Africa

In Kibera, Kenya's biggest slum, plastic bags are found everywhere — on roofs, on walls and clogging drainage. The Kenyan government says an almost total ban on plastic bags will benefit the environment.

Using Plastic Bags Is Now Illegal — And Punishable By Jail Time — In Kenya

12:12pm August 28, 2017

by Eyder Peralta

The East African economic powerhouse is following in the footsteps of its much smaller neighbor Rwanda. Kenya's government says it's good for the environment, but critics say it will hurt the poor.

Salamatu Umar, who was forced to marry a Boko Haram fighter, holds son Usman Abubakar.

Health & Safety

The Lament Of The Boko Haram 'Brides'

8:01am August 27, 2017

by Ofeibea Quist-Arcton

They're a forgotten group — abducted as teens, forced to marry a Boko Haram member and often bearing a child — now free from captivity, but not truly free.

Mariama Conte underwent female genital mutilation when she was 9. She volunteers as a mentor at an annual kids' camp that aims to educate them about the harm caused by FGM.

Health & Safety

A Day Camp That Teaches Kids In The U.S. About Female Genital Mutilation

5:28pm August 25, 2017

by Courtney Columbus

There's a nature walk, a drum performance, a picnic lunch — and speakers who tell the youngsters about the harm caused by the practice.

Hadza man eating honeycomb and larvae from a beehive.

Is The Secret To A Healthier Microbiome Hidden In The Hadza Diet?

5:56am August 25, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Some species of bacteria in our intestines are disappearing. Can we reverse the microbial die-off? The food eaten by Tanzania's Hadza tribe could hold the answer.

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Drones fly through the sky on a delivery in Rwanda.

Health & Safety

Tanzania Gears Up To Become A Nation Of Medical Drones

2:16pm August 24, 2017

by Esther Landhuis

Drones have delivered everything from pizza to condoms to hot dogs. In Tanzania, they have a bold new mission.

Trump Administration Cuts Military Aid To Egypt

6:39pm August 23, 2017

by Michele Kelemen

President Trump has had a friendly relationship with Egypt's leader but this week the administration surprisingly cut some military aid over Egypt's worsening human rights record.

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World News

Kenyans Wait For Resolution Nearly 2 Weeks After Elections

3:00am August 23, 2017

by Eyder Peralta

Kenya's president won re-election but his inauguration is on hold pending a court ruling by his challenger. The opposition leader claims massive vote rigging which resulted in deadly violence.

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Chinese tourists visit the park in northern Taiwan that is home to more than 200 statues of late nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek in 2015.

In Reckoning With Confederate Monuments, Other Countries Could Provide Examples

8:27pm August 22, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

The U.S. isn't alone in confronting sites dedicated to contentious, and often troubling, moments in its history.

South Africa granted diplomatic immunity to Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe after she was accused of assaulting a young woman at a Johannesburg hotel. Above, Mugabe addresses a youth rally in June.

World News

South Africa Grants Grace Mugabe Diplomatic Immunity, To Critics' Dismay

2:28pm August 21, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

An opposition party called the government's decision "a complete disgrace." Zimbabwe's first lady is accused of assaulting a 20-year-old model with an extension cord at a Johannesburg hotel.

World News

Sierra Leone Latest: Landslides Death Toll Nears 500

6:27pm August 20, 2017

After devastating landslides, local authorities are calling for more than 10,000 people to evacuate as more rainfall is expected.

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