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The article discusses the plans of several nations, including the U.S., India, and China, to send expeditions to further explore the moon. Details about the first race to the moon between the U.S and the Soviet Union are provided. The effect of globalization on this second moon race is also explored and the differences between the two moon races are examined.

An aerial photograph is presented of Canada's Northwest Passage.

The article focuses on the investigation into the death of Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko, who lived in London, England. Plutonium was discovered in his body and caused his hair to fall out, his body to shrink and his bone marrow was failing. On his deathbed, Litvinenko said his death had been ordered by Russian president Vladimir Putin. Details are given concerning motive, opportunity and who could have had the means to carry this out.

Focuses on the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan and its effect on the future of nuclear weapons. Description of the bombing by those who were on the B-29 bomber called the Enola Gay; How the bomb ended the war; Conflict regarding nuclear weapons and who should have them; Difficulty of making nuclear bombs; Efforts to curtail the spread of nuclear weapons; Speculation about the nuclear weapons that may have been developed in foreign countries.

Looks at Condoleezza Rice and her dazzling of audiences abroad. Evidence that the new Secretary of State has consolidated her power as the chief exponent of the Administration's foreign policy; Belief her best asset is her direct line to President George W. Bush with whom she is very close; Actions she has taken to calm the U.S. position towards Hizballah in Lebanon and leading the push for reform in the Middle East.

Focuses on the highly contested Ukrainian elections between Moscow-supported candidate Viktor Yanukovych and the Western-favored opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko. Widespread accusations of election fraud and voter intimidation; Protests launched by Yushchenko supporters, who refused to accept the results of the election declaring Yanukovych the Prime Minister; Nonbinding vote passed by the Ukrainian parliament declaring the election results invalid.

Describes the conditions at the U.S. military detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Significance of the description of the detainees as enemy combatants; Numbers of detainees held at the base; Descriptions of everyday living conditions in the camp; Interest of the U.S. Supreme Court in the rights of detainees; Comments by attorney Thomas Wilner, who represents several detainees whose case will be heard by the Supreme Court.

Discusses the role of Russian President Vladimir Putin with regards to the crisis in a Moscow theater where Chechen rebels held Russian civilians hostage. Significance of the statements issued by Putin about the crisis; Controversy about the decision to use gas to stop the rebels; Criticism of the ways that the Russian government dealt with the problem; Use of nationalism to build support for an offensive in Chechnya.

Examines the rescue attempt made by the Russian government to free hostages taken by Chechen terrorists. Terrorist group's demand that Russian President Vladimir Putin put an end to the war in Chechnya; Use of a sleeping gas in order to immobilize gunmen; Number of civilians who survived, were injured, or died in the altercation; Speculation that the raid may cause debate over Putin's war in Chechnya.

Reports on the sinking of the Kursk, a Russian nuclear submarine. Speculation as to the events during and after the explosion that crippled the submarine; Public statements made by Russian officials concerning the accident; Idea that the submarine may have collided with another vessel; Difficulty of the rescue operation, which found no survivors.

Profiles former KGB agent and president of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Description of him as a nonentity with ambiguous political views; Biographical information; Career highlights; His relationship with Boris Yeltsin; Reaction to Yeltsin's appointment of Putin as Acting President; His paternalistic brand of capitalism.

Focuses on the resignation of Russia's President Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin in December 1999. Prime Minister Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin as acting president until the March 26, 2000 elections; Reason for the resignation; Guarantees for Yeltsin and members of his Family; Putin's platform on the military, the economy, and corruption; Background and career highlights of each.

Offers information on alleged money laundering through the Bank of New York, mob operations and political corruption in Russia as of September 1999. Details of the money laundering scandal; The corruption as a United States symbol of reform gone wrong; History of US assistance to Russia; Anticipated use of Russia in 2000 presidential campaigns; Outlook. INSETS: Take the Money and Run: Four Scandals;How to Wash a Billion Dollars.

Contends that, for the time being, most of Russia's citizens have their faith pinned on Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin, the Russian leader who never aspired to the role of Sun President. Lack of political institutions to ensure continuity of reform;Need for a new constitution; Meeting of the People's Deputies; Breaking the deadlock between rival branches of power; Resolving the paradox; Figures on the members of the C.I.S., non-members and troubled areas.

Recounts the resignation speech of Mikhail Gorbachev in which he conceded that while the reforms begun in 1985 were `historically correct,' that `many of the things that we did could have been done better.' The Soviet Union has been swept away by the forces Gorbachev set in motion and then could not control. US recognition of the 12 new countries and 11-member Commonwealth of Independent States; International concern over fighting in Georgia; Nuclear weapons.

Speculates on the possibility of Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network al-Qaeda obtaining nuclear weapons. Concern over Pakistani nuclear expert Bashiruddin Mahmood and his relations with the Taliban; Attempts of bin Laden to acquire nuclear arms; Why the nuclear risk remains high; Role of Russia and the former Soviet states; Discussion of the so-called dirty bomb; Complications of launching a nuclear attack.

