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More than 100 Orthodox rabbis gathered in Vienna this week to find ways to revive Jewish life in eastern and central European communities. Many communities are still recovering from the devastation of World War II and the repression during four decades of communism. European Commission President Romano Prodi also attended the conference, which has been dealing with education and support for Jewish communities - mainly in the former communist countries. Eduard Serotta is a filmmaker and photographer who's Vienna based Centropa organisation researches

A much higher percentage of women than men finish their science degrees in central and Eastern Europe - but only a fraction of those women go on to hold positions as researchers or professors in the scientific world. That's according to a report from the European Commission. Their expert group known as ENWISE wants to why women in Central and Eastern Europe are not more represented in Science.

The 100th anniversary of the premier of Leos Janacek's opera "Jenufa" is being celebrated at a Janacek festival in the Moravian city of Brno. One of those attending the festival is the Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, who has done much to champion Janacek's music around the world. Sir Charles spoke to Radio Prague about why Janacek enjoys popularity abroad, but is less well liked at home.

As few as 20 thousand people, the remnants of the pre-war 3 million Jewish population, live in Poland today - including the tiny community in southern city of Kraków. They want to save their cultural heritage for posterity. But the revival hasn't been easy

The British Imperial Tobacco Company has decided to close their factory in Slovenia - with the loss of over 200 jobs. But it's not so much the amount of jobs cuts that is worrying some experts. Rather that the closure could be a sign of a growing trend in foreign owned companies which are closing factories in the EU accession countries - in order to move to cheaper labour markets elsewhere. But are the fears justified?

The Slovenian parliament ratified the European Union accession treaty this week - making it possible for the former Yugoslav republic to join the EU family. This was the last formal step before membership in May.

A report in a Czech newspaper detailing plans to modernise the 1000-year-old Prague Castle complex caused a minor stir this week. The paper claimed the plans included everything from new shops and restaurants to a hairdressers and even a branch of McDonald's! The article hasn't gone down well with the President's Office, which accuses the newspaper of blowing things out of proportion.

Forty years ago a building boom in Austria created a demand for workers that could not be met locally. So in 1964 Vienna signed a labour agreement with Turkey and two years later with Yugoslavia. It was the beginning of what is now known as the gastarbeiter - the guest worker. The story of those workers and their children is now being explored in a series of exhibitions in Vienna.

The Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski travelled to the United States this week, not only to bask in the glory of being America's closest European ally, but also to stir up some trouble. Poland says Washington should reward Warsaw for its all-out support in Iraq - but points out it has so far gained few benefits. Its biggest complaint is about controls and visa regulations for Poles are trying to enter the US. Poland says these should be scrapped.

A dispute over an anti-discrimination law - or rather the lack of one - is keeping politicians busy in Slovakia. European Parliament officials have warned Slovakia and other states who are about to become members that if they do not approve anti-discrimination legislation by the end of the year, they may face sanctions from the Brussels.