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Focuses on the election of Robert Mugabe to the presidency of Zimbabwe, and whether the opposition will challenge the election. Outlook for democracy in Africa and for a challenge to the election from opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai; Authoritarianism of the government of Mugabe.

Discusses potential physical dangers involved with flying for long periods of time. Description of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which blood clots form due to long periods of immobility; Other potential problems, including high levels of cosmic radiation and questionable cabin air quality; Comments from major airlines.

Examines the impact of public fears about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) on European beef consumption. Why European consumers are eating less beef; Alternative meats which are gaining popularity; Measures taken by the European Union to stop the epidemic; Economic impact of lowered demand for beef; Health factors associated with consumption of different meats; Increase in sales of organic beef and other organic crops; How this could affect national cuisines. INSETS: No Beef? Try Ostrich, by Stacey Vanek Smith;A Tale of Two Restaurants.

Profiles J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series. Popularity of Harry Potter books, which caused 'The New York Times' to alter its best-seller list; Reactions of children to the books, and their ability to relate to Harry Potter; Outlook for Rowling, who will write three more books featuring the character. INSET: 'Harry Is an Old Soul'.

Focuses on the trend of interactive toys in the European toy market. Success of the electronic toy market; Effect that interactive toys are having on Europe's toy companies; Prices of the electronic toys; Desire of parents to find toys that both amuse and teach.

Presents world news briefs as of May 28, 2001. Plans of United States President George W. Bush's energy strategy; Violence between ethnic Albanians and Yugoslavian security forces in Serbia; Release of child soldiers in Sierra Leone; Others.

Presents world news briefs as of May 27, 2002. Agreement between Russia and the U.S. for a reduction of nuclear arsenals; Re-election of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern; Victory of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and his party in the Sierra Leone elections; Visit of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Cuba; Others.

Presents international news briefs as of May 13, 2002. Release of Yasser Arafat from his headquarters in Ramallah and his condemnation of an Israeli siege at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem; Car bomb which was set by the separatist group ETA in Madrid, Spain; Efforts of officials in Germany to seek measures to prevent school shootings; Others.

Presents international news briefs as of March 18, 2002. Casualties in the fighting in Afghanistan; Reaction to tariffs on steel imports imposed by U.S. President George W. Bush; Report that a Pakistani cab driver has linked Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh to the kidnapping and murder of U.S. reporter Daniel Pearl; Others.

Offers international news briefs as of December 10, 2001. Military assault on the Taliban using United States ground troops; Anti-terrorism investigations in three countries which led to the arrests of more alleged al-Qaeda collaborators; Break-up of an international child-pornography ring; Spread of AIDS in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union; More.

Presents news briefs related to politics and government around the world, as of November 26, 2001. Creation of a post-Taliban government in Afghanistan; Approval of a package of constitutional amendments by the parliament of Macedonia; Conclusion of nuclear weapons talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States President George W. Bush; Release of children detained after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda; Others.

Presents news briefs on world topics as of April 30, 2001. Battles between Israelis and Palestinians; Ban on human reproductive cloning in Britain; Political protests by students at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia which turned into riots; More.

Recounts violence in the Arab-Israeli conflict which is considered the worst since the beginning of the Aqsa intifadeh. Attacks by both sides which left 50 dead; Way that Israeli tanks fired on Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah; Plans for a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs.

Focuses on the war-crimes trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic at the international war-crimes tribunal in the Hague. Allegations that Milosevic purged former Yugoslavia of non-Serbs; Actions of Milosevic in his defense; Plan of Milosevic to call witnesses, including U.S. President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Sentences Milosevic could receive if found guilty.

Discusses the explosions at a military barracks and arms depot in Lagos, Nigeria in which more than 1,000 people were killed. Numbers of people trying to evacuate who drowned in canals; Anger addressed at Nigeria's government for its past failure to move the armory away from civilians' homes; Discrepancies regarding what started the explosions.

Reports on laws passed in Zimbabwe under President Robert Mugabe in an attempt to hold on to power. Discussion of the Public Order and Security Act, passed with help from Mugabe, who called his opponents terrorists; Bans on foreign correspondents and independent election monitors; Victories in Parliament by the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Morgan Tsvangirai.

Focuses on international response to the United States-led bombardment of Afghanistan. Response of the United Nations; Objections raised to the use of cluster bombs; Efforts of British Prime Minister Tony Blair to bolster support for the military campaign by visiting Middle Eastern countries such as Syria; Mention of anti-American protests in Pakistan.

Reports on humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. Refugees fleeing major cities as the United States launches bombing raids against the Taliban regime; Fears that the World Food Program's operations shipping wheat to Afghans could be interrupted.

Discusses the United States military strikes against the Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Goal of the raids, including ending operations of terror suspect Osama bin Laden; Details of the campaign; How the military action set off anti-American protests in Islamic countries; Political response; Focus on building a post-Taliban government.

Presents world news briefs as of October 19, 2001. Statements which have been made by political leaders concerning the campaign against terrorism; Inquiry into the Russian passenger plane that crashed into the Black Sea; Attempts to re-establish control in contested areas in Macedonia; Others.

Discusses the international effort led by the United States to end terrorism. Buildup of U.S. and British military forces in Afghanistan; Why the campaign against terrorism, code-named 'Operation Enduring Freedom,' could last for years; Strategy which includes action on diplomatic, military and financial fronts.

Discusses the uncertainty of stock markets worldwide following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Failure of interest rate cuts by the world's central banks to ease uncertainty; Influences on the market, including the economic crisis of the airlines; Stocks which rose; View by analysts concerning a recession; Investigations into short selling just before the attacks.

Focuses on memorial services from around the world held in honor of those who died in terrorist attacks against the United States in September, 2001. Description of memorials in Ireland, Iran and other countries; Comments from people who do not sympathize with the U.S.; International losses in the attacks.