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Focuses on paper bags as being officially prohibited for usage by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban Islamists. What Steve Crawshaw reports about paper bags; What Acting Information Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi explains about paper-bag ban; Possible effect of the edict on paper-bags.

Presents news briefs on Asia as of March 2001. Victory of the political party Thai Rak Thai in the election in Thailand; Publication of the book `Tiananmen Papers'; Tribunals against the members of the former communist Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot.

Discusses how Havana's official communist newspaper called `Granma' recently tried something new by using dried sugar-cane pulp or bagasse for paper. Shortages of paper and newsprint since the collapse of the former Soviet Union; How the circulation of newspapers, magazines, and books has been cut back; More.

Introduces an electronic pen from Anoto. Reference to an article by Duncan Graham-Rowe which appeared in the April 15, 2000 issue of the `New Scientist'; Features and capabilities of the product; How it works.

Reports the public criticisms to a television commercial for toilet paper in Zimbabwe. Debate the advertisement generated about the media and traditions; Description of the advertisement.

Reports on Polish newspaper coverage of the corruption scandal involving movie producer Lew Rywin. Efforts of Rywin to bribe Adam Michnik, editor of the 'Gazeta Wyborcza' newspaper, in exchange for amendments to a media bill; Implications of the scandal for the Polish government.

A World Press special report on concern over recent arms-control setbacks. Includes excerpts from daily papers in Hamburg, Germany; Turin (Italy); London; Moscow; Tokyo.

Presents an interview with Anton Harber, coeditor of the liberal `Weekly Mail' of Johannesburg, South Africa, and Don Mattera, director of the paper's development and training program. Possibility of a multi-racial political future in South Africa; Thoughts about Nelson Mandela as a South African President; Recent referendum victory for President F.W. de Klerk.

Discusses the current state of the press in Eastern bloc countries. Paper shortage and lack of funds; New titles appearing daily; UNESCO conference in Paris; East-West relations; Effects of freedom; Exchange of information lacking.

Observations of young blacks and whites coming of age under apartheid. Excerpts from papers in London, Luxembourg, Johannesburg, and Paris.

Reports on the arrest of "Zimbabwe Independent" editor Iden Wetherell and others for allegedly defaming Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Reason for the arrest; Arrest of the paper's general manager for defamation of the president; Reaction of the paper to Mugabe's action.

Reports that a set of Draconian amendments to Jordan's press law threatens to close down the country's independent and opposition papers. Enactment of the `temporary' law by the caretaker government of Prime Minister Abdul Salam al-Majali; Criticism of opposition papers by King Hussein; Increased capital requirements for publishers of weekly newspapers; Jordan Press Association's (JPA) criticism on the amendment.

Reports that the modest success of antiseptic writing tools in Japan has spurred the introduction of related products also said to fight bacteria. Toyo KK's origami paper coated with antibacterial agent; Kutsuwa Co.'s erasers, memo pads.

States that the design of modern consumer-electronic products may be stifling an interest in science and technology among young people, suggests a paper from the Japanese Science and Technology Agency. Paper which places much of the blame on the `black-box syndrome'; Designs which deter curious youngsters from investigating the products' inner workings; Reported in London's `New Scientist.'

Focuses on a paper on economic issues facing the European Union (EU), prepared by Jacques Delors, president of the European Commission. Statement in London's `Economist' that Delors' paper is a mishmash of proposals; Declining enthusiasm for the EU, discussed by Steve Crawshaw in London's `Independent'; Poll of Europeans which indicates a rising tide of indifference to the EU.

Reports that chemists at the University of Osaka in Japan believe that a new polymer could make possible the creation of reusable photographic film. Image on an exposed frame could be dissolved and another exposure made on the same frame; Similar technique could be used to simplify the production of liquid-crystal displays, manufacture reusable photocopy paper, and etch the fine structure of electronic circuitry; Reported in Vienna's `Die Presse.'

Reports on Lise Bissonnette, a political journalist who has become the general editor of the Montreal newspaper `Le Devoir,' which is bankrupt. Paper's beginnings; Social ombudsman of Quebec; Paper's challenges.

Focuses on the story of Roop Kanwar, an 18-year old Rajasthani widow of the village of Deorala in India who was ritually burned to death together with her dead husband. `Suttee' or widow burning as an ancient Hindu practice; Reactions of the people and the government of India on the burning of Kanwar; How the police decided to treat Kanwar's death; Different stories that appeared on Indian papers about Kanwar's death.

Discusses how a substantial majority of leading newspapers surveyed for the first `World Press Review' Opinion Index disagreed with the use of limited airstrikes against Serbian forces in Bosnia. How newspapers who participated in the survey were chosen; Reasoning for and against bombings; Index of papers surveyed; Notable comments from a variety of newspapers.

