D

Deutsche Welle

April 2026

Kosovo to hold snap elections in June

Prime Minister Albin Kurti was able to form a government in February, but now there's a political deadlock over who shoud be elected president

While the frequent elections show that Kosovo is a functioning democracy,... they also show that the country has restricted capabilities of advancing its strategic interests."
As a result, Kosovo's position in the dialogue [with Serbia] is weak and focus on rule of law and on [EU] integration processes has waned. Kosovo is devoting more energy to managing internal crises than to advancing its agenda for European integration,
Albin Kurtiprime Minister
This has not only led to tensions between the two leaders but has also raised questions at the international level regarding the coherence and consistency of Kosovo's foreign policy."
You are the best president of the 21st century,
In the international arena, the inconsistent political positions of both sides often led to confusion,

Saudi Arabia's public fund to withdraw LIV Golf funding

LIV isn't the only casualty of changing Saudi "investment priorities" amid economic turmoil and war in the Middle East

PIF has made the decision to fund LIV Golf only for the remainder of the 2026 season,
The ⁠substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF's investment strategy,
LIV Golf is transitioning ​from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model, with a formal process underway to attract long-term financial partners,
Yasir Al-Rumayyana Saudi Arabian businessman who is governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Whether due to the war or reasons related to economic feasibility, we continuously reassess our priorities,

UK raises terror threat level following antisemitic attack

Shabana Mahmoodbritish Home Secretary
Today, the national threat level has increased to 'severe,' which means a terrorist attack is considered highly likely,
I know this will be a source of concern to many, particularly among our Jewish community, who have suffered so much,

UAE oil exit from OPEC signals focus on domestic priorities

Abu Dhabi's exit from OPEC signals a geopolitical shift and a pointed message to Saudi Arabia

It ​will not mortgage its (production) to Saudi Arabia and decisions...It will not be beholden to its rules."
Kristian Alexandercanadian music conductor
In contrast, the UAE has spent heavily to expand production capacity, while OPEC+ constraints limited how much of that capacity could be monetized,
It is worth noting that it happened on the same day Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted a summit with regional leaders to create a unified front on Iran's blockage of the Strait of Hormuz,
Kristian Alexandercanadian music conductor
Saudi-UAE competition could sharpen across several domains: oil market share, logistics, tourism, financial services, technology, AI investment, and efforts to attract foreign direct investment,
Kristian Alexandercanadian music conductor
The war created a strategic opening,
Kristian Alexandercanadian music conductor
Abu Dhabi views its ties with Washington and Israel as vital security channels while remaining independent in decision-making on energy, investment, China, and regional diplomacy,
Kristian Alexandercanadian music conductor
Once Hormuz access improves again, Abu Dhabi will gain more freedom to operate like a commercially agile energy exporter rather than one constrained by cartel discipline,
The time has come to focus our efforts on what our national interest dictates and our commitment to our investors, customers, partners and global energy markets,
The UAE dirham remains pegged to the US dollar, and global oil trade continues to be overwhelmingly denominated in dollars,

Iran's Vafaei playing for more than snooker glory

After years lost to visa battles, Hossein Vafaei is finally delivering on his early promise as a snooker prodigy

Judd Trumpworld No.1
If he was from somewhere else and if he hadn't had [visa issues] he would have been in the top 16 by now,
Hossein Vafaeiiranian snooker player
Snooker is very popular in Iran,
Judd Trumpworld No.1
It's very tough to be an Iranian at this time. I don't know [whether] to be happy. I don't know [whether] to be sad,
I came to live in Sheffield to be beside the Crucible. And to imagine one day lifting the trophy,
I wasn't nervous, I enjoyed every moment. I was born for these kinds of situations,

First dots on the roadmap to exiting fossil fuels

The message from inaugural talks on exiting fossil fuels was clear

Cedric Dzelucedric Dzelu is a Ghanaian youth leader, Author, Social Entrepreneur and an Environmental Activist
We need a fossil fuel treaty that creates the necessary architecture for a just transition,... Past treaties and agreements too often fall short on policies and pledges, financing and equitable implementation
COPs are more formal, negotiators have their lines and they will not cross them and it's so different here,
We must pave the way for a legal instrument that names what it phases out and how we finance it,
Multilateralism and international cooperation are not defined by a single process, but rather by recognizing the governance gaps. (...) even our greatest challenges can be overcome, and we can reach new horizons together,

Will EU bring in a windfall tax on oil companies?

