A world record of 969 million citizens are called to the polls for what some see as a referendum on one man. India is about to embark on the world's biggest election, staggered over seven weeks, with Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP expected to extend its solid lead in parliament. Modi has been pointing to a decade of unprecedented growth and power for a nation courted by the West and beyond.

Myanmar's ruling junta has activated a law that will see men and women called up for at least two years of compulsory military service.

Three years after a coup toppled Myanmar's democratic government, the embattled junta's grip on power is being seriously challenged by armed factions.

Japan's space agency JAXA has said its SLIM moon probe has resumed operations after days of power failure.

Pandemic, energy crisis, inflation: Europeans are increasingly pessimistic about their economic prospects as they look to the future. But Europe has proven to be more resilient than expected. The lights are twinkling, but for many, life in Europe feels like it's losing its shine.

French media almost unanimously criticise the controversial immigration law backed by the government of President Emmanuel Macron. While the left sees the legislation as pandering to the far right, the right is mostly critical of the process leading to its passing. Also: two household names in France are in more hot water over sexual assault accusations. We finish with a look at the worst tourist behaviour in 2023.

Three ethnic armed groups have launched an offensive against the ruling junta. The military has responded with increased airstrikes.

Many African countries are eyeing nuclear power to solve electrification challenges. Experts say this is the wrong direction, pointing to solar energy as a welcome alternative for the sunny continent.

The regional bloc CCAS, and the country's opposition coalition, have urged international partners to push for a rapid return to civilian rule. Also in this edition: In Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 48 protesters are reported to have been killed in the eastern city of Goma. And finally: In South Africa, the death toll rises to 76 after the devastating Johannesburg fire at an abandoned apartment block that housed dozens of homeless people and squatters.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers took over the capital Kabul on August 15, 2021. A Taliban spokesperson denied the group was anti-woman in comments to DW, while the UN has accused it of gender apartheid.

Authorities started evacuating people from several Catalan villages as the forest fire spreads near the French border. Strong winds have fanned the flames while preventing water-bombing planes from taking off.

Nigerians, like Justice Ojah, have been converting their generators to run on gas after the West African country removed the popular fuel subsidy which saw the petrol price triple.