The former first lady is accused of planning and helping to orchestrate the violence. She’s charged with murder, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts. More than 3,000 people lost their lives in the bloody unrest that broke out after the 2010 elections. Some analysts say Simone Gbagbo was the real hardliner, preventing her husband from relinquishing power. The ICC arrest warrant describes Simone Gbagbo as her husband’s alter ego, exercising power and taking state decisions.

The new director general of the BBC is Tony Hall, who was head of BBC News until 2001, and he’s currently the chief executive of the Royal Opera House in London. Lord Hall succeeds George Entwistle, who resigned earlier this month after a BBC television report led to a former senior political figure being wrongly implicated in child abuse. Lord Hall said he cared passionately about the BBC. And former head of the BBC World Service, John Tuser, welcomed his appointment.

To have somebody like him, who looks and sounds human, which is a distinct help. Also who looks and sounds not afraid, which is also a big help. And people looked him and think, “Do I trust him to run the most important cultural organization in the country?” and I think I’ll say increasingly “Yes, I do”

World News from the BBC.

Rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo have rejected calls from African leaders to withdraw from the city of Goma. The M23 rebels widely believed to be backed by Rwanda have threatened to press on with an advance towards Kinshasa until President Joseph Kabila opens direct peace talks. Meanwhile, the head of the Congolese army has been suspended over an investigation into allegations that he sold weapons to the rebels.