Malawi

A collage of video screenshots that feature Africans exploited for profit in a growing trend known as "blessings videos."

A new documentary uncovers the story behind China’s racist ‘blessings video’ trend

These trendy videos often feature African children who are prompted to parrot Chinese greetings and to act in inappropriate ways — for entertainment.

A new documentary uncovers the story behind China’s racist ‘blessings video’ trend
Migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere rest on the ground as they gather at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus

Polish border police push back migrants at Belarus border

Polish border police push back migrants at Belarus border
A man in Malawi wearing a blue shirt explains a document to an elderly woman wearing a white head wrap outside

Malawians vote for president (again) amid pandemic 

Malawians vote for president (again) amid pandemic 
Women sit on the ground wearing colorful head wraps waiting for aid.

A month after Cyclone Idai, governments struggle to secure crucial recovery funds

A month after Cyclone Idai, governments struggle to secure crucial recovery funds
A woman is shown in ankle deep water walks down a flooded road with heavily damaged buildings in the background.

Mozambique starts three days of mourning after cyclone kills hundreds

Mozambique starts three days of mourning after cyclone kills hundreds
A still photo taken from drone footage above a settlement on the edge of Beira, Mozambique showing dozens of buildings flooded.

Death toll in Mozambique cyclone, floods could surpass 1,000

The number of people killed in a powerful storm and preceding floods in Mozambique could exceed 1,000 putting the potential death toll greatly more than current figures.

Death toll in Mozambique cyclone, floods could surpass 1,000
African elephant

Nearly wiped out by poaching, 520 elephants relocated to new, safer home in Malawi

Malawi on Thursday celebrated the successful conclusion of a two-year project moving 520 sedated elephants by truck to a reserve where the animals had been nearly wiped out by poaching.

Nearly wiped out by poaching, 520 elephants relocated to new, safer home in Malawi
Fainess Lipenga was trafficked by her boss, a former diplomat in the US from Malawi. Now, Lipenga is an advocate for victims of human trafficking.

This woman says she was trafficked by a diplomat. And it happens all the time.

Fainess Lipenga came to the US to work as a maid for a diplomat from Malawi, but she says she was treated more like a slave. Her boss, covered by diplomatic immunity, never faced the consequences.

This woman says she was trafficked by a diplomat. And it happens all the time.
Mogens Amdi Petersen, shown in 2003, is the founder of a secretive organization called the Teachers Group, which former members, academics and the Danish media have likened to a cult. He's also an international fugitive wanted in Denmark for embezzlement

UNICEF cuts ties with questionable NGO in Malawi

UNICEF cuts off funding to nonprofit linked to alleged cult in wake of investigative report.

UNICEF cuts ties with questionable NGO in Malawi
Giddes Chalamanda on a street corner in Washington DC

For decades, this musician's dream was to visit the US. Now, at 86, he's doing it.

Giddes Chalamanda is a legend in Malawi. In one his biggest hits, he sings: "If I had enough money, I would go to America." It's finally happening.

For decades, this musician's dream was to visit the US. Now, at 86, he's doing it.
Mavis, a housekeeper from the Pretoria township of Mamelodi, depends on her garden to help provide for her five children and seven grandchildren. But with this year's region-wide drought, her garden is just a dusty patch of seedlings. “I want rain every d

For one South African house cleaner, this year's big drought means crying, hungry children

The current drought in southern Africa is the worst in decades, and likely a harbinger of things to come as the region warms up and dries out as its climate changes. The drought is having real impact on one resident in a Pretoria township, and what governments in the region can do to help prepare for a hotter and drier future.

For one South African house cleaner, this year's big drought means crying, hungry children
A market in Russia

Could malnutrition be caused by more than a lack of access to quality food?

What is it going to take to help restore the health of malnourished children? This group of scientists says we need to look beyond access to quality food and also pay attention to the microbiome.

Could malnutrition be caused by more than a lack of access to quality food?
Women

A self-proclaimed 'vaginal ecologist' is determined to halt the transmission of HIV to women

Sharon Hillier didn't start out wanting to be the voice of, well, the vagina. But when she discovered just how off-base men who studied women's reproductive issues were, she felt she had to do something.

A self-proclaimed 'vaginal ecologist' is determined to halt the transmission of HIV to women
Memory Banda parliament

Memory Banda escaped child marriage in Malawi, but her 11-year-old sister wasn't so lucky

The oldest of six siblings, 18-year-old Memory Banda has managed to escape the cycle that turns half the girls in her southern African nation into brides, and usually mothers, by her age. But her sister Mercy was not so lucky.

Memory Banda escaped child marriage in Malawi, but her 11-year-old sister wasn't so lucky
eaton lead

'God commanded' family planning, says this Muslim leader in flood-ravaged Malawi

Into the 1990s, Malawi banned not only birth control, but sex education and even miniskirts. Now, attitudes toward contraception are changing under the pressure of climate change and rapid population growth.

'God commanded' family planning, says this Muslim leader in flood-ravaged Malawi