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Afghanistan has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world. And behind every death there is a poignant story – told here by a sister, a husband and by photographer Jean Chung.

There is a bigger gulf in experience between the Global North and the Global South in maternal death rates than there is on any other human development measure. The average lifetime risk of maternal death in the rich world is 1 in 8,000, compared with 1 in 850 in developing countries and 1 in 450 in least developed countries.

This month’s guest cartoonist is Khalil Bendib. Polyp is taking a month’s break from Big Bad World to work on his forthcoming NI book Speechless: a world history without words. Normal service will be resumed next month.

Why are so many women still dying in childbirth? Chris Brazier explains how they could be saved.

A country at the edge of Europe home to wolves, bears, lynx and Europe's last dictator.

A word from Polyp on climate change

Swiss mining company grabs Sierra Leone gems

Cairo's poor show a peculiar brand of camaraderie.

India's middle class is becoming more antagonistic to the urban poor, says Jeremy Seabrook.

By Ryzard Kapuscinski

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Equatoria by Tom Dreyer

We get to see a lot of Che's iconic look in over four hours of film, but sadly, though long on detail, it's short on insight.

Waitless by Empty Boat

Mother-Earth! Father-Sky! by Huun-Huur-Tu featuring Sainkho