African officials and the U.N. announce a new “framework” to tackle instability in the Congo, South Korea’s first-female …
Congo
Is Rwanda Backing Rebels Led by a War Criminal in Congo?
A U.N. report accuses Rwanda of recruiting and arming rebels in Congo led by a commander who’s been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, casting a shadow over President Paul Kagame’s sterling reputation in the West
30
Ukraine’s Eurovision Selection Marred by Right-Wing Racism
In the opening bars of “Be My Guest” — Ukraine’s entry for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest — the Ukrainian surma horn suggests that something highly traditional is about to unfold. Within 15 seconds, however, strains of …
Must-Reads from Around the World: February 15, 2012
Nuclear Achievements - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad confirmed additions to the country’s nuclear program Wednesday. The Daily Telegraph reports Iran’s state television unveiled faster carbon fiber centrifuges and fuel …
Must Reads from Around the World: Feb. 6, 2012
Human Rights Under Threat: Five Not-So-Usual Suspects
Human Rights Watch this week released its 2012 World Report. The 676-page write-up covers some of the biggest stories of the year, including China’s crackdown on dissent, ongoing attacks on civilians in the Democratic Republic …
Congo’s Election Chaos: When Having the Vote Fixes Nothing
When the Democratic Republic of Congo held its first multiparty general election for 41 years in 2006, the event was hailed as a milestone on the slow march out of civil war and towards functionality for the world’s largest failed state. Five years later, as the country holds another poll, the naivete of the Western belief in …
Rape as a Weapon of War: Men Suffer, Too
It’s talked about in whispers, if at all. But men and boys are all-too frequently subjected to sexual violence, particularly in times of conflict, forced confinement or war. The problem is persistent and global. For the most part, though, nobody wants to talk about it. Over the last few months, however, a handful of reports from West …
