India’s strong GDP data leaves economists dazed

The new Lebanese government is to resume negotiations with the IMF after talks stalled 13 months ago. Success, however, is not guaranteed, warn some experts.

Heavy rains have triggered flooding and landslides that swept through towns in the Indian state of Kerala. The National Disaster Response Force and the Indian army have been deployed to assist with rescue efforts.

A nine-year-old Indian boy known as Sharvesh was seen running in Tiruchirappalli on Sunday, as he covers the distance of 750 kilometres (466 miles) from Kanyakumari to Chennai to raise awareness about the 17 aims of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. "No poverty, eradicate the poverty, zero hunger and everyone should get food, good health means everyone should live healthily, quality education and each one should get quality education, gender equality - boys and girls should be considered equally. Clean water and sanitation. Like this, there are 17 Goals, to achieve those goals I am running today.", said the young marathon runner, as he posed with supporters.  

A couple in India's southern state of Kerala use a large cooking pot borrowed from a temple to get through floodwaters and reach their wedding venue. The southern state has been hit by days of heavy rain, triggering landslides and floods that have claimed at least 27 lives.

Farmers and lobby groups are split on an EU agricultural reform that may increase farmers' incomes and consumers' prices. A DW joint report reveals a rift between farmers and the groups purporting to represent them.

Africa's glaciers could all be gone by 2040. The UN forecasts a grim toll for Africa from climate change. It has also warned that massive displacement, hunger and extreme heat are in store for over 100 million of the continent's poorest. And October 19 marks Breast Cancer Awareness day, In Tunisia campaigners are ramping up efforts to get more people in for screenings on time.

Sendbox, a Nigeria-based e-commerce platform, has secured $1.8 million from a seed round led by 4Dx Ventures, Enza Capital, FJLabs, and Golden Palm Investments, bringing its total investment to $2 million.

Experts question whether Google's planned $1 billion investment in Africa stands to benefit the continent in the long term. Instead, some see it as another avenue for big tech companies to acquire budding start-ups.

It has been five years since the German government enacted the prostitution protection act. Lawmakers say it protects vulnerable people; many sex workers say it is discriminatory, stigmatizing and has increased risks.

Ghana's smock garment used to be reserved for royal use. These days, a flood of imported yarn has opened the market to near universal use, and the smock has become a Ghanaian clothing icon. Yet the country's collapsed cotton industry has left the financial fortunes of weavers and smock makers hanging by a thread.

India celebrated the milestone of administering 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses on Thursday, with the government promoting the achievement with song.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces a comprehensive in-principle free trade agreement with the UK, arrived at after 16 months of talks. London said the deal ends tariffs on British exports such as clothing, footwear, ships and bulldozers. It estimated that trade between the two countries last year was worth £2.3 billion ($3.2 billion, 2.7 billion euros).