RIGHTS: French Soil is Not For Refugees

At least the actors who play the role of asylum-seekers are privileged; their feet never touch the ground.

HEALTH-RUSSIA: More Hope for the Disabled This Year

Life could get better for Russia's disabled this year despite some recent disasters.

LABOUR-FRANCE: Workers March for a Welfare State

Unions took the French government head on Tuesday through scores of protests around the country to demand their dues in a welfare state.

POLITICS-BRITAIN: Black Woman in Historic Rise to Cabinet

As the storm begins to clear over the resignation of former secretary for international development Clare Short, the minorities in Britain are beginning to see the reassuring figure of Lady Amos who has taken her place.

POLITICS-SERBIA: Time for Women to keep the Order

Women have stepped in now where Serbia's most feared men once lived and trained.

ENVIRONMENT-FINLAND: Activists Fight On to Save Forests

The long-awaited verdict in the trial of 13 Greenpeace activists charged with disrupting forest logging in the Kainuu region of east Finland was postponed this week until mid-August.

DEVELOPMENT: EU Stand on Doha Round Challenged

Civil society groups have demanded stronger protection for developing countries in the current round of international trade negotiations.

HEALTH-EU: ‘A Quarter of Europeans are Mentally Ill’

The EU is not doing enough to help almost a quarter of its citizens suffering from mental health illness, according to a report released Thursday.

MEDIA: French Prepare their Answer to BBC and CNN

France is preparing to launch a state-owned international news channel to compete with the British, U.S. and Arab channels that dominate international television.

ECONOMY-EU: ‘Big Bang’ to Untie Clothes from Quotas

The textile and clothing industry is heading for a "big bang" as trade quotas run out by the end of next year, says EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy.

POLITICS: Serbs Look Forward to Their Past

What they fondly named "Yugoslavia" opened May Day. The country is gone, but a nostalgic Blasko Gabric opened a park called Yugoslavia in Subotica, 170 km north of Belgrade.

POLITICS-BRITAIN: Rise of the Right Worries Immigrants

Akhtar Ahmed thought he had moved into a stable and comfortable life when he migrated to Britain 20 years ago. Now he is becoming less and less sure.

ECONOMY-FRANCE: Hard Landing for High-Flying Chirac

French President Jacques Chirac has come down to a hard landing after captivating his country and much of the world with his campaign for peace in Iraq.

POLITICS-SLOVAKIA: The Way to EU is Still Uncertain

Two weeks ahead of a crucial referendum on Slovakia's entry into the European Union, fears are growing over how many will turn out to vote, and whether they know what they will vote for.

/MAY DAY/RUSSIA: Red Fades to a Pale Shade of Pink

May Day celebrations in Russia became a picture of changed times since the Soviet days.

IRAQ: East Europe Looks for its Dollar of Flesh

As the U.S. and Britain look to the spoils of the war in Iraq, some of the countries which backed the coalition campaign against Saddam Hussein's regime are looking for their chance to bid for rebuilding contracts.

/MAY DAY/ SPAIN: Women Bear Brunt of Growing Unemployment

Unemployment in Spain rose to 11.73 percent in the first quarter of this year - the highest rate among the 15 European Union (EU) countries. But women have been hit hardest, according to a new government survey.

EUROPEAN UNION: Not as Simple as Big v. Small, New v. Old

The rift created in the European Union by the largely unilateral U.S. decision to invade Iraq has cut into the debate on the bloc's new Constitution, further complicated as preparations are underway to admit new members, including former socialist countries that are today aligned with Washington.

/MAY DAY/FRANCE: The Spectre of 2020 Haunts Powerful Unions

The Labour Day comes two weeks too early for French unions. They are in the midst of rallying workers against a government plan to deprive them of their well-deserved comfort in old age. Opposition to the planned 'reform' will also be the central issue on May 1 - ahead of what is scheduled to be "a day of action, of protests, and of strikes, to force the government to modify its choices on the issue of pensions".

/MAY DAY/GERMANY: Anger at ‘Agenda 2010’

Perhaps it is hardly surprising that a Pop Song making cruel fun of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder should recently shoot straight to the top of the charts and become Germany's No.1 hit.

POLITICS-SERBIA: Organised Crime Cleaned Up, at a Cost

The state of emergency was lifted in Serbia last week after a massive drive against organised crime under its cover.