Examines the reasons for hatred toward the United States. The grievances over U.S. policy in the Middle East, as well as centuries of military campaigns against Muslims; View that the distaste extends beyond Arab radicals to large numbers of temperate Arabs; Accusations that the U.S. often acts out of selfish interests; How colonialism and Western modernity have nurtured Islamic fundamentalism.

Discusses the civil war in Chechnya as Chechen rebels stall the Russian offensive. How the conflict might affect Russia's Acting President Vladimir Putin's political status; Description of the guerrillas hit-and-run tactics against the Russian military; Efforts of Aslan Maskhadov to force the Russians back to negotiations and win recognition of Chechnya's independence.

Discusses the Russian military mobilization into Chechnya, a predomiantely Islamic state. Russia's undeclared war with the republic; Chechnya's determination to secede from Russia; Concern that the conflict will escalate; Corruption in the military; Kremlin's politics of survival; How the invasion plan was leaked to the press.

Highlights three top capitalists that are in a battle that involves wealth and power in postcommunist Russia as of October 20, 1997. Boris Berezovsky; Vladimir Gusinsky; Vladimir Potanin; Net worth of each; Background; Source of wealth; The struggle between the business tycoon and the government.

Discusses changes made to the Russian government by President Boris Yeltsin in late March 1998. Suggested reason why he fired Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin and his entire Cabinet; The suggestion that he wanted to broadcast that he is still in power; People fired and hired. INSET: The job just got harder for Boris' handlers, by Paul Quinn-Judge.

The article focuses on economic conditions in Russia. The rise in petroleum prices in the 2000s contributed to significant growth and prosperity in that country during the decade. The collapse of oil prices in the second half of 2008 along with the financial crisis has caused major disruption to Russia's economy. Foreign investment is needed to diversify it from a reliance on energy industries.

The article discusses the fighting between Russia and Georgia. The article mentions how Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin strengthened Russia's military, and how Russia provoked Georgia in the weeks leading up to the war. The conflict had been developing for years, according to the article, due to feelings in Russia that the U.S. ignores their views, and embarrassments like Kosovo's declaration of independence.

The article reports on the dictatorship prevalent in the regime of president Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus. Nikolai Statkevich, leader of the opposition Social Democratic party, has been imprisoned on political charges. It won't be easy for Belarusians to free themselves from the dictatorship. The opposition parties are not allowed to publish newspapers and they face police harassment. As long as Lukashenko is President, real freedom will remain elusive for Statkevich and other Belarusians

The article reports that 330 people including 156 children and 26 terrorists died and more than 700 were wounded when the Russian Armed Forces attacked Chechen rebels to free Beslan School hostages in Beslan, Russia. President Vladimir Putin pledged to strengthen his security services and mobilize the nation against the total, cruel and full-scale war being waged on Russia by international terrorism.

The article discusses how neo-Nazi groups are spreading terror in Russia. These groups have modeled themselves on the terrorist outfit al-Qaeda. Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has pledged to eliminate terror centers run by neo-Nazi groups. Yuri Belyayev, leader of the neo-Nazi Freedom Party, says that the country is disintegrating under the influx of nonwhite immigrants.

The article reports that Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested by armed Russian state security officials and the prosecutors froze 44% of Yukos stock worth some $13 billion. After the arrest of Khodorkovsky, Moscow stock market tumbled 11% in one of its biggest one-day declines since the debt crisis of 1998. President Vladimir Putin, assumed to be behind the arrest, backed the prosecution and refused to meet with Russia's outraged billionaire oligarchs. INSETS: Just Business as Usual;THE KREMLIN HARD-LINERS.

The article reports on the move of several nations to send forces to Iraq. Serving alongside 2,300 Polish soldiers will be 1,600 soldiers from Ukraine, 1,300 from Spain, 470 from Bulgaria, 300 from Hungary, 220 from Romania and 100 from Latvia, as well as about 1,200 from countries in Central America. For Poland, the country in charge, the mission is seen as a declaration of the country's arrival as a power to be reckoned with.

The article focuses on the case of French actress Marie Trintignant dying after a fight with her rock-star boyfriend Bertrand Cantat. Trintignant's tragedy focused new attention on domestic violence in Europe. It highlights two facts that such violence can occur in any relationship and that statistics only hint at the depths of the problem. Studies show that there are factors and situations that influence the tendency toward violence.

Foucses on the role of Christianity and faith in Europe as of 2003. Number of Christians in Europe; How governments are severing ties with religions; How lack of interest in religion does not mean a lack of belief in God; Religious beliefs of immigrants; Accessibility to religion.

