RUSSIA: Getting Worse for Women

Poor enforcement of laws means that the position of women in Russia is worsening in spite of claims to the contrary, a new study by a group of legal experts indicates.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Emissions Scheme Improves Profits, Not Air

The emissions trading scheme in Europe has brought enormous profits to many private firms since it was introduced Jan. 1 last year, while bringing only marginal reduction in gases damaging to the climate, some environmentalists say.

BALKANS: Milosevic Death Deepens Divisions

A glance at the death notices page of the leading Belgrade newspaper Politika shows how far the death of former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic has divided the nation.

SERBIA: Milosevic’s Death Denies Justice

The sudden death of former leader Slobodan Milosevic (64) Saturday has brought the focus back on the controversies of his rule, and raised questions again about the future of Serbia.

CORRUPTION: Keeping Ukraine Poor

Ukraine is preparing for parliamentary elections Mar. 26 amid political chaos and divisions, but little has been delivered so far on one of the main promises of last years' elections: to eradicate corruption.

MIGRATION-BRITAIN: Doors Open for Brains and Money

Under a new policy Britain will open its normal immigration channels only to those with money and extraordinary skills.

INT’L WOMEN’S DAY: Parliamentarians Show Prostitution the Red Card

The European Union marked International Women's Day Wednesday by launching a campaign against sexual exploitation of women during big sporting events.

DEVELOPMENT: EU Urged to Consider Social Growth

Trade unions and social groups are urging European Union leaders to put social and environmental objectives at the heart of the bloc's growth and jobs strategy when they meet for their annual spring summit later this month.

INT’L WOMEN’S DAY: Bosnia Rape Victims Forgotten

"When I gave birth to her, I didn't want to see her...but on the second day, when I took her to my breast, I realised that she was the only beauty remaining in this world and so I kept her."

RUSSIA: Looking Back on Perestroika

The publication of a book on perestroika by Mikhail Gorbachev 21 years after he launched it has led to a new debate - and more misgivings - about the restructuring.

TRADE: EU Proposes Measures to Tackle Globalisation

The European Union has announced details of how it will allocate 500 million euros (600 million dollars) to combat the effects of globalisation.

HEALTH-EUROPE: Bird Flu Anxiety Soars

The mushrooming of cases of wild birds infected with the avian flu virus in at least seven European Union countries is causing anxiety across the continent, with a dramatic decline in poultry consumption and numerous reports of dead birds.

BALKANS: Serbia Faces Genocide Charge

Hearings began Monday in a case where Serbia and Montenegro stands charged with genocide, crimes of war, and aggression in the 1992-95 conflict.

BALKANS: Tito’s Widow Finally Finds a Roof

More than a quarter of century after the death of former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito, his widow Jovanka (81) has finally got a roof over her head.

CULTURE: A Look Into Bosnian Women’s Lives

Famous for its surprises, the Berlin International Film Festival sprang yet another at the weekend with the announcement that Sarajevo-born Jasmila Zbanic had scooped its top Golden Bear award for her first feature film 'Grbavica' on the legacy of the Balkans war.

POLITICS-ITALY: Development Rises as Election Issue

The elections due in April have raised an Italian paradox of a high number of people committed to international development that combines with particularly low development aid.

BALKANS: Nuclear Energy Needed, But Not Welcome

The energy crisis brought on by reduced deliveries of Russian gas have led to a new debate on building nuclear power plants.

PORTUGAL: Nationality Extended to Second and Third-Generation Immigrants

A new law approved Thursday by the Portuguese parliament which extends the right of nationality to second- and third-generation immigrants is a key step in fighting the social exclusion suffered by many of the roughly 600,000 immigrants and their descendants living in this southern European nation, according to parties along the political spectrum as well as non-governmental organisations.

HEALTH: EU Tightens Measures to Control Bird Flu

European Union experts are calling for calm over the increasing threat of bird flu as the virus continues to spread throughout the bloc.

ENVIRONMENT-PORTUGAL: Dismal Outlook Despite Recent Innovations

There is little good news on the environmental front in Portugal, which has been afflicted by severe drought and forest fires for nearly three years, and is making poor progress towards climate change goals.

MEDIA-RELIGION: Britain Looks Away From the Cartoons

As violence over the Mohammed cartoons continues at scattered locations around the world, Britain has looked away from them in the interest of good race relations.