Deutsche Welle

The internet's invisible backbone is becoming impossible to ignore. As data centers multiply, so do questions about the land, power, communities they depend on - and who decides where they go. In part one, we visit a quiet town in Europe's biggest data center hub to see what the race to build our digital future looks like on the ground.

Could the European football union step up its game and show FIFA the red card? Then: Inside Europe's correspondents pick their player of the World Cup, France legalizes assisted dying, Albania's Gen Z keep protesting, wildfires rage in Southern Europe, and a hidden Prague collection records disability in Europe. ++ https://tinyurl.com/4za5z2tc and https://tinyurl.com/rphv2khn ++ &maca=en-podcast_inside-europe-949-xml-mrss

On Mandela Day, South Africa's record is under scrutiny. Xenophobic attacks, migrant repatriations, high unemployment and deep inequality raise a difficult question: what would Mandela say today?

Thousands of Malawians have returned from South Africa after fleeing insecurity and anti-migrant sentiment. Many came back with nothing. How are they rebuilding their lives and getting back on their feet?

The world is producing more clothes than ever before, and much of the unwanted surplus ends up in Africa. As Ghana and Kenya grapple with the fallout, can global rules hold the fashion industry accountable?

Five years after catastrophic floods tore through Germany's Ahr Valley, Living Planet host Neil King reflects on the devastation he witnessed firsthand, while reporter Jonas Mayer returns to see what's changed. Can communities really build back better - or is the next disaster only a matter of time?

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen resumes her bid for president, the ongoing feud between Poland and Ukraine, FIFA's red card saga, and the world's first business for women-only football gear. Then: the German village that slashed its electricity bills by becoming energy self-sufficient.

Why are Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso quitting the International Criminal Court? Is it a rejection of foreign influence or a blow to justice and accountability in Africa?

Zimbabwe's parliament has approved constitutional amendments extending presidential terms from five to seven years, and replacing direct presidential elections with a parliamentary vote. Host Lucy Riley speaks with DW's Privilege Musvanhiri and Chiedza Mlingwa, deputy spokesperson for the Constitution Defenders Forum, about the implications of the changes, and what they mean for the future.

Inside Europe marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the American Declaration of Independence with an extended conversation with Glyn Morgan, author of “The Rise and Fall of American Europe”. If Europe as we know it is an American creation, where does that leave us now, in this moment of rupture?

The cloud is supposed to be invisible. Limitless. Until it isn't. Coming soon, Living Planet goes in search of the hidden infrastructure being built to power our digital futures.

An exclusive DW interview with Albanian PM Edi Rama, a crackdown on Turkey's opposition ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, and a spat about who gets to lead the Czech delegation. The US celebrates 250 years of independence: two journalists detained at an event in Brussels and Glyn Morgan on the "Rise and Fall of American Europe". Plus: Ireland takes over the rotating Council presidency.

Anti-migrant protests rocked South Africa this week after some citizen-led movements demanded that undocumented foreigners leave the country by 30 June. As tensions persist, DW's AfricaLink host, Eddy Micah Jr., speaks with Mametlwe Sebei, President of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) and DW correspondent Thuso Khumalo about what lies ahead.

Ghana's capital, Accra, has once again been battered by devastating floods that left at least a dozen people dead. What is behind the recurring floods and can President John Mahama find a lasting solution? DW's Eddy Micah Jr. speaks with Ing. Abudulai Mahama, Roads and Building Consultant, and DW correspondent Adwoa Domena Tenkorama in Accra.

Africa is enjoying one of its strongest-ever FIFA World Cup campaigns, with a record nine teams reaching the knockout stage. In this AfricaLink podcast, host Eddy Micah Jr. speaks with Ghanaian sports journalist Betty Yawson and DW's Samson Omale about Africa's performances so far, the teams most likely to go further, and whether an African nation can finally lift football's biggest prize.

Uganda's latest cabinet appointments have sparked controversy after several nominees were questioned over their dual citizenship. In this AfricaLink podcast, host Lucy Riley speaks with Magezi Kirilinju, Communications Officer of the Government Citizens Interaction Center and DW's Frank Yiga in Kampala about what dual citizenship means for governance, identity, citizenship and political power.

Dust storms around the world are getting worse and for people like Michelle, living with chronic asthma near a drying lake in California, the results are life-threatening. Elsewhere, seeds of change are being planted in the form of native vegetation. Can eco science help fill a dust bowl like the Coachella Valley with hope for fresh air?

