African leaders said they would try to alleviate cyclic food insecurity on the continent back in 2003. It's time they got on with it, and they can use Western money to do so, writes DW’s George Okach.

Rising gas and oil prices have plunged Europe into its worst energy crisis in decades. France has been hit hard, but perhaps not for the reasons you would expect. Nuclear and hydroelectric power, the country's main sources of electricity, are both running out of steam. Has the French energy mix hit a breaking point? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.

Rights groups and a prominent cleric have warned of a military crackdown in the Kurdish city, following intense protests there. Meanwhile, Iran arrested two actresses, and its football captain spoke up at the World Cup.

Malaysia has been beset by political instability over the past couple of years, while the economy is struggling to recover from the COVID pandemic-induced slowdown.

Russia continued strikes on Ukrainian gas and electricity infrastructure. Meanwhile, the president of France told Asian business leaders that the conflict is "your problem" too.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was damaged in a series of explosions in September, a prosecutor in Sweden said, adding explosives remains were found on the damaged pipeline.