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Discusses efforts in Russia to bring discipline and focus to the lives of young people. Spending in the federal budget for youth programs; Work of the group Moving Together, which emphasizes rediscovering Russian culture and patriotism and charity work; How the program can give young people a sense of hope and avoid problems like drug addiction.

Discusses media in Chechnya, in light of the idea that 'Groznensky Rabochy,' is the only newspaper in the republic. Social conditions in Chechnya; Rarity of television in Chechnya; Plans of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan for World Press Freedom Day.

Focuses on the takeover of the Hercegovacka Banka, a Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) party bank, by Western officials.

Discusses the effects of the arrest of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic on social conditions in Yugoslavia. Issue of freedom of the press in Yugoslavia; Efforts to convince the media to not cater soley to the government; Outlook for public broadcast laws; Outlook for the 'Politka,' newspaper and the Radio Television Serbia television network.

Discusses war in the Balkans. Discussion of the war of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization against Yugoslav forces; Outlook for the foreign policy of United States President George W. Bush; Actions and beliefs of ethnic Albanians.

Reports on violence in Macedonia. Conflict between ethnic Albanian rebels and police forces; Issue of civil rights for ethnic Albanians; Social conditions in the Balkans.

Reports on the decision of Yugoslavia to send troops into the buffer zone, in light of conflict in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Discusses the social conditions in the former Soviet republic of Georgia and the efforts of the republic to put an end to political corruption.

Discusses the campaign of Russian armed forces in the breakaway republic of Chechnya as of December 11, 2000. Criticism of Russia for its actions in Chechnya; Allegations that Russia, in its attempt to quell the actions of separatist freedom fighters, has infringed on the human rights of civilian Chechens; Statements by Chechens, international aid workers and Russian soldiers; Outlook for the situation.

Focuses on the conditions in Grozny, the capital of the breakaway Russian republic of Chechnya as of December 4, 2000. Continued resistance to Russian troops by Chechan guerrillas; Allegations of wrongdoing by Russian troops in the Chechan campaign; Incidents in which Russian soldiers have been killed; Impact of the war on civilians.

Discusses tensions between Muslim sects in the Fergana Valley in Kyrgyzstan.

Discusses the reactions in Moscow, Russia to the detonation of a bomb in a subway there. Charges by many that militant residents of the breakaway republic of Chechnya are involved; Possibility that Chechens are not involved; Urging of Russian President Vladimir Putin not to blame the Chechens immediately; Information on the bomb including casualties and injuries.

Reports on the social effect in Iran of a book entitled 'The Red Eminence and the Gray Eminences,' which was written by investigative journalist Akbar Ganji. Political and social conditions in Iran; Imprisonment of Ganji; Growing discontentment with the Islamic government of Iran; Charges of political oppression.

Focuses on social forces that are transforming Iran into a freer society.

Focuses on the collapse of Serbian influence in Kosovo due to ethnic Albanian revenge attacks that force Serbs to leave their Orthodox Holy Land in the town of Pec. Comments of Reverend Jovan Culibrk; Summary of the war in Kosovo; How numerous churches and monasteries in Kosovo have been destroyed by ethnic Albanians.

Details how oil has torn at the Middle East's social fabric in such a way that many in wealthy countries have adopted a more materialistic lifestyle. How oil has been a key factor in determining which countries lead the Arab world; Egypt's role in the peace process in the Arab countries; How people have left their homelands to chance after better jobs in the oil-rich states; How some see the wealth as an opportunity to restore some balance.

Focuses on the aftermath of the violent protests in Iran during the summer of 1999. How it is unclear what will happen in the battle between hard-liners and moderate reformists; Troubles trying to reform Iran's political system; Stance of President Mohammad Khatami; Importance of Iran's power struggle; Comments of Sadiq Zibakalam, a political scientist at the University of Tehran; Prospects of a Khatami victory.

Details that the battle for control of Iran's future is being fought by university students. Specifics of student protests in Iran; Power struggle between conservative Islamic clerics and the reformist followers of President Mohammad Khatami; Governmental anxiety; How the key to keeping Khatami's agenda high in the public eye has been support by popular, moderate newspapers.

Discusses efforts to resume peacetalks between Israel and Syria. 1967 war that forced Syrians out of the Golan Heights; Example of Abdulmajid Faouri's family; Allowance of Golan students to study in Syria safely; Opportunities for limited communal meetings, including cross-border weddings.

Describes the influence of the United States on Iranian culture. Popularity of the Barbie doll among Iranian girls; Barbie sold on the open market; Barbie part of a cultural invasion opposed by Iranian officials; Production of an Iranian alternative to Barbie, a doll named Sara and her brother Dara; Comments from Jill Barad, of Mattel Inc., Barbie's maker; Other Western influences on Iran; Description of Sara and Dara's features.

Remarks on the social changes occurring in Iran in the late 1990s. The decline of anti-United States fervor, which reached its peak with the takeover of the American Embassy in Iran in 1979; History of the tension between Iran and the US; Actions taken by the US in Iran which fostered extremism; The Islamic revolution and its emphasis on defeating the US; Why Iran cannot isolate itself from the world's only superpower in 1999.

