Top athletes are under considerable pressure to succeed. And only those who can deal with that constant pressure have a chance of getting funding. Speed skater and Olympic participant Bente Pflug tells her story.

The Kremlin is far from its goals in Ukraine. Many Russians are concerned about that, including those in Putin's inner circle. What does it mean for the war and for Putin's political career? DW correspondent Yuri Rescheto analyzed the situation.

After grappling with the consequences of the driest summer in several hundred years, Europe has also had to deal with a winter drought this year. Various European governments are warning of critical water shortages, as low rainfall leaves rivers depleted. This April, the Italian government tabled a "drought" decree in response to the water crisis.

Deja Foxx, 23, has just been awarded the Global Citizen Prize for her activism on women's reproductive rights. Deja first came to prominence at just 15 years old, when she challenged a Republican senator in Arizona over the right for women to have free access to birth control pills. Since then, she has worked as the youngest ever strategist and influencer on the election campaign of US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Africa's shrinking space for press freedom and a growing mistrust in state institutions are pushing some journalists into activism.

After years of criticism from inside and outside the club, Bayern Munich have ended their controversial sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways.

In spite of an agreement struck in April to cut production of crude by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, oil prices still haven't seen a boost. In this edition, we see that concerns over global economic growth are outweighing the production cuts. Also, European space rocket Ariane 5 gears up for its final lift-off and Singaporean bank UOB makes a winning bet on Taylor Swift fans.

LGBTQ activists are trying to counter the conservative narrative that suggests homosexuality has no place in Muslim culture. There's plenty of evidence in regional history that says otherwise.

Bangladesh is scheduled to hold general elections by January 2024, and observers say the EU has a key role to play in ensuring that the polls are free of electoral manipulation and misconduct.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government is facing a wave of criticism at home and abroad after allowing the release of treated radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean.

The regional bloc CCAS, and the country's opposition coalition, have urged international partners to push for a rapid return to civilian rule. Also in this edition: In Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 48 protesters are reported to have been killed in the eastern city of Goma. And finally: In South Africa, the death toll rises to 76 after the devastating Johannesburg fire at an abandoned apartment block that housed dozens of homeless people and squatters.

Pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili is facing possible impeachment after she visited leaders in the bloc. The current government is seen by the opposition as taking the country away from Europe and toward Russia.