Quibble over genocide
The week's news at a glance.
Brussels
European Union ministers this week asked the U.N. to investigate whether the slaughter in Darfur, Sudan, met the criteria of genocide, but they stopped short of applying that word themselves. The British called it a “desperate situation,’’ the Germans a “humanitarian catastrophe with genocidal potential,” and the French a “massive human rights violation.” U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said last week that the systematic attacks on black villagers by Arab militias in Sudan was indeed genocide, a term that, if adopted by the U.N., would trigger automatic sanctions. Some 10,000 people are dying every month in Sudanese refugee camps, mainly from dysentery.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How will Trump's megabill affect you?
Today's Big Question Republicans have passed the 'big, beautiful bill' through Congress
-
Scientists are the latest 'refugees'
In the spotlight Brain drain to brain gain
-
5 dreamy books to dive into this July
The Week Recommends A 'politically charged' collection of essays, historical fiction goes sci-fi and more