Keir Starmer resigns, 10 years of Brexit, postcards from a heatwave. Plus: Spanish corruption, DW's Freedom of Speech Award, Czech media strike and a banned Russian ballet.

If you could put on VR goggles and talk to your future self... would that help you become who you want to be? Or would it harm you?

As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves office, we examine whether his government delivered on its Africa ambitions or let another strategic opportunity slip away. Lucy Riley speaks to Alex Vines, Africa program director at the European Council on Foreign Relations and DW correspondent Dianne Hawker in Johannesburg.

Zambia's central bank has raised concerns over growing debt among civil servants, warning that excessive borrowing and loan defaults could pose risks to the country's financial sector. In this AfricaLink podcast, host Lucy Riley speaks with DW's Glory Mushinge in Lusaka about the growing debt burden on civil servants, what's driving it, and whether it could become a major election issue.

School kidnappings are leaving parents fearful and disrupting education across Nigeria. As armed groups increasingly target students and teachers, are schools still safe? Adwoa Tenkoramaa Domena speaks with educationist Uche Ohanele and DW's Ben Shemang in Abuja about the rise in school kidnappings, the impact on children and families, and what must be done to make Nigeria's schools safe again.

What happens after carbon is captured? In this special collaboration with How We Survive, Living Planet follows CO₂ from a cement factory to its final resting place more than a mile beneath the seabed. We investigate the promise, pitfalls and politics of a technology that could help tackle climate change - or prolong the fossil fuel era.

The removal of German citizenship and its history, the UK's Palestine Action ban, and an exclusive interview with the EU's Culture Commissioner. Then: a dark week for Norwegian royalty, Albania's flamingo protests, a check-in with post-election Hungary, Italy's depopulation issue, and Vienna's social housing. ++ Archive credits: Deulig Woche 370, Bundesarchiv, 79343.

When Elon Musk talks about a human 'civilization' on Mars, he's suggesting we'll have babies there. Should we?

Anti-migrant anger is rising in South Africa, and African governments are responding by bringing citizens home. In Nigeria, the first return flight has already landed, but behind the headlines are migrants forced out by fear.

A fast-moving Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is testing Uganda's border. With cases rising and a lockdown in place, can containment hold before the virus outpaces the response?

June 16 is a reminder for Africa to protect, educate, and empower its children. But still millions of children still face inequality and limited prospects. So what’s going wrong—and who's accountable? In this episode of the AfricaLink Podcast, host Adwoa Tenkoramaa Domena speaks with Tebogo Mashilompane, President of FOSA, and DW’s Thuso Khumalo in Johannesburg.

Several Kenyan students are accused of setting on fire a school dormitory that killed 16 girls. How can Kenyan schools keep children safe when dorms, exits, and supervision fail? And what prompted the arson? Eddy Micah Jr. speaks to Brenda Nyawara, Vice President of the Architectural Association of Kenya and DW's Lucy Riley in Nairobi.

Every time you drive a car, heat your home or board a plane, carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere. A growing industry says it can pull that CO₂ back out again. Living Planet reporter Sam Baker visited two companies behind direct air capture to see whether this much-hyped technology is on the verge of a breakthrough - or headed for a reality check.

African teams are heading to the World Cup with bigger dreams than ever. The stage is set, the stakes are high, and Africa’s finest are ready. Is this the tournament where Africa goes all the way, and can the continent finally break the ultimate barrier and lift the trophy? Eddy Micah Jr. speaks to Abigail Sena a sports analyst in Accra and DW's Samson Omale in Lagos.

New research from East Africa shows that pairing entrepreneurship support with market access can dramatically boost incomes, savings, and resilience among refugees. In this AfricaLink episode, Eddy Micah Jr. speaks to Winnie Auma, Chief Operating Officer at Village Enterprise and Frank Yiga in Kampala to explore how the DREAMS program is helping families rebuild their lives.

Hundreds of Ghanaians have returned home from South Africa following anti-migrant protests. In this episode of AfricaLink, we hear how a Ghanaian footballer called Fiifi was forced to leave South Africa for his safety, and the difficult road ahead. AfricaLink host Eddy Micah Jr. and DW's Isaac Kaledzi in Accra also unpack the wider tensions around migration, jobs, and xenophobia in South Africa.