Five countries, including Germany, want the EU to bring in a so-called windfall tax to target energy companies benefiting from the price crisis

In short, these taxes may be feasible, but they are on the edge of constitutionality and legally contentious,
Rather than pursuing temporary policies, policymakers should implement long-term, pro-growth tax reforms that stimulate economic activity and incentivize production and energy diversification by supporting private investment,
There's no precise way to define a 'windfall' in a volatile industry without over‑taxing normal profits,
Instead of governments putting the burden on taxpayers, it's time that oil companies pay up,
This is the 'messy middle' of the energy transition,
Fossil fuel prices are rising and there are excessive profits from companies as a result of that,
They can generate some short‑term revenue, but at the cost of higher uncertainty, weaker investment, and higher prices down the line,

Iran war: Pezeshkian says US blockade 'doomed to fail,' Centcom admiral argues otherwise

Masoud Pezeshkianpresident
Any attempt to impose a maritime blockade or restrictions is contrary to international law... and is doomed to fail,
Right now there are 41 tankers with 69 million barrels of oil that the Iranian regime can't sell,
Brad Cooper (admiral)admiral
Today, US forces achieved a significant milestone after successfully redirecting the 42nd commercial vessel attempting to violate the blockade,

Hong Kong pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai honored by DW

Before being imprisoned for 20 years, Jimmy Lai founded Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy newspaper

I think if he knew about it [the award], he'd be very happy,
When the Hong Kong handover was going to happen in 1997, he knew that if China was willing to do the Tiananmen Square massacre, then someone in Hong Kong needed to campaign for democracy and defend this freedom; someone who had the means and the ability,
A 20-year sentence is a death sentence,
Jimmy Laihong Kong
I'll sink with the ship, because this place gives me everything,

India news: Exit polls out in key state elections

Narendra Modi's BJP is trying to make inroads in three states where it has never held power

Israel stops Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters

This is the unlawful seizure of human beings on ‌the open sea near Crete, an assertion that Israel can operate with total impunity, far beyond its own borders, with no consequences,
Nathan J. Brown (political scientist)political scientist
The goods on these flotillas do not meet the needs of the Palestinians in Gaza, but they draw international attention to what is happening in Gaza,

Women journalists in Ghana encounter — and overcome — gender barriers

There was a lot of interest in this,... because these kinds of workshops are not typically offered by their media employers."
I often have to work twice as hard to be heard and taken seriously, especially when it comes to decision-making in the workplace,
I face limited resources for field reporting, poor road networks when covering remote areas, pressure to meet tight deadlines and sometimes difficulty accessing timely information from institutions,
In such situations, some people may turn defensive or unwilling to share information,
I remained calm and discreetly recorded a short video of the group,

North Korea faces food shortages as drought threatens crops

An unusual drought has recently persisted across much of the country, a phenomenon rarely seen in previous years,
Workers across various regions are concentrating all efforts on protecting early-season crops from the drought,

World press freedom declines as authoritarianism rises

With three in four countries "problematic" or worse, the 2026 World Press Freedom Index offers a bleak picture for global media

Knowing that there is somebody you can rely on for support is very important,
When Milei insults a journalist, he is not doing that as Milei, the economist, or Milei, an ordinary citizen,
He has a long career behind him, and it was always his narrative that journalists are his enemy,
Not many young people want to become journalists anymore,

Trump threatens US troop cuts in Germany

Donald Trumppresident
The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,

King Charles commemorates 9/11 victims in New York visit

We honour the memory of all those who so tragically lost their lives on 11th September 2001, and stand in enduring solidarity with the American people in the face of such profound loss. Charles R ‌Camilla R."
I found it extremely sweet that I was allowed to hug the queen,
She was quite endearing, as was the king. I also told him that I thought he was adorable,

US top court mulls scrapping Syrians', Haitians' protection

The Trump administration is appealing lower court orders that blocked it from immediately ending temporary protected status for people from Haiti and Syria

That map is an unconstitutional gerrymander, and its use would violate the plaintiffs' constitutional rights,