Topic: Republic of the Congo

2012's 'good news' stories

2012 saw jobs returning to the US, health concerns improve in historic numbers, and more.

USA vs. Spain: A sneak preview of gold medal match?

USA vs. Spain: The Americans basketball team beat Spain 100-78 Tuesday night. These are best two teams in the world and USA vs. Spain is the expected pairing in the Aug. 12 gold-medal game.

Spurs and Thunder star in NBA’s Western Conference Finals: 10 extra dimensions

The clash of the Spurs and Thunder in the NBA’s Western Conference finals may fly a bit under the national radar when it opens Sunday. Here are 10 factors that make this showdown intriguing.

Keep Calm
Death toll from blasts in Congo Brazzaville reflects bad urban planning

This disaster could have been averted by shifting rural newcomers to Congo Brazzaville to safer neighborhoods, and away from a dangerous site like the arms depot that blew up Sunday.  

Africa Monitor
Fear of military subversion in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Former military leaders and a failed presidential candidate all pose threats to unity of Democratic Republic of Congo military, says guest blogger Fidel Bafilemba.

Africa Monitor
Eastern Congo braces for election results

Guest blogger Laura Heaton writes that vote tallies indicate incumbent President Joseph Kabila remains the frontrunner, but there is a chance of violence if Kabila is declared the winner.

Global News Blog
Good Reads: Flawed elections in Congo, and voters protest Putin in Russia

Polling results will be announced today in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but 'massive' irregularities may undermine credibility; and Russian voters rebuke leader Vladimir Putin.

Africa Monitor
Catching up on Congo elections

Guest blogger Jason Stearns recaps some of the recent developments leading up to the Democratic Republic of the Congo's elections, scheduled for next month.

South Africa's new Internet cable link could bring economic boom

A new $650 million cable system connecting southern Africa with West Africa and Europe will double the capacity of South Africa's mobile phone and Internet networks.

Africa Monitor
This Week in the Great Lakes: Congo and UN tango over child soldiers while US preaches engagement

A holiday season roundup of this week's news from Africa's Great Lakes region: women march in the Congo for more legal action against rapists, Rwandan journalists petition for changes to defamation laws, and Al Shabab remains a threat in Burundi.

Africa Monitor
This week in the Great Lakes: Rwanda expands beyond gorilla tourism

A roundup of this week's news from Africa's Great Lakes region, from Rwanda's shift to English language education and Uganda's missing journalist to allegations of corruption by Congolese generals in the nation's gold mining industry.

Bastille Day features Paris parade, but no presidential garden party

Bastille Day in France becomes a less lavish affair this year, as the country tries to keep a lid on spending.

Bushmeat smuggling widespread in Paris; 5 tons smuggled in weekly

Bushmeat - monkeys, giant rats, anteaters - are illegally transferred in to Paris in large amounts. Estimates up to 5 tons per week.

Beware the Ides of March? A look at March 15 in history

Julius Caesar was forewarned about the "Ides of March." March 15 wasn't his best day.

African countries pledge aid to Haiti, but can they really afford it?

Leaders pledged aid to Haiti this week at an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but the reaction among average Africans has been mixed. In Congo, news of the $2.5 million aid pledge sparked demonstrations.

Where rich countries are buying farmland

Saudi Arabia has cut several deals, most recently in Tanzania

The day I got stuck in the Congo and called Car Talk

Fortunately, Click and Clack knew the difference between the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, and a carburetor.

Bright Green
What does Bigfoot mean to us?

We want to believe that there remain some places on earth that are truly wild.

World

Bright Green
Conservationists uncover 'mother lode' of gorillas in Africa

A census in the north of the Republic of the Congo has discovered 125,000 previously uncounted western lowland gorillas, more than doubling the previous estimated worldwide population of the great ape subspecies.

Refugees find refuge as college students in Vermont

Champlain College awards scholarships to Rwandans, Vietnamese, and others, enriching recipients and fellow students.