Africa

Air conditioners being loaded onto a truck for delivery. Most of the world's AC units cool air with chemicals that are big contributors to global warming. A new agreement forged in Kigali, Rwanda, will phase those coolants out over then next 30 years.

Keeping our planet cooler just got a little easier

Negotiators have agreed to a global phase-out of chemicals that run some air conditioners and refrigerators, but are also big contributors to global warming. That has countries and researchers scrambling to come up with clean and affordable alternatives.

Keeping our planet cooler just got a little easier

Heavy fighting erupts in South Sudan capital

Heavy fighting erupts in South Sudan capital

Uber is expanding in Africa — and so are anti-Uber protests

Uber is expanding in Africa — and so are anti-Uber protests

How ‘rescuing’ Swaziland’s elephants triggered controversy about US zoos

How ‘rescuing’ Swaziland’s elephants triggered controversy about US zoos

The Hague finally convicts someone for using rape as a weapon of war

The Hague finally convicts someone for using rape as a weapon of war

Mozambique fears a return to war

The country had defied its traumatic past, but an escalating political crisis is threatening its future.

Mozambique fears a return to war

American fast-food chains are invading Africa

Five years ago, Ivory Coast was in a civil war. Now residents of its economic capital can get a Whopper Jr. with fries (hold the pickle).

American fast-food chains are invading Africa
A grave digger walks past fresh graves at a cemetery in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Thieves are robbing the graves of Sierra Leone's Ebola victims

There's deep outrage over the thefts in a nation still healing from devastation caused by the deadly virus.

Thieves are robbing the graves of Sierra Leone's Ebola victims

How a mild stimulant generates hundreds of millions of dollars a year

'To really understand khat you have to chew it.'

How a mild stimulant generates hundreds of millions of dollars a year

Albinos are still regularly hunted and killed for their body parts

There's a lucrative trade in albino body parts, which are sold for use in witchcraft in Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique.

Albinos are still regularly hunted and killed for their body parts

Gene holds key to (no) grey hair

Dyeing one's hair may no longer be the only option for keeping grey at bay, scientists said Tuesday in announcing the discovery of a gene that makes hair lose its luster.

Gene holds key to (no) grey hair

How 'Mad Max: Fury Road' caused actual fury in the world's oldest desert

Residents and environmentalists say the Oscar-lavished film crew damaged the fragile desert ecosystem in Namibia.

How 'Mad Max: Fury Road' caused actual fury in the world's oldest desert

Elephants trampling your crops? Release the bees

Yes, bees.

Elephants trampling your crops? Release the bees

Why a Ugandan opposition leader has been arrested 5 times this month

Kizza Besigye, detained repeatedly over the past week, says that recent elections were rigged.

Why a Ugandan opposition leader has been arrested 5 times this month

The 2016 World Press Photo winners — in pictures

The topics range from the war in Syria to the illegal ivory trade in many parts of Africa.

The 2016 World Press Photo winners — in pictures