STORY HIGHLIGHTS Organizers insist it is apolitical, but Eurovision has always been a political stage, say experts They say its competitive nature and vast audience make it a forum for tensions to manifest Armenia's boycott of host Azerbaijan is far from the first politically motivated withdrawal The success of "New Europe" has led to allegations of tactical voting ruining Eurovision London (CNN) -- With the recent headlines emerging from Azerbaijan, you could be forgiven for assuming something more dramatic than a singing competition was about to descend on the country. In recent weeks, the Eurovision Song Contest finals, which take place Saturday, have inspired clashes on the streets of the capital, Baku, between Azerbaijani police and opposition activists, and accusations by state-controlled media in Azerbaijan ... Continue reading →

A new bride, wearing Kosibah, and her husband at a Nigerian wedding. Nigerian weddings are becoming increasingly extravagant affairs. A newlywed couple during their church ceremony. Lola Ibekwe, a Nigerian bride in the traditional outfit from the south west region, puts the finishing touches to her make up on the big day. A Nigerian bride and her father make their way up the aisle, with the bride wearing a white gown and her dad in traditional attire. A newlywed Nigerian couple cut their extravagant wedding cake, surrounded by guests in traditional attire. A bride wearing a Kosibah wedding gown, and the bridal party at a Nigerian wedding. Nigerian weddings feature two ceremonies: a traditional ceremony and a "white wedding." Outside of the bridal party, wedding ... Continue reading →

STORY HIGHLIGHTS Painting by Brett Murray, "The Spear of the Nation" shows Jacob Zuma's genitals South Africa's ruling ANC claims the artwork offends the president's dignity Party wants the controversial image to be removed from websites Lawyer sobs in court describing South Africa's struggle for freedom, human rights Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- A lawyer breaks down sobbing in court. The president's children sit in the public gallery. The secretary general of the ruling party, the African National Congress, sits behind them. Outside, military veterans and riot police hold back crowds dancing in support of the president. This is no normal high court case hearing. At issue is "The Spear," a piece of artwork depicting the President of South Africa as a Lenin figure with ... Continue reading →

Somali, AU troops target militant stronghold By the CNN Wire Staff updated 11:40 AM EDT, Wed May 23, 2012 Al-Shabaab, which is blamed for trapping Somali residents in the Afgoye corridor, marched through Mogadishu earlier this year. STORY HIGHLIGHTS The Afgoye corridor holds a huge number of displaced people The AU command says the campaign is "going well" Al-Shabaab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for years (CNN) -- African Union and Somali troops launched an offensive against militants in a densely populated enclave near the volatile Somali capital of Mogadishu, the AU mission said Tuesday. The operation is focused on the Afgoye corridor -- populated by one of the largest concentrations of internally displaced people. Troops hope to oust the militants from the ... Continue reading →

Official: 122 girls, 3 teachers poisoned at Afghan school From Nick Paton Walsh, CNN May 23, 2012 -- Updated 2123 GMT (0523 HKT) STORY HIGHLIGHTS "They are more traumatized" than ill, a hospital director says The alleged poison was a type of spray, official says 40 of the girls remain hospitalized Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- More than 120 girls and three teachers were admitted to an Afghanistan hospital Wednesday after being poisoned in their classes with a type of spray, a Takhar provincial official said. The incident occurred in the provincial capital of Talokhan, in the Bibi Hajera girls school, said Dr. Hafizullah Safi, director of public health for the northern Afghanistan province. Forty of the 122 girls were still hospitalized, he said, with symptoms ... Continue reading →