All Africa
First LookVulnerable voting machines cause concern in CongoVoting machines have arrived in Congo for December's presidential election, meant to take place in November 2016. But there is international concern over the machines, which were rejected by other countries because of the potential for ballot manipulation.聽
First LookAfrican praise of Saudi Arabia highlights diplomatic pressuresIn the weeks after Jamal Khashoggi's murder, five African nations made statements in support of Saudi Arabia. The statements are an example of how foreign aid may influence diplomatic decisions, particularly in the horn of Africa.聽
After charity sex-abuse scandal in Liberia, a storm of anger, guilt, and griefA report detailing sexual abuse at a girls school founded by an American woman has spurred soul-searching in a country where debates about foreign assistance run deep.
Reporter's Notebook: On edge of Sahara, camel is what's for dinnerReporters do get to out-of-the way places. Eating local foods can challenge not only their taste buds but their very concept of what counts as food. The adventure can be rewarding.
First LookWith new tech and opportunity, African agriculture gets a makeoverNegative stereotypes of African agriculture had previously scared off young people 鈥� but that may change with the advance of new technology, streamlined production, and more opportunities.聽
First LookIn Africa, crowdfunded solar panels are a win-winA little bit of cash goes a long way when it comes to solar energy. Through a startup called The Sun Exchange, investors can buy solar equipment that is then leased to rural communities, helping them run efficient, environment-friendly businesses.聽
First LookActivist known for #BringBackOurGirls runs for Nigerian presidencyObiageli Ezekwesili is best known for her advocacy after Islamic extremist group Boko Haram kidnapped hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls in 2014. With additional experience with the World Bank, an anti-corruption non-profit, and the ministry of education, she's now running for president.
Letter from South Africa: What Melania could have seenLiving and reporting in Africa, Ryan Lenora Brown writes, is a daily process of聽鈥渦nlearning鈥澛犫�� of looking beyond the one-dimensional picture of the continent that so many Americans grow up with.聽
She bears witness to South Sudan's turbulence, one headline at a timeThe obstacles reporters face in doing their work聽鈥� the stories behind their stories聽鈥� can say just as much about a country鈥檚 concerns and challenges as the articles they produce.
First LookKenyan courts respond to recent LGBT rights ruling in IndiaBecause Kenya and India share many of the same British colonial laws, India's recent decision to decriminalize homosexuality is reverberating in Kenyan courts. It could also lead to a shift for LGBT rights across Africa.聽
First LookFemale entrepreneurs in Ghana gain organizing powerIn Ghana's capital, female market vendors are often forcibly removed from the street, leaving them with nowhere to sell their goods. But this year, the women came together to demand a new, safer working space from the city.聽
First LookNigerian Army in need of reform as ISIS gains strength in West AfricaNortheast Nigeria has been under sustained assault by Islamic militants for many years, and as the Army loses control many are wondering, what happened? The setback comes as聽President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised to eradicate Boko Haram, seeks a second term.
South Sudan's midwives, boosted by aid, wonder how long donors will deliverWhen South Sudan gained independence in 2011, donations poured in to improve its decimated health care 鈥� especially for mothers and babies. But the civil war has raised doctors' fears that aid will dry up or stay focused on short-term assistance.聽
Indian Ocean islands' decolonization dispute gets day in international courtThe Chagos Islands are a speck in the Indian Ocean 鈥� and, at first glance, in history. But their story speaks volumes about the messes colonization leaves behind. Can international courts clean them up?
A brighter future: Solar power charges rural education in UgandaGlobally, some 14 percent of people lack access to electricity. Electrifying entire nations can be difficult where infrastructure is lacking. In Uganda, rural residents are making their own light, thanks to solar power.
First LookFarmers in Africa need policy changes, not just 'seeds, weather, and soil'Government action is essential to agricultural growth that would combat poverty in Africa, experts say.聽Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa's annual report, released Wednesday, discusses previous successes and looks to the future.聽
Boruboru: South Sudan鈥檚 newest spectator sport is one for the girlsThink you're good at dodgeball? See how long you last in boruboru, a traditional playground game. Formal leagues are giving girls who grew up amid the civil war more opportunities to dive, dodge, and throw.
With new negotiations, South Sudanese warily hope for a 'peace' they can seeLeaders alone can鈥檛 make lasting peace. And after years of failed negotiations, South Sudanese say peace won鈥檛 matter until it鈥檚 more than words on paper 鈥� until it makes an everyday difference.
First LookAging cocoa trees provide opportunity for agricultural reform in GhanaCocoa yields are declining as trees age across Ghana, the world's second-biggest cocoa producer. But farmers who lease their land are reluctant to replant for fear of losing their right to farm. New written land agreements may be part of the solution.
First LookKenya's dairy farmers use solar rays to keep milk coolThere are nearly 1 million dairy farmers in Kenya but only a small percent can connect to the national electricity grid to refrigerate their milk. Some of the rest rely on 50 solar milk-cooling plants to store their milk safely, which ensures more reliable profits.