The French press react to strikes and protests across France on "Black Thursday" against the government's pension reform plans. Also, there's mixed reaction in New Zealand to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stepping down. Finally, Andy Murray wins the second-longest match in Australian Open history, but the late finishing time sparks criticism of the tournament's organisers.

Thousands turn out to opposition-organised protests in South Africa to express deepening frustration over the country's power crisis. Also, in a rare trial of a former president, ex-Mauritanian leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz appears in court on corruption charges.

Thousands turn out to opposition-organised protests in South Africa to express deepening frustration over the country's power crisis. Also, in a rare trial of a former president, ex-Mauritanian leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz appears in court on corruption charges. Finally, faced with about 15,000 tonnes of "e-waste" dumped in landfills every year, Rwanda is focusing more resources on recycling old smartphones.

Mykola Tyshchenko, a Ukrainian MP, was expelled from Ukraine's ruling party over a trip to Thailand earlier this month. The trip came to light through an encounter that was organised with the MP by the Ukrainian embassy in Thailand. Traces of this event were later deleted online. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Those accused of "corruption on earth" and colluding with foreign forces would not be pardoned, state media reported. Former officials meanwhile appealed for political reform.

One of the divers in the dramatic rescue of boys from a Thai cave tells DW one year on about the dreaded experience of not knowing whether they would find the boys dead or alive.

Award-winning French journalist Samuel Forey joins us for Perspective to discuss his newly-released book, which retraces six years of reporting from the Middle East. He tells us more about why he decided to become a war reporter and also reacts to the devastating twin earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

When the 2019 revolution began in Sudan, paintings touting democracy and freedom appeared at sit-ins. These paintings made a strong impression on the young generation, who discovered a new means of expression after decades of censorship under Omar al-Bashir. After the military seized power in a coup d’état in October 2021, artists continued to express their thirst for freedom.

Iranian authorities brutally cracked down on demonstrations in recent months. But even though the wave of protests has subsided, the spark of resistance is still growing in Iranian society.

Hundreds of thousands flooded the streets of Madrid to protest what they see as a push by the conservative regional government to dismantle public healthcare.

A Thai court has sentenced a 26-year-old man to two years in jail for selling satirical calendars featuring rubber ducks, which authorities said insulted the king. Inflatable yellow ducks were used as a symbol during pro-democracy protests in 2020.

After the deadly train crash in Central Greece, grief has turned into rage against governments past and present. With elections approaching, the current administration is engaging in damage limitation.