Discusses issues surrounding the reaction of Iraq's delegation at an Arab League foreign ministers' meeting in January 1999. Indications of a new degree of Iraqi isolation in the Arab world; When United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will visit Egypt and then Saudi Arabia; The firing of missiles in both the northern and southern Iraq no-fly zones, according to the US Pentagon.

Tells the story of Al-Fateh Omar Hussein, a member of the Popular Defense Forces in Sudan who proudly died as a Muslim martyr in 1993. How his story exemplifies the role that religion is playing in the long and costly civil war; The famine which has been attributed to the civil war; What the Popular Defense Forces is; The role that faith plays in Islamic governments; The motivation of martyrdom for fighters seeking to defend their family and faith.

Presents information on the psychological impact of the Iraqi invasion on Kuwait in 1990, on residents of Kuwait. Fear of Saddam Hussein's power; Desired changes in American policy to Kuwait; Role of the United States in Kuwait; Comments from Mohammed al-Rumania, editor-in-chief of Al-Arabi magazine.

Focuses on changes in Qatar since the ousting of the Old Guard in 1995. Information about Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who took power from his father in 1995; Importance of Qatar to the United States (U.S.); Information on the takeover in 1995; How the U.S. supports Qatar.

Opinion. Comments on public displays of affection in Iran. Information on war in Iran; Statement from an American-educated government official; Reference to terrorism in Iran.

Reports on the Iraqi Kurdistan crisis and its impact on American strategic interests. Geopolitical significance of the crisis; Interest in the safeguarding of oil-producing states that on the Kurds' welfare.

Reports on the growing disenchantment of Kurdish people to the United States' promise of protection after American missile strikes upon southern Iraq in September 1996 prompted by Saddam Hussein's attack on rebel Kurds in the northern zone. Suggestions of Washington oil policy taking precedence over protecting Kurds; Growing split between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

Focuses on social conditions in Saudi Arabia. Contrasts in Saudi society; Economic development brought about by oil; Similarities and differences with Iran.

Reports on Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new peace policy. Netanyahu's criticisms against the peace deals agreed to by previous Israeli governments; Rejection of the American-backed land-for-peace formula; Efforts to ease the closure of the West Bank and Gaza.

Focuses on the social conditions of Americans in Saudi Arabia. Cultural contrast and conflict; Bomb attack in Riyadh killing 19 American servicemen; Concern over lack of information about the Saudi regime; Safety concerns; Social codes of Saudi Arabia; Contact between locals and the Americans.

Reports on the religious conflict that is slowly emerging in the oil-rich country of Saudi Arabia. Opposing views of the government-backed authorities of the Islamic establishment and Muslim extermists concerning terrorist bombings directed toward American troops in Saudi Arabia; Accusation of corruption and anti-Islamic behavior of the ruling family of King Fahd; Possibility of Iran's involvement in terrorism.

Discusses the effect of the terrorist bombing of American forces in Dharan, Saudi Arabia on the image of stability of Saudi. Increased effort from the Saudi Arabian monarchy to step up its fight against internal Islamic militants; Goal behind the bombings; Response from the United States.

Focuses on the Peace Corps in Jordan. How Jordan is the only country in the Middle East where the Peace Corps is welcome; The role that Queen Noor, wife of King Hussein, has played in bringing the Peace Corps to Jordan; The continuing tension in the Middle East, and how that impacts the Corps; How the Corps volunteers handled the changes they faced when they came to Jordan; What they must do to achieve true integration with Jordanians.

Focuses on the Jameah newspaper in Tehran, Iran. Right-wing clerics who want to shut it down; The paper as President Mohamad Khatami's promise to liberalize the press; The paper as being feared by conservative clerics; Examples of the types of articles the paper prints.

Reports that Iran has begun relaxing some of its cultural restrictions after the election of President Mohamad Khatami in 1997. The release of previously censored movies by Iranian filmmakers; Abbas Kiarostami, winner of the Golden Palm at the Cannes festival in May of 1997; The movie `Snowman,' directed by Davoud Mirbaqeri; Plot of `Snowman'; Audience reaction to release of censored movies.

Focuses on the third district of the city of Amman, Jordan, in which one finds both wealth and poverty in the form of Western consumerism and Palestinian refugees. The dream of most poor in Amman to experience the Western life; The growing apathy among the poor about the possibility of change; How the government has responded.

Focuses on Algeria in October of 1997 in the aftermath of an August massacre by the Armed Islamic Group which killed as many as 500 people. How the citizens of Rais, Algeria have responded to the massacre; People that have died since 1991 when the government cancelled elections that the Islamic Salvation Front was set to win; The belief by people in Rais that the massacre could have been prevented; Outlook.

Discusses the status of the Middle East peace process. The damage caused by three suicide bombs in Jerusalem; Questioning as to whether or not US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will visit the area; Reaction to the bombings.