RIGHTS-TURKEY: Journalist Acquitted, Freedom of Expression Remains Fragile

An Istanbul court has acquitted a Turkish journalist standing trial for "insulting" Turkey's powerful military in a book of interviews with former conscripts of the civil conflict in southeastern Turkey.

FINANCE: IMF Conference Ends, Debt Remains

As the curtains fell at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings, the Jubilee 2000 Campaign presented a monument of the globe to the leaders of the two institutions, to highlight their failure to make a significant move on cancelling the debt of the poorest countries.

/REPEATING FOR POINTS NEEDING/RIGHTS-TURKEY: Government Begins Consultations to Help Eliminate State Abuses

Turkey's government has taken a step toward confronting its dismal human rights record, but critics here charge that it is merely a whitewashing exercise that will provide no relief to beleaguered residents.

RIGHTS-TURKEY: Government Begins Consultations to Help Eliminate State Abuses

Turkey's government has taken a step toward confronting its dismal human rights record, but critics here charge that it is merely a whitewashing exercise that will provide no relief to beleaguered residents.

FINANCE: Can A Leopard Change Its Spots?

International Monetary Fund president, Horst Kohler, says his vision of the institution he has just inherited is one that concentrates more on monitoring the international financial system and less on loan programmes.

FINANCE: Rock Star, Bono, Urges World Bank To Cancel Poor Countries’ Debt

Sometime last year, World Bank president, James Wolfensohn, received a phone call from rock star Bono in which the musician told the official that he did not think much of Wolfensohn nor his institution.

POLITICS-YUGOSLAVIA: Uncertainty Prevails Over Election Results

An electoral earthquake has rocked the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) at all the three sets of polls that are to decide the future president of the country, its federal parliament and local authorities in 189 municipalities in Serbia.

DEVELOPMENT: As “Anarchists” Make Headlines, Report Outlines Resistance in Global South

A new report, released Monday, purports to have "uncovered" a previously undocumented pattern of protests and riots taking place in poor countries against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its policies.

TRADE-EU/ACP: Proposal For Duty-Free Access For World’s Poorest Countries

The European Union (EU) has taken a major step towards fulfilling a pledge to grant unhindered access to its markets for all non-military products from the world's poorest countries, known as the least-developed countries (LDCs).

ARMS-EUROPE: EU Parliament Hosts Day for a Mine Free World

European parliamentarians and campaigners against the production and deployment of landmines Thursday signed a 'Mine Free World' declaration in the European Parliament building here as part of an International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).

MEDIA-RUSSIA: Press Freedom Controversy Deepens

In yet another spate of controversy over Russia's press freedom, former Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev, has accused the government of "blackmail".

POLITICS-YUGOSLAVIA: Elections Viewed as Biggest Test So Far for Milosevic

If the most recent opinion polls here are accurate Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic is on his way out of office.

DEVELOPMENT-EU/ACP: Civil Society Looks At Implementation Of Partnership Agreement

Interest groups can, and must, provide guarantee of transparency and good governance, a conference of social organisations has declared.

POLITICS-ROMANIA: Political Violence Spreads To Romania

The recent slaying of a prominent Romanian trade union leader is the latest in a series of events indicating the spread of political violence in this poor East European country.

SPAIN: ETA Chief Arrested in France

French and Spanish militarised police officers arrested Iñaki de Rentería, considered the head of the illegal Basque separatist organisation ETA, in France Friday, the Spanish foreign ministry reported.

\\CORRECTED DATE\\POLITICS-YUGOSLAVIA: Hectic Electoral Campaign In Yugoslavia

The electoral campaign in Yugoslavia is becoming hectic ahead of the crucial September 24 polls, as both Serbian opposition and Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic appear confident of victory.

POLITICS-YUGOSLAVIA: Hectic Electoral Campaign In Yugoslavia

The electoral campaign in Yugoslavia is becoming hectic ahead of the crucial September 24 polls, as both Serbian opposition and Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic appear confident of victory.

POLITICS-EU/AFRICA: EU Concerned About Conflicts In Africa Says Top Official

The number of conflicts raging in Africa are of great concern to the European Union (EU) because of the adverse effect they have on economic development, says a top EU official.

POLITICS-RUSSIA: Moscow Defends Its Atomic Safety Record

In the aftermath of Kursk submarine disaster, nuclear safety has become an issue, not only of grave international concern, but also of impassioned discussion in Russia.

RIGHTS-ENVIRONMENT: Indigenous Peoples Strive To Influence Global Climate Talks

In a bid to influence the course of global climate talks, a newly established grouping of indigenous peoples, has criticised the industrialised countries for making "a farce" of the negotiations underway in Lyon, France.

POLITICS/EU: Diplomatic Sanctions Against Austria To Be Lifted

Diplomatic sanctions against Austria by the 14 other European Union (EU) member states, imposed in February after Austri a's far-right Freedom Party (FOP) was invited to form a coalition government, could be lifted at any moment.