on an army post.

INDONESIA
Game Over for Tommy
Detectives finally tracked down the fugitive son of former dictator Suharto, after a year on the run. Hutomo Mandala Putra, 39, nicknamed “Tommy,” grinned at the crowds gathered around the police station where he was questioned on suspicion of involvement in various crimes, including murder. Jakartas police chief said Tommy was found at a house in Bintaro, southwest of the capital, and would face charges relating to illegal arms possession and the murder of a Supreme Court judge who had sentenced him to 18 months for corruption last year. Tommy had later skipped bail pending an appeal.

TAIWAN
The Last Domino
The once-almighty Nationalist Party lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in Taiwanese history, in an election marred by allegations of corruption. The pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, led by President Chen Shui-bian, became the legislatures largest party, a stunning blow for the reunification-minded Nationalists, who had controlled the chamber for more than 50 years. But the DPP fell short of a majority, setting the stage for fierce political jockeying as it seeks to form a governing coalition.

THE PHILIPPINES
Settle Down
Government troops ringed the city of Zamboanga on the island of Mindanao after days of fighting with the Moro National Liberation Front. The security cordon was set up to keep the Muslim rebels out of the city and angry residents in. Five guerrillas were hacked to death by citizens infuriated by a government decision to give rebels safe passage back to their camp in exchange for the freedom of 110 civilian hostages. Manila charged renegade Governor and MNLF leader Nur Misuari with rebellion and sedition in connection with the violence, which broke a 1996 peace pact between the government and the guerrilla group.

UNITED NATIONS
Changes to Come
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to extend sanctions against Iraq for six more months. The body also reauthorized the oil-for-food program, which allows Iraq to sell oil and use the revenues to buy food, medicine and humanitarian goods. A compromise between Russia and the U.S. ahead of the vote sets the stage for an overhaul of the sanctions program in 2002. By June, Moscow will agree to a list of military and weapons-related goods that will require U.N. approval before shipment to Iraq. Washington will look at possible steps toward the resumption of weapons inspections and the eventual lifting of sanctions.

CONSTELLATION PEGASUS
This Place Has Atmosphere
Americas National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said the Hubble telescope has detected the atmosphere of a planet beyond the solar system, 150 light years away. The discovery sparked hopes of finding extra-terrestrial life, since scientists believe a gaseous atmosphere may point to other life-forms. But the planet, about the size of Jupiter and circling a star in the constellation Pegasus, has an atmosphere loaded with sodium, nasa officials said, and would be too hot for life as we know it.