POLITICS-YUGOSLVIA: Suicide ‘Epidemic’ Sweeps Serbia

Suicides have hit alarming levels in Serbia this year. Experts are calling it an unprecedented crisis in Serb society.

ENVIRONMENT: Italy Suffers Worst Drought in 80 Years

Italy is suffering one of its worst droughts in history, the result of a hot, dry summer that followed one of the driest winters in 80 years, and of a rundown water distribution system - a "veritable sieve" according to one expert - that loses a full 40 percent of the water it carries.

POLITICS-RUSSIA: Chemical Disaster in the Unmaking

Russia is running short of money to destroy its huge stockpile of chemical weapons. In the absence of substantial help from the U.S., it is looking to its own resources for destruction of the weapons, says Sergei Kiriyenko, former prime minister now heading the state commission on chemical disarmament.

IMMIGRATION-PORTUGAL: A Wave of Workers from the East

Portugal has long been the destination of immigrants from its former colonies in Africa and Latin America, but today is increasingly chosen by people from Eastern Europe who are leaving their own countries in search of a better standard of living.

POLITICS-FRANCE: French Watergate Suspects Face Prosecution

The decision by the French judiciary to prosecute the aides of former President Francois Mitterand for the illegal recording of the private telephone calls is a reminder of the bleak political practices of the controversial leftist leader.

POLITICS-BRITAIN: The Queen did not Give as Good as She Got

Some of them were, maybe, gifts fit for a Queen. But the exhibition of gifts to Britain's Queen Elizabeth that went on show for the first time at Buckingham Palace Sunday show that they came as messages of goodwill, but also of much else.

RIGHTS-FRANCE: Doors Closing on Asylum Seekers

The French government is proposing measures to let in fewer asylum seekers and to get failed applicants out faster.

POLITICS-FRANCE: Public Pressure Halts Price Hikes Of Services

Pressure from consumers, unions and opposition parties have forced the French right wing government to stop planned tariffs hikes of electricity and other public services.

RIGHTS-YUGOSLAVIA: Human Rights Record May Hinder EU Integration

The integration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) into European institutions is still a long way away despite some progress made since the fall of the Slobodan Milosevic regime two years ago, human rights groups say.

TRADE: WTO Review Condemns Europe’s Farm Policy

The protectionist stance of the European Union (EU) has hampered the expansion of agriculture in developing countries, say World Trade Organisation (WTO) member states in a study of the bloc's policies.

GIBRALTAR: Referendum on Shared Sovereignty with Spain

Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana announced Thursday plans to hold a referendum in October to allow the residents to express their views on the question of shared British-Spanish sovereignty over the rocky outcrop at the southern tip of Spain.

ENVIRONMENT-RUSSIA: Oil Rush Brings New Threats

Russian authorities have decided to proceed with construction of the world's biggest plant for liquefied natural gas on Sakhalin Island despite concerns that it will cause widespread environmental damage - and despite the lack of committed buyers.

POLITICS-YUGOSLAVIA: Serbia To Hold Early Elections

Although the five year term of incumbent Serbian President Milan Milutinovic only expires at the end of the year, the ruling (Democratic Opposition of Serbia) DOS coalition has decided to call for early presidential elections on September 29.

POLITICS-FRANCE: Russia and Angola Villains No More

The new government has set aside human rights concerns to look for new business opportunities with Russia and Angola.

ECONOMY-FRANCE: Chirac Takes On EU Over Subsidies

The new government in France has taken on the European Union in insisting on massive subsidies for farmers.

RIGHTS-SLOVAKIA: Move to Make Communism a Crime

Nearly thirteen years after the fall of communism in eastern Europe, the Slovak parliament has passed a new bill that makes support for communist ideology a criminal offence.

TRADE-YUGOSLAVIA: Serbia Slow to Stop Music Piracy

A raid on a music store on the outskirts of Belgrade this week led to seizure of 750,000 illegally copied CDs. "This was the biggest illegal outlet in the region and maybe in Europe," says police chief Jadranko Petkovic. But it was only the large tip of an iceberg.

RIGHTS-RUSSIA: A Million Children in Illegal Work

Mitya is 12, but looks older. He fled from his alcoholic parents to begin a career working at a gas station near Severyanin bridge in Moscow.

ECONOMY-YUGOSLAVIA: Troubled Privatisation for Kosovo

The United Nations Mission in Kosovo is preparing to privatise hundreds of state-owned enterprises in a push towards market economy.

POLITICS-FRANCE: Tough on Crime, Tough on Children

The new government is facing strong opposition from human rights groups and law experts over plans for punishing children.

POLITICS-FRANCE: New Plans to Drop Corruption Charges

The new right-wing government is preparing an amnesty in corruption cases to protect some of its most prominent members, according to government sources.