Featured
Need to Know
Sugar Editorial Picks
AIDS Group Says Zimbabwe Using Rape As a Tool of Terror
The Zimbabwe government's youth militia use the most horrific tactic — rape — as a tool to terrorize those suspected of sympathizing with the opposition. President Robert Mugabe's ruling party has been carrying out a campaign of political terror since opposition supporters contested his election.
Today's New York Times paints a graphic picture of how many of Zimbabwe's women have been abused, humiliated, and raped, often in front of their families.
Sri Lankan Media Demand Security Amid Growing Violence
In the latest bout of violence Sri Lanka has seen since the ceasefire broke in January, 27 Tamil Tiger rebels and two government soldiers have been killed on the frontlines of their brutal civil war. This bloodshed coincides with an attack on a journalist and a British High Commission official from unknown assailants. The country's situation isn't often the lead story on Countdown but the mounting death toll makes it impossible to ignore.
Need to Know: Parliaments, Presidents, and Monarchs
Every nation has a head of state, which serves as the chief public representative for the country. Depending on the constitution, the head of state may or may not exercise executive power.
In parliamentary systems found across the world, and especially in Europe, the prime minister, or premier, functions as the chief executive officer and answers to the parliament.
Now You Know: Darfur Conflict in Sudan
At least 200,000 people have died, and more than 2.5 million have been displaced as a result of the Darfur conflict in Sudan. In 2004, the Sudanese government troops, as well as independent, Arab, pro-government militias, began targeting discontent rebel forces and the black African population. The rebels sought to resist a Muslim central government, accusing them of neglecting the black African residents of the region in favor of the Arabs.
Need to Know: The Sunnis, the Shiites and Their Conflict
So, Iraq. It's admittedly complicated. You hear the news, you hear about the Sunnis and the Shiites and you know there's internal conflict in the country, but you're not sure how, who, and why?
Need to Know: Telling Apart the Taliban and al-Qaeda
Our news tends to report stories in a simple binary: good guys versus bad guys. And sometimes those cast as "bad guys" become interchangeable. Not to sound too Rudy Giuliani about the whole thing, but since September 11, we've had a pretty steady stream of appearances in the media by the Taliban, and al-Qaeda.
Need to Know: Cease Fire Is Over in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's civil war continues to escalate, following the government's annulment of a 2002 cease-fire treaty. On Wednesday, 23 people were killed and 67 wounded in a bombing of a civilian bus. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers) were responsible for the bombing.
Need to Know: Unrest in Kenya
Unrest and violence have plagued Kenya, one of Africa's most stable nations, since the disputed December 27 presidential election. Since then, more than 600 people have been killed and 250,000 have been displaced.
Many Kenyans, along with much of the international community, believe the election was rigged to give the ruling party an unexpected victory.
Need to Know: Women as Bombs
A recent surge in suicide bombings carried out by women, may indicate that desperate Iraqi insurgents will increasingly employ women for suicide attacks.
Using women as human bombs gives the insurgents a tactical advantage. Many conservative Muslims believe physical contact is forbidden between unrelated women and men.
More on TresSugar
Fall Award Season
Top Brands
Calvin Klein
HTC
Meltin Pot