Presents an interview by Linda Rogers and Barry Shelby with Muhammad al-Saqr, editor of the independent `Al-Qabas' of Kuwait City. Paper seized by the Iraqis during their occupation of Kuwait; Often at odds with Kuwaiti government; Advocates democratic reforms and human-rights guarantees; Elections; Internal security; Monies spent on armaments; Defense agreements; Influence of Saddam Hussein; Prospects for regional peace; Background of Muhammad; Predictions for the future.

Reports on deliberations in France over a proposed ban on displaying religious symbols in schools. Rationale of safeguarding a secular society; President Jacques Chirac's support for the ban; Reaction of French regional paper "Paris-Normandie" to the proposal.

Reports that opposition newspapers in Egypt are at odds over coverage of Saudi Prince Turk bin Abdel Aziz, who allegedly held his Egyptian servants captive in a luxury hotel. How news of the incident broke; Reason two journalists from the opposition weekly `Al-Araby' quit the paper; How the pro-Islamist newspaper `Al-Sha'ab' view the report.

Presents news on economics and other social issues. Profile of Amartya Sen, an economist and former Harvard professor; Consequences of a sudden loss of confidence by international investors; Information on a paper from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on `Inflation and Money Demand in Albania.'

Describes the life of J. Jesus Blancornelas, editor of the Mexican paper Zeta, while writing about the drug cartel run by Ramon Arellano Felix. Information on an attack on Blancornelas in November 1997; Award received Blancornelas from World Press Review in 1997; Health condition of Blancornelas as of April 1998.

Presents events in some parts of the world regarding economics, aerospace, environment, coffee and media. Rise of Estonia's economy; Dangers posed by low-orbiting communications satellite to astronauts and spacecrafts; United Nations' survey regarding the world's threatened forests; Reason why coffee prices are destined to rise; The launch of south China edition by Beijing's People's Daily paper.

Features criticism of Danish Queen Margrethe's public cigarette smoking, from Swedish television personality Hagge Geigert. Danish tabloids' comment on the issue; WhatGeigert remarked about the queen; What the Danish papers note about the Swedish King Carl Gustaf.

Reports on the use of paper coffins in Sri Lanka. Concern over the environment.

Reports that banks around the world are beginning field tests of plastic money that could ultimately replace coins and paper money. First transaction in July 1995 in the British town of Swindon, west of London; Difference from credit cards and debit cards; Advantage of the money cards; Extension of field tests to Canada and Hong Kong in 1996.

Reports on a controversy in Hong Kong involving the Chinese-language newspaper, `Apple Daily,' which was launched on June 20, 1995. Blend of news items and commentaries; Refusal of the Chinese government to allow the paper to cover Hong Kong-related hearings or tot interview government officials in Beijing; Chinese sensitivity to criticism; Uncertainty of Hong Kong's economic future under Chinese rule.

States that Haitian gangsters have received preferential treatment at the United States naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, according to `Haiti Progres,' Port-au-Prince. How, according to the paper, US forces have pressed most Haitian refugees to leave to make room for Cuban refugees; Exceptions that have been made for Macoutes (gangsters aligned with the former military regime).

Focuses on Olga Ivinskaya, the real-life `Lara' of Boris Pasternak's life. Pasternak's criticisms of the Soviet system and the arrest of Ivinskaya; Ivinskaya's fight to recover papers from the late Pasternak that she alleges the KGB stole from her after the writer's death in 1960; From `The Sunday Times,' of London.

States that Argentina is eager to join an expanded North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and Ambassador to the United States Raul Granillo Ocampo says the country is in a good position to do so, reports `La Nacion' of Buenos Aires. Argentine President Carlos Menem wants the United States to ease tariffs, says the paper. For their part, US negotiators ask that Argentina change its stringent patent laws. Patent laws discussed by Maria O'Donnell in `Pagina 12,' Buenos Aires.

Reports that Zimbabwe's best-known traditional healer, Benjamin Burombo, who claims to have a cure for AIDS, now says he has a cure for meningitis. Examples of his dubious claims in the daily `Herald' of Harare; Editorial in the same paper that warns of claims by certain charlatans.

Focuses on the enormous changes that have overtaken China's press in the past few years. How newsstands, which feature some foreign titles, are now commonplace in Beijing; Comments from `Renmin Ribao' senior editor Wu Changsheng on the paper's circulation slump; How Chinese publications are becoming more commercial; Successful new newspapers in China; Reported in the `Sydney Morning Herald.'

