CLINTON - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton will lead a discussion about leadership and transitions to democracy at the Club of Madrid conference Nov. 12 at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The club gathers former heads of state to debate global issues. Former Czech President Václav Havel and former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso will join Clinton.

SCANDAL - Agriculture Minister Petr Zgarba is facing heat from Prime Minister Jirí Paroubek for allowing 170 parcels of land around Prague to be sold for as little as 4 Kc (about 16 U.S. cents) per square meter. Zgarba's acquaintance Gabriel Vecera obtained land worth 1.5 billion Kc for 4 million Kc.

POPULAR - President Václav Klaus continues to enjoy widespread popularity among voters. Two-thirds of citizens named him the country's most trustworthy politician, according to a new CVM poll. Roughly one-half of those polled said they also trusted Prime Minister Jirí Paroubek. Other politicians of the ruling Social Democrats were lower on the poll.

JAVORSKY´ - Former Slovak Health Minister Lubomír Javorsky´ fatally shot himself Nov. 6 in his house in eastern Slovakia. Police, who are still investigating the incident, said that Javorsky´ did not leave a suicide note and that he used a legally registered gun.

DRUGS - Czech authorities busted a ring of methamphetamine producers and distributors Nov. 7, arresting seven people and placing them in a pretrial detention center. The group faces 15-year prison terms if convicted of selling 5 kilos (11 pounds) of the drug for more than 500,000 Kc.