Romania hits rock bottom
Romania's transition to democracy, like its economy, has sunk to unprecedented depths as the latest elections so flagrantly show, writes Gavin Bowd

Laying Chernobyl to rest
Switching off Chernobyl's last nuclear reactor sparked a raging controversy among scientists and politicians. Mona Abdel-Malek Khalil writes from Moscow

Hoping against hell
Last year, Africa finally rose in unity to confront AIDS. However, Gamal Nkrumah argues that only by tackling the problem in conjunction with alleviating poverty and underdevelopment can the continent ensure its survival

Merger madness
Banking mergers in South Korea threaten to make thousands redundant, but workers in the capital Seoul are fighting back, writes Faiza Rady

No holiday recess
A very nasty man
Coup de grâce
Unusual suspects
Spy world