In Burkina Faso, the people rise against a president who just won’t leave

Residents of Burkina Faso have had enough of their long-serving president, so they've taken to the streets to force him from office.

So far, they seem to be having some success, though at a price. Protesters took over the country's parliament and toppled statues across the city. But President Blaise Compaoré has reportedly ended his plan to amend the constitution so he can seek additional terms.

Statements from the country's military indicated they were moving in to take over power. And the country's consulate at the United Nations said the borders were sealed and no visas were being issued. The Guardian is following the story as it unfolds.

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What comes after Armaggedon? Let's play the game and see

During the 1980s, Western governments spent a great deal of time considering what it would take to survive a global exchange of nuclear weapons. In the UK, that meant creating an elaborate war game imagining, and responding, to expected events as society crumbled.

The game was devised so UK officials could play out various situations post-Armageddon. And over time, the secret files on the game have been released. According to a report from the BBC, one of the exercise organizers proposed allowing the officials to press "psychopaths" into service, to help maintain law and order. The official reasoned that because psychopaths lack emotion and empathy, they would be the perfect individuals to help Britain get back on its feet, while police were otherwise occupied.

Among the other plans? The British Royal Family would shelter on the royal yacht off the coast of Scotland. 

Zambia breaks ground with the first white president in sub-Saharan Africa since apartheid

Guy Scott was born in Zambia when the country was still known as Northern Rhodesia — part of the British Empire. He is one of just 40,000 white people who live in the country of 14 million. And he was never really expected to become the country's leader. 

But when Zambia's President Michael Sata died in London this week, Vice President Guy Scott was next in line. The vice presidency is largely ceremonial in Zambia. 

PRI's To The Point looks at what it means for Zambia, and for Scott, who suddenly has extensive powers to shape the country's future. Elections have to be held within 90 days and, for now, Scott isn't even eligible to run. But that could  change.

Someone is flying drones over France's nuclear plants

The vast majority of France's energy — as much as 75 percent — comes from nuclear power. Recently, French authorities have been spooked after a series of drones were flown over French nuclear plants, in violation of the country's no-fly zones around the plants. Drones have been reported over at least seven of the country's nuclear plants, according to Quartz.

Officials thought it might be the work of the environmental group Greenpeace, which has, in fact, used drones in the past. But Greenpeace officials say they're not responsible — and they generally are happy to take credit for their actions. Officials are now investigating whether the flights are due to another environmental group or maybe errant hobby flyers, or whether there might be a more sinister explanation.

This Pakistani woman is helping victims of acid attacks put their lives back together

In Pakistan, acid attacks against women have become depressingly common. Sometimes they happen in public, perpetrated by total strangers. But other times they happen in homes, where women are victimized by their own family members for perceived transgressions.

The painful, disfiguring experience can lead women to undergo dozens of surgeries just to put their lives back together — but even successful they’re sometimes left on their own. That’s where Musarat Misbah comes in. The owner of a beauty salon has paid for numerous surgeries and employs many victims in her shop so they can put their lives back together as well. PRI’s The World has the story.

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Weather around the world

Tropical Storm Vance formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday — the 20th named storm in the eastern Pacific this season. According to the National Hurricane Center, that's the most named storms in that area since 1992. Vance is expected to remain over the ocean for the next few days, intensifying, before beginning a slow turn toward the western coast of Mexico.

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated where the acid attacks were happening.