Niger: 53 abducted passengers regain freedom after one week captivity

Here is what we now know about the bridge being constructed to minimise traffic congestion on the old Niger Bridge and estimated to gulp a whopping ₦414 billion.⁣⁣

A technique to induce rain is helping to fight drought in Niger. Farmers seem satisfied, but flooding in some parts of the country caused material damage and even loss of lives.

The British government has approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the US, where he is wanted for leaking classified files. His wife and lawyer, Stella Assange, told Deutsche Welle that press freedom was under threat in Europe.

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum granted an interview to FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman and RFI's Christophe Boisbouvier on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Bazoum expressed concern about the worsening security situation in Mali and the jihadist threat hanging over the Malian town of Ménaka in the wake of France's military withdrawal.

Witnesses say that young demonstrators against the government of interim President Mahamat Deby are being tortured and killed. Deby has extended his stay in power for two years beyond the promised transitional period.

Where do you get your news and how independent do you think it is? The age of everybody reading a newspaper is long gone, but consumption of news media is high and has a big impact on us and our societies. Reporters without Borders recently documented how social and political tensions are fuelled by social media and new opinion media in countries, including France. It also says that suppression of independent media is contributing to a sharp polarisation in so-called illiberal democracies, citing Poland as one example.

If there was one word to describe the latest round of ready-to-wear offerings for summer 2023, it would be freedom, a desire to liberate bodies – and minds – from all forms of restraint. Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto rejects any fashion that treats women like dolls rather than people, while his compatriot Hidenori Kumakiri reimagines military uniforms and French designer Mossi Traoré finds inspiration in binmen’s uniforms.

Over the past few years, tens of thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been expelled from Algeria into Niger. They are taken to the border between the two countries, an open desert, and must then cross 15km on foot to reach the village of Assamaka.

French feminist and author Helene Cixous speaks to DW about the courage shown by women protesting in Iran and what the movement means for the country.

The "overwhelming majority" of EU nations want passengers arriving from China to be tested for COVID-19. China has called new testing rules "unacceptable" after the country opens up following years of strict lockdowns.

Piercing thorns and treacherous stones underfoot did not stop some of the young woman as they charged through thickets fleeing armed militants who had kidnapped them with dozens of others in northern Burkina Faso last week.

What's left of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement? Since the implementation of the 2020 National Security law, police have been arresting anti-regime activists en masse. Most are now in prison or in exile. Authorities dissuade and crack down on all forms of protest.