French politics continues to dominate the papers as Emmanuel Macron desperately seeks an alliance to secure a parliamentary majority. The US Senate finds bipartisan support for new gun possession laws for the first time in 30 years. Organisers of the Miss France beauty pageant introduce radical new changes to shake up the contest. Finally, a man escapes his kidnappers by driving erratically on a highway in order to be stopped by authorities.

Noise rang out across Senegal's capital Dakar on Wednesday evening as people honked car horns and banged on pots and pans in an unusual form of protest organised by the political opposition ahead of legislative elections next month. Senegal's main opposition coalition, Yewwi Askan Wi, asked its supporters to come to their windows, balconies and doorways and clang lids together at 8pm to signal their anger over the disqualification of their candidates list in the upcoming poll.

French prosecutors said on Wednesday they were investigating a junior minister in President Emmanuel Macron's government after two allegations of rape were brought against her.

Colombians have elected a new president. Gustavo Petro, 62, is set to become the first leftist in the country's top job. The former rebel of the now defunct M-19 movement beat millionaire businessman Rodolfo Hernandez in Sunday's election. Petro will take the oath of office in August, replacing the deeply unpopular Ivan Duque. For analysis, we speak to Gerard Martin, a political sociologist based in Medellin, Colombia.

The billionaire was named prime minister for the fourth time and asked to form a government to save the country from financial collapse. He urged fractious politicians to set aside differences to secure an IMF deal.

Ecuador's president has accused Indigenous protesters of attempting a coup. Clashes between protesters and security forces have left six people dead, and six of the country's 24 provinces are under a state of emergency.

Protests led by Indigenous groups have continued for nearly two weeks, as parliament begins a no-confidence vote against President Guillermo Lasso. The state of emergency imposed in some parts has been repealed.

Fuel will be rationed for two weeks as shortages and inflation continue to wreak havoc on Sri Lanka. Colombo is hoping Russian energy can solve its problems.

GuardianTV speaks to a few Nigerian celebrities about which entertainer can possibly be the President and Vice President of Nigeria.

Mexican President Manuel Lopez Obrador has angered the Jewish community by comparing a prominent member to Hitler. It's not the first time the leftist leader has tried to smear opponents with such comparisons.

The International Monetary Fund has concluded "constructive" talks with the government of Sri Lanka over a possible bailout. The island is facing its worst economic crisis on record, with protests over food, fuel and medicine shortages. Also on the show: why France is faring better than its neighbours when it comes to inflation. Plus FRANCE 24's Madrid correspondent Sarah Morris reports on the Spanish companies suffering from a diplomatic spat with Algeria.

It's been one year since Myanmar's military toppled the democratically elected government and launched a brutal crackdown on popular protest. DW spoke with Dr. Sasa, a spokesman for Myanmar's government-in-exile, about how the opposition plans to restore democratic rule.