Discusses ocean pollution and the general malaise affecting the accords governing oceans. The paper treaty, Law of the Sea Treaty, which would regulate the Economic Exclusion Zones (200-mile zones); London Convention; International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, or MARPOL agreement; North Sea Work Group; United Nations 1990 report `The State of the Marine Environment'; Taken from the liberal `NRC Handelsblad' of Rotterdam.

Claims recent calls for new energy taxes in oil-importing countries could raise prices for consumers and lower revenues of oil-exporting countries, according to Hussein Abdallah in the Arabic financial paper `Al-Alam al-Youm' of London. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Estimated statistics.

Reports that after news reached India that a university professor in Seoul was convicted of writing pornography, the daily `Indian Express' of New Delhi decided to blow the whistle on academic life. Quotation from the paper.

Cites an article in `Liberation' noting the rise of the circulation and esteem of the daily paper `USA Today.' Treatment by competition upon initial appearance; Abbreviated version; Today, a more readable form; Number of daily readers in 1992.

Cites an article by Boris Fyodorov of `Pravda' charging the former Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, is trying to reap political capital with which to form a new party. People will not trust him a second time; Liberal papers critical of Gorbachev, as noted by Leonid Nikitinsky of `Komsomolskaya Pravda'; Support shown from Viktor Gushchin of `Moscow News.'

Cites an article by John Eisenhammer of `Independent' stating that western German publishers who pinned high hopes on eastern Germany's media market have had a sobering experience. Introduction of established western papers into the east has proven a dismal failure; Eastern readers believe their newspapers to be more objective; Edith Giert, editor of `Sachsische Zeitung' claims `our newspapers must be different: we have much more urgent, dramatic problems.'

Cites an article by Klaus Thews from `Stern' of Hamburg, presenting the fourth in a series of articles on projects to protect the environment, focusing on plants which could become the stars of a new energy age. Biomass or plant matter a significant source of energy; Danes pioneered this concept; East-Asian plant with unique growth rate with possible use of raw material for paper production or replacement for coal; Questions scientists must address; Skeptical environmentalists; More.

Cites an article in `Noticias' magazine of Buenos Aires which states that the local Fuddruckers restaurant has what the local stock-market warriors need to trade as they eat. Up to date quotations on commercial paper and securities; `Wall Street Journal' and other pertinent publications; Computer screens crackling with data.

Reports that the fragility of press freedom in Russia was underscored by the Russian Parliament's recent attempt to take over the liberal `Izvestia.' Resolution that would have invalidated the paper's registration as an independent publication; `Izvestia's' response; Published letter to President Boris Yeltsin from editor in chief and 19 other top media executives, appealing to Yeltsin for help; Yeltsin's promise.

Report by Mahmoud Abd al-Min'im Murad of the `Al-Akhbar,' a pro-government paper in Cairo, observes a genuine transformation in Israeli public opinion--and the accession to power of Yitzhak Rabin and his Labor Party is tangible proof. Democracy in Israel is a reality; Results of latest election indicate a shift in public opinion--from hard-line position to a desire for peace; Leave the door open for negotiations.

Cites a report in the `Independent,' a periodical published in London, England. Description of a false news paper advertisement offering $1,000 to men willing to marry Iraqi women whose husbands were killed during the Persian Gulf war; Details of the responses from over 10,000 Indian and Nepalese men.

Discusses Jorge Lanata and his successful newspaper the `Pagina 12.' Lanata is 31 years old; His life is a journalist's dream come true; Printed scandalous news about Argentina's boisterous President Carlos Saul Menem; Paper founded five years ago; Left-winged and aggressive; Tainted milk scandal; Newspaper is not anti-government, just pro-information; More.

Discusses how the conservative `Citizen' of Johannesburg is calling for the lifting of the cutural boycott on South Africa for the appearance of pop singer Paul Simon. Boycott is officially over; Paper knocks ANC for not easing its stand on remaining economic sanctions; More.

Reprints an article from `L'Actualite' which comments on the increase in erotica in the Soviet Union since glasnost. Counter to the historical sexual Puritanism and deprivation; Violent reaction to the Russian movie `Little Eva'; Poor quality paper used in homemade pornographic publications; An attempt at a sexual revolution in Russia.

Presents an article from the Czechoslovakian independent paper `Lidove Noviny' by Jana Smidova which describes some of the problems that the face the Czechoslovakian government as it tries to initiate reform. Non-existent services; Incomprehensible bureaucracy; Racism and anti-Semitism; More.

Deals with the reactions of the British press on the release of publisher Robert Maxwell's international weekly newspaper called `European.' Month it made its debut; Opinion of Sunday Correspondent and Observer News Service on the newspaper; Cost of the development of the paper; Number of copies sold inside and outside of Britain in its initial print run.