Discusses lack of enforcement of smoking law in Europe. Laws that forbid smoking in public places and set up smoking areas in bars, cafés and restaurants that are not enforced; Europeans who die from smoking annually; Percentage of Europeans that smoke; European Court of Justice ruling that will force cigarette makers to lower the levels of tar and nicotine in their products and bars the use of words like 'light' and 'mild' on cigarette packs; Law that will ban tobacco companies from sponsoring international spectator sports; Workplace smoking that is getting banned in Great Britain. INSET: A BURNING ISSUE.

Presents a special report about the siege of a Moscow theater by Chechen rebels. Personal accounts of the survivors; Details of the events; Home-grown terrorism of the Chechens; Why the rebels attacked and what they hoped to achieve; Play-by-play actions of the event as it occurred; What happened when Russian forces stormed the building.

Discusses the proposals for the European Union (E.U.) enlargement treaty supported by the Irish government. Views from protestors of the Nice treaty; Opinions from the public in Eastern and Central Europe; Requirement for members of the E.U. to impose tariffs and workplace regulations; Problems with raising the gross domestic product in Slovenia; Opposition to the enlargement proposals by farmers; Speculation that business and entrepreneurs will succeed in the E.U; Benefits to construction companies and local laborers. INSETS: AFTER THE BIG BANG;HOW CURVED ARE MY BANANAS?.

Focuses on torrential rains that caused deadly floods across Europe. Details of the devastation throughout Central Europe; Question of whether global warming is to blame; Focus on cleaning up and preventing future floods; Economic impact of the drop in tourism; Possibility that Europe's weather may be worsening; Views of experts; Outlook for an increase in extreme weather in Europe.

Discusses the problem of anti-Semitism in Europe. Acts of anti-Semitism in France, Germany, and Russia; Idea that the attacks have risen due to the anger and frustration of Muslims; Belief that Jews are being attacked in acts of revenge on Israel; Sympathy of some European governments to the cause of Palestine.

Discusses the impact of terrorism and war on international trade. Way that the administration of United States President George W. Bush and trade advocates are fighting to resist the historical pattern in which commercial shipping is targeted; Agreements to lower trade barriers and help attract and hold allies to the anti-terrorism campaign; Use of the crisis as a catalyst for Congress to reinstate the President's ability to negotiate trade deals with other countries.

Examines the global alliance which is being assembled by the United States President George W. Bush administration in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. U.S. diplomatic efforts to form an international coalition; Focus on gaining support from Middle East states; Significance of offers of solidarity; Issue of Russian participation; The opportunities for global cooperation. INSET: Us vs. Them: How Bush's Global Coalition Is Shaping Up.

Focuses on the possibilities of tourism in space as of October 2000. Increase of tourism in the world; Companies that are making plans to carry paying passengers into space, including Bristol Spaceplanes; Prediction that regular suborbital tourist trips will be operating by 2004; Reward offered by X-Prize Foundation for the first privately funded team to send a spacecraft capable of taking three people to an altitude of 100 km and returning them to earth within two weeks; Price for space travel.

Focuses on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Support of bank loans to small and medium-sized enterprises; Plans to launch small business financing programs; Question of how the EBRD should operate; Challenges faced by the EBRD.

Reports on the sinking of the Kursk, a Russian nuclear submarine. Speculation as to the events during and after the explosion that crippled the submarine; Public statements made by Russian officials concerning the accident; Idea that the submarine may have collided with another vessel; Difficulty of the rescue operation, which found no survivors. INSETS: A Dream That Is Short of Reality;Divided They Fall.

Focuses on international reaction to a United States national missile defense (NMD) system and the arms race that this could fuel. Amount of money that the Clinton administration has committed to the construction of a limited NMD system; Why European countries and Russia are against such a plan by the US; The countries that pose the biggest threat to international security.

An interview with Russian president Vladimir Putin is presented. When asked about the relationship between the United States and Russia, Putin emphasizes the importance of compromise. Putin comments on how he thinks the U.S. government should deal with the war in Iraq. Putin also comments on the presence of nuclear weapons in North Korea, whether Russia would join the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) if invited to do so, and his religious values.

The article reports on Russian politics and the race for the 2008 Presidential election. Former chess champion Garry Kasparov hopes to impact the election and stands against the policies of current President Vladimir Putin. Specifics of Kasparov's chess accomplishments are covered as well as his disagreements with the 'military-industrial-security' complex.

Clarifies the facts behind what both U.S. President George W. Bush and John Kerry stated during the first 2004 presidential debate. Inaccuracy of Kerry's statement that Bush hasn't put any money into the effort to fix tunnels, bridges and subway systems, as Bush, in fact, has spent 2.3 billion in this area; Exaggeration of Kerry who claimed that Bush is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to research bunker-busting nuclear weapons, as the funding for the program is only $35 million; Clarification of Bush's statement on the number of voting citizens in Afghanistan and the number of trained Iraqi forces.