At some point today, you’ve probably used an appliance that relies on HFCs, also known as refrigerants. They're many times more potent than CO2, which is why the EU, US and others are phasing them out. Planet A reporter Tim Schauenberg went undercover to explore the black-market boom in these gases now worth hundreds of millions of euros in Europe alone.

Women make up half the population in Nigeria but hold a fraction of political power. How can they reshape the country's political future — and what still stands in their way?

As the EU publishes its digital sovereignty plans, we've come up with a little techno-utopian package of our own. Our guest throughout is tech and solar-punk author Cory Doctorow: join us as we explore French AIs, Finish super-computers, Croatian Wikipedia and all the reasons why this might just be the moment in which things start to change for the better.

Ethiopia's election was hailed as proof of democracy — but conflict, insecurity and disrupted polling kept millions from voting. Was the vote free and fair? We break down the results, tensions and what it means for the country.

Senegal faces a power struggle as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his ally-turned-opponent Ousmane Sonko part ways. Who's really in charge — and what does it mean for citizens amid a deepening debt crisis?

In eastern DRC, the battle against Ebola is being fought alongside ongoing conflict. As violence restricts access, fuels mistrust, and disrupts lifesaving care, health workers face a daunting challenge: containing a deadly virus in one of the world's most insecure regions. DW spoke to DRC's Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba, and Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.

A new generation of chemical recycling plants promises to turn hard-to-recycle plastics back into new packaging and keep waste out of landfills and incinerators. But as Europe pours millions into the technology, critics are questioning whether it can really deliver on those promises. This investigation examines the gap between the industry’s recycling claims and the reality on the ground.

Another blow to Turkey's embattled democracy, the Czech kick-boxing champion turned anti-bullying activist, the inside story of Finland's gamer-industry boom, and the iconic moped disappearing from Italy's streets. Then: music in exile and what we got wrong about Pinocchio.

There are plenty of reasons NOT to have kids. But a new paper suggests having them may be the only way to protect gender equality over the long term.

63 years ago, African leaders dreamt of unity, liberation and shared prosperity. Decades later, intra-African trade is still struggling, conflicts keep erupting, and a common currency? Still a pipe dream. Eddy Micah Jr. sits down with Nanre Nafziger, Pan-Africanist Activist Solidarity Collective, and DW's Eric Mawuena Egbeta (Ghana) to ask the questions nobody's answering.

Uganda's parliament has repeatedly faced allegations of corruption, illicit enrichment and misuse of public funds. In this Africalink podcast, host Eddy Micah Jr. speaks with Yvonne Mpambara, lawyer, activist, and former independent presidential candidate, along with DW’s Frank Yiga in Kampala, discuss President Yoweri Museveni's anti-corruption drive.

Nigeria's latest plan to secure a $1.2 billion World Bank loan has sparked fresh frustration and renewed debate about the country’s rising debt burden. In this AfricaLink podcast, host Adwoa Tenkoramaa Domena speaks with Ene Obi, Executive Director of the Ene Obi Center for Development, and DW’s Ben Adam Shemang in Abuja to unpack Nigeria’s borrowing habits, their impact on the economy.

President Bola Tinubu promised bold reforms when he came into office, yet inflation is rising, food and transport costs are high, and security concerns remain. As he prepares to seek a second term, many are asking what that could mean for Nigeria.

Wind turbines, pig manure, people power – and one radical idea. Feldheim may look like an ordinary farming village, but it’s become world famous for its unique energy system, where residents pay far less for power than most Europeans. So what can the rest of the world learn from the German village that decided to go it alone?

Who is Andy Burnham—and is he ready to challenge Keir Starmer? PBS' Alexander Heffner on the growing power of mayors. What’s at stake in Cyprus’ elections? Then—Turkey’s warning over French troop plans, social media bans for minors, red deer vs. Loch Lomond, and Spain’s renewable energy edge. https://www.pbs.org/show/open-mind/&maca=en-podcast_inside-europe-949-xml-mrss

Influencers, billionaires, even the US health secretary. Proponents of testosterone — as a hormonal therapy or barometer of "masculinity" — are causing men to self-medicate. With nasty consequences.

Only five months after the DRC declared an Ebola outbreak over, the virus has returned, raising urgent questions about Africa's ability to respond amid US aid decline. DW's Adwoa Tenkorama Domena speaks with Dr. Gabriel Gorbee Logan, a central figure in the 2014–2016 West African Ebola response and Dr. Jinal Bhiman, communicable diseases expert in South Africa.