The Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreed to extend their troop deployment inMozambique for another month to help it fight an Islamic State-linked insurgency. Meanwhile, the border between Algeria and Tunisia has been reopened after more than two years of closure due to the pandemic. And in Somalia, the crew at Bilan Media is on a mission to break the silence around gender-based violence in the country.

Five years ago, it was a party. This time it felt more like a town hall reception after a marriage of reason. Two hours after French voters had handed their now 44-year-old president a second term, Emmanuel Macron's acceptance speech was already over and supporters were set to call it an early night beneath the Eiffel Tower. From abroad, many were asking: how can a 15-point margin turn into a sobering affair?

The world was shocked when the Omicron variant was discovered in South Africa last year. But life is almost back to normal there. The government has lifted most lockdown restrictions, and tourists are flocking back.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is pushing for a vaccine mandate as part of Germany's COVID-19 containment strategy, and lawmakers in Parliament are debating compulsory vaccines. So how do German citizens feel about the prospect of a mandatory jab?

Japan is holding a parliamentary election, which is the first big test for the new prime minister. A poor showing for the ruling party could threaten a return to the country's history of revolving-door premiership.