Congo at a crossroads: Waiting for election results

Six months ago, DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi placed North Kivu and Ituri – two provinces in the east of the country – under "a state of siege", effectively imposing martial law in a region that has been rocked by conflict for decades. Today, although the government claims that hundreds of armed militiamen have surrendered, massacres continue and security forces face mounting criticism. In the city of Beni, the justice system has ground to a halt and crime has soared. Our correspondents report.

Photos on social media claim to show the skeleton of one of the murdered DR Congo human rights activist, Fidèle Bazana. The posts also claim that the skeleton was found in the property of a high-ranked police officer. False! These skeletons actually belong to archeological findings from last year.Also, fake photos of the Day of the Dead in Mexico emerge online. Find out more on this edition of Truth or Fake.

Photos on social media claim to show the skeleton of a slain DR Congo human rights activist, Fidèle Bazana, who was assassinated in 2010. The posts also claim the remains were found at the property of a high-ranking police officer. But most of these skeletons are actually archaeological findings from 2019. Also, a fake photo of a Day of the Dead light show in Mexico emerges online. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

There are reports of renewed fighting between various militia groups and the military in eastern Congo. This dampens hopes of an end to the long-simmering conflict in the region.

Self-taught luthier "Socklo" uses brake cable and plastic chairs to make guitars which are considered by some aficionados to be among the best in the world.

President Sebastian Pinera was involved with the controversial sale of a mining company in 2010, as revealed in the Pandora Papers. If impeached, he could have faced five years in prison.

Businessman Jack Kahorha in 2017 formed a company to provide fresh drinking water to local communities. DW examines how it convinced customers to pay for their water and now turns over $400,000 a year.

Uganda has deployed soldiers into the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of a joint operation with the Congolese military. The troop movement followed bombardments against posts held by the Islamist ADF.

A whistleblower issues a "damning account" of the UK's withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying tens of thousands of Afghans were left behind to die. Meanwhile, there's disappointment in the US after the Justice Department closes an investigation into the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till. Plus: Angela Merkel marks her last day in office, Berlin techno DJs apply for World Heritage status and the French city of Rouen votes on replacing a Napoléon statue with one of a woman.

Lawmakers in the United States have voted to raise the government's borrowing limit by $2.5 trillion, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic default. The Senate passed the measure 50-49. The new debt ceiling will give the US government enough space to borrow until 2023, after the midterm elections. Focus in Washington will now return to whether President Joe Biden can get his $1.75 trillion social spending plan, "Build Back Better", passed by the end of the year.

The attacker set off an explosive device at the entrance to a bar and restaurant in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as customers gathered on Christmas Day. Two children were reportedly among those killed.

Militias rule northeastern Congo through fear and bloodshed. The central government has little to no authority here. Mama Faida saw her own family murdered - and joined a militia to seek revenge.