From DW Documentary. In a remote village in Senegal, a woman is using solar energy to bring progress. Against her husband’s wishes, she trains to become a solar technician. In doing so, she initiates a shift in patriarchal traditions. In the former Fulbe kingdom of "Fouta Toro” on the border between Senegal and Mauritania, there…

From DW Documentary. The weapons technologies of the future are presenting national militaries with new challenges. The conflict in Ukraine has shown that warfare is changing. Can the German armed forces keep up? New weaponry is being developed: from drones to artificial intelligence and automatic missile defense systems. Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, is rearming on…

From DW Documentary. Poland’s new president, Nawrocki is polarizing. Some celebrate nationalist Karol Nawrocki; others fear setbacks on LGBTQ rights and abortion. Last autumn, euphoria swept through Poland: Donald Tusk had won the parliamentary election, unseating the right-wing populist government after eight years. Poland showed what was possible – a shift away from nationalism to…

From DW Documentary. The way we feed ourselves is changing. Agriculture will also be impacted by Artificial Intelligence. Could AI present an opportunity for increased food security in the future? From the climate crisis to depleted soils: farmers all over the world fear for their future. Our food security is at risk. The United Nations…

From DW Documentary. Cosmetic procedures are on the rise. Experts believe that social media can often fuel trends like plumped-up lips. While hyaluronic acid fillers are marketed as natural and safe, some individuals experience serious side effects, including inflammation, death of body tissue, or even blindness. Experts are raising concerns about a lack of information…

From DW Documentary. Sudan has been in the grip of a civil war since April 2023. The consequences for the civilian population have been devastating. Hundreds of thousands have sought refuge in the remote Nuba Mountains, where there has been less fighting. For decades, those living in the Nuba Mountains in southern Sudan were oppressed…

From DW Documentary. On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU. In 2020, the exit took place. Years later, none of the Brexit promises have been kept. In the face of a deep economic and social crisis, many Britons now believe that leaving the European Union was a…

From DW Documentary. Tens of thousands of children are believed to work in illegal cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cobalt is a key resource for the production of green tech, and most of it is produced in the DRC. Local agencies are working together with international manufacturers to support the children and…

From DW Documentary. The taiga is the largest contiguous vegetation zone in the world. The birch plays a special role in this boreal coniferous forest. Its light-colored bark forms a perfect insulating layer. Symbiotic fungi protect its roots from attackers. In the boreal coniferous forest, where light and darkness, warmth and cold follow each other…

From DW Documentary. Natural disasters and wars, each seemingly more devastating than the last. Are we becoming desensitized to this constant stream of bad news? And could that actually be necessary to help us stay functional amid global conflict and the climate crisis? Are we growing emotionally numb to relentless negative headlines? Or is this…

From DW Documentary. An unusual story about love and identity: Ten years ago, Jenni and Julia were a lesbian couple. Today, they’re husband and wife. Jenni and Julia were still in school when they fell in love in 2015. At first, they thought they were like any other gay couple. But Jenni felt increasingly uncomfortable…

From DW Documentary. Right-wing radicals are becoming increasingly vocal in Germany. But many people oppose them and are fighting to defend democracy. Where do they find the courage to stand up to this sometimes-violent milieu? Right-wing extremists are stronger than ever. In cities, the counter movement is strong and highly visible. But in more rural…

From DW Documentary. Are the German armed forces prepared for the challenges of the future? With the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, German defense policy arrived at a so-called "turning point”. But can it succeed? The German army is facing enormous challenges: It has too few personnel, too little equipment,…

From DW Documentary. Did Homo sapiens and Neanderthals share the same habitat for a long period of time? Excavations by a French research team at the Mandrin Cave suggest as much. The researchers’ work has yielded even more astonishing findings. The extinction of the Neanderthals, the one species that dominated the Eurasian continent prior to…

From DW Documentary. Tigers in Lamborghinis, costumed dogs, and cheetahs on the sofa all get clicks on social media. The pet influencers, or "petfluencers", are doing well. But what price do the animals pay? Humaid Abdullah Albuqaish, who has more than seven million Instagram followers, lives in Sharjah, near Dubai. The millionaire has around 60…

From DW Documentary. Pakistan is stepping up its deportation of Afghan refugees. Three million face an uncertain future. The radical Islamic Taliban rule their homeland. They have fled the violence and terror of the Taliban: For decades, millions of Afghans have taken refuge from conflict and war in neighboring Pakistan. Many have raised families and…

From DW Documentary. One in four of Berlin’s children lives in poverty. The district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf is a particular hotbed of social disadvantage. People who grow up here have little-to-no chance of upward social mobility. But that doesn’t stop them from fighting for their rightful places in society. Pierre Hollberg has a budget of ten…

From DW Documentary. Since 2020, Madeira has been attracting freelancers from all over the world. They live and work on the island. But everyday life in this supposed paradise is also sometimes overshadowed by existential worries and loneliness. The Portuguese island of Madeira lies in the Atlantic Ocean. It is known as the island of…

From DW Documentary. The global race for the African continent‘s coveted raw materials is unscrupulous. The raw material interests of rich nations often trump the rights and needs of the local populations. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, people are being exploited in mines. Chinese traders are illegally buying cobalt, a material Europe needs for…

From DW Documentary. The repercussions of Canada’s colonial history are still playing out today. Experts tell us that part of colonization’s legacy was attacking queerness in Indigenous communities – forcing assimilation and imposing gender norms. But now, a generation of queer Indigenous people are fighting to preserve their culture and reclaim their identities. #documentary #dwdocumentary…

From DW Documentary. Fungi form a hidden network that runs through the Earth like a system of life-giving veins. Scientists are only just beginning to understand the vital role fungi plays, poised between the plant and animal worlds. It’s a mystery that is gradually being solved. Life on Earth wouldn’t be possible without fungi. Yet…

From DW Documentary. Rio de Janeiro: Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Copacabana. When night falls, the most diverse worlds come together here. A journey through one of the most fascinating metropolises in the world — from sunset to sunrise. Shortly after sunset, work begins for the men and women who collect…

From DW Documentary. Since 2020, reports have increased of boats being rammed by orcas along the European Atlantic coast. The whales make a beeline for the hulls and rudders. Researchers are trying to find out why. It is curiosity? Competition for food? Or maybe they’re just playing? In the oceans of the world that are…

From DW Documentary. Real human remains — often from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific — are still legally bought and sold in parts of Europe, the United States, and beyond. Many were taken during colonial rule – looted from graves and shipped to Europe in the name of so-called “racial science.” While some ended up…

From DW Documentary. The Spanish island of Mallorca is a popular holiday destination. But short term rentals and rising property prices are forcing more and more locals out of their neighborhoods. Millions of tourists come to the island every year. But many Mallorcans can no longer afford the rents here. 60-year-old Begoña is a parking…

From DW Documentary. Whether single, looking for a partner or divorced – what happens when young Indonesians decide to look for love their way? In Indonesia, marriage is still the social norm. Those who don’t conform, stand out and must often field many uncomfortable questions. Treading the fine line between familial pressure, religious duty and…

From DW Documentary. A huge wooden gate, like that of a Shinto shrine, is the landmark of Kanazawa. The main railway station of the metropolis in western Japan is reminiscent of a religious site. The film shows viewers a metropolis where rail transport plays an important role: The new high-speed railway line runs through the…

From DW Documentary. "African human skull, early 20th century, 2,000 euros." Adverts like this can be seen on social media. The trade is legal in Germany, even when the skulls date from the German colonial era. This reportage reveals the questionable nature of this trade in skulls — especially when their origin becomes clear. Thousands…