Europe Archives

PORTUGAL: Last Surviving ‘Secret’ Jewish Community Still Wary of Outsiders

The residents of Europe's last surviving crypto-Jewish community, who live in this village in Portugal's central mountains, are still averse to talking to outsiders.

RIGHTS-EU: Headscarf Fails To Find Protection

By IPS Correspondents

A group of Muslims and Sikhs from across Europe lobbied the European Parliament Wednesday in an attempt to breathe new life into a debate on the right to wear religious symbols in schools..

SPAIN: At Least 100,000 Immigrants Left Out of Amnesty

By IPS Correspondents

Around 100,000 undocumented immigrants did not apply for the amnesty in Spain, according to the government, while the opposition puts the number at one million.

UKRAINE: Another SOS From Chernobyl Victims, 19 Years Later

By Zoltán Dujisin

Ukraine is planning new measures to contain the fallout of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 19 years ago.

RIGHTS-EU: New Member States Slammed over Gender Policies

By IPS Correspondents

Gender equality is cause for concern in many Central and Eastern European countries a year after their accession to the European Union, a report says.

SOCIETY-BALKANS: Tito Raises Questions 25 Years After His Death

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic

On May 4 a quarter of a century ago, an era in the country called Yugoslavia came to an end with the death of its leader of 45 years, Josip Broz Tito.

RIGHTS-RUSSIA: Political Groups Target Jewish People

By IPS Correspondents

A row on religious rights has broken out after deputies from two political parties wrote to the prosecutor-general to ban all religious and ethnic Jewish organisations in Russia.

INT’L LABOUR DAY: Forget Unions, Try This Saint

By IPS Correspondents

Marta, 26, could never find a proper job since she graduated in visual arts. She earns some money from video editing, working eight hours a day, with no paid holidays.

SOCIETY-BALKANS: Time and Dollars Fail to Bring Togetherness

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic

Ten years after the bloody war ended in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the country is far from what peacemakers hoped it would be.

/ARTS WEEKLY/ RUSSIA: Opera Faces Pornography Charges

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

Russian parliamentarians have rallied to impose a ban on the increasingly publicised opera 'The Children of Rosenthal' at the Bolshoi Theatre, a work fresh from the pens of composer Leonid Desyatnikov and prolific writer Vladimir Sorokin.

SOCIETY-BALKANS: Survivors Confront a Legacy of Killings

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic

About 150 survivors of the Jasenovac concentration camp of World War II stood in silence at the memorial for victims here Sunday. They came to recall what had happened here 60 years ago, and to see how memories of those days fed more recent conflicts.

CORRUPTION-EU: The Gravy Train Rolls On

By IPS Correspondents

A leading anti-corruption group has condemned the refusal by the European Parliament to reform its controversial expenses system.

PORTUGAL: Experts Predict Worst Drought in 300 Years

By Mario de Queiroz

April showers bring May flowers, according to the old proverb. But this year in Portugal, April showers are desperately needed to prevent what could develop into the country's worst drought in 300 years.

ENVIRONMENT: Some Chernobyl Clouds Will Not Clear

By Zoltán Dujisin

Almost 20 years have passed since the world's worst nuclear accident, but Chernobyl continues to bring back traumatizing memories for many Ukrainians.

RIGHTS-EU: Govts Hide From Racism

By IPS Correspondents

The under-recording of racist incidents in most European Union member states is hampering efforts to crack down on racist violence, according to a new report from the Union's racism watchdog.

CORRUPTION: One Resignation Is Not Enough

By Pavol Stracansky

Corruption watchdog Transparency International has said the Czech Prime Minister's offer of resignation following a scandal over the financing of a luxury flat will do little to change a widespread public perception that Czech politicians see themselves as "non-accountable".