World | Deutsche Welle

Will the Iran war end Strait of Hormuz oil supremacy? The conflict has brutally exposed the energy market's Achilles' heel. While global powers China, India and the EU push renewables, Gulf leaders are advancing plans for new bypass pipelines to safeguard their oil empires. Musk vs. OpenAI trial to get underway Two giants in the AI sector are set for a courtroom battle: Elon Musk (xAI) is taking on Sam Altmann (OpenAI). Musk has accused Altmann of betraying OpenAI's originally nonprofit mission. Portugal's arms industry is taking off Portugal has built up a surprisingly large, independent arms industry over the past five years. But whether it can be truly autonomous with the US as a major ally remains to be seen. Iran war deadline heats up Trump-Congress showdown A US president can order a military operation without congressional approval, but only for 60 days. After that they must seek formal approval from Congress. For the Iran war, this deadline expires on May 1. Iran's Araghchi visits Russia as talks with US on hold Iran's foreign minister is continuing his diplomatic drive amid the war against his country with a trip to Russia. It comes after planned talks with the US in Pakistan were canceled. SIPRI: Record arms spending, again Global military spending hit a record high in 2025. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI, warns the trend is likely to continue — and carries additional risks. Russia, North Korea agree 'long-term' military cooperation Russia's defense minister and the chairman of the State Duma are both visiting North Korea. One helped inaugurate a memorial to North Korean soldiers killed fighting Ukraine, the other hashed out a new defense deal. Colombia highway bomb attack kills at least 19 Suspected guerillas carried out a deadly explosives attack on the Pan-American Highway in southwest Colombia. The region has been gripped by violence over the past few days. Syria: First trial of Assad-era officials opens in Damascus A court in Damascus is trying one official in former President Bashar Assad's government in person, and several more in absentia. Assad and his brother are among the defendants. Both are thought to have fled to Russia. 40 years after Chernobyl: Pripyat today After the catastrophic accident in the nearby nuclear reactor, the city of Pripyat had to be completely evacuated. Some 50,000 people left their homes forever. DW visited the town with a former resident 40 years later. Palestinians vote in municipal elections in Gaza, West Bank Palestinians headed to the polls in the occupied West Bank and a part of Gaza in a first vote since the Gaza war. UK-US ties tested: Britain courts Trump with King Charles On a state visit to the US, the British monarch is being deployed to help steady increasingly strained US-UK relations. Can King Charles help repair the damaged so-called "special relationship?"