Bidding Farewell To The Congo’s ‘Mother And Father’

Last of five parts Travel along the Congo River is not for the faint of heart or the thin of skin. On the barges, the river’s main mode of transport, it’s not uncommon for tempers to flare and fights to break out in close quarters during often delayed journeys. Some recent passengers on the vessel [...]

Pakistani Flood Victims Cope Without Bridges, Aid

Over the past three weeks, a taxi service has developed on the banks of the Swat River in Pakistan. Inner-tube boats steered by oarsmen carry medicine, food and people between the banks. The bridge that straddled this portion of the river was taken out by the monsoon-triggered floods that ripped through the Swat Valley five [...]

Gaza Youth Yearn For Normalcy, Haunted By War

Fourth of five parts The Gaza Strip has one of the highest birthrates in the world. Almost three-quarters of the Palestinians who live there are younger than 30. Most have never left the tiny coastal strip that is ruled by the militants of Hamas, have never met an Israeli, and for the youngest, have never [...]

U.N. Delays Release Of Report On Congo ‘Genocide’

The release of a report that accuses the Rwandan army of possible genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be delayed until Oct. 1, the U.N.’s top human-rights official said Thursday. Drafts of the report — circulated to governments earlier this year and leaked to the media last week — infuriated the Rwandan government. [...]

Tony Blair On War, Globalization And ‘My Political Life’

This week, Knopf will publish A Journey: My Political Life, Tony Blair’s memoir. NPR’s Steve Inskeep had a conversation with the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, focusing on the war in Iraq, globalization, and Blair’s political career. Inskeep asked Blair for a “word or a sentence or a phrase” that would describe how he [...]

Settlement Building May Tear Down Peace Talks

Jewish settlers broke ground on new construction projects Wednesday. The building is in defiance of a ban imposed by the Israeli government that is due to expire at the end of the month. Settler groups said the move was in response to the killings of four settlers near the city of Hebron Tuesday night. The [...]

Former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, On War, Globalization, And ‘My Political Life’

This week, Knopf will publish A Journey: My Political Life, Tony Blair’s memoir. Earlier today, NPR’s Steve Inskeep had a conversation with the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, focusing on the war in Iraq, globalization, and Blair’s political career. The interview will air on Morning Edition tomorrow. Inskeep asked Blair for a “word or [...]

Lively Living Aboard Congo’s River-Bound ‘Villages’

Fourth of five parts Barge life on the Congo River has a rhythm of its own on the long stretches of brown, soupy water. There is trading along the river, bathing, and frequent security and immigration checkpoints. Traveling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, many people have no option but to use the nearly [...]

Obama Sees Opportunity In Mideast Talks

President Obama urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders Wednesday to seize a “moment of opportunity” for Mideast peace. Speaking before a working dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and key players in the negotiations, the president said “they cannot afford to let it slip away.” Direct talks between the two [...]

Obama Sees Moment Of Opportunity In Mideast Talks

President Obama urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders Wednesday to seize a “moment of opportunity” for Mideast peace. Speaking before a working dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and key players in the negotiations, the president said “they cannot afford to let it slip away.” Direct talks between the two [...]