Deutsche Welle

We thought we were done talking about rats. Then your questions came in. From plague myths to poisoned predators, population growth and climate change to urban allotment gardens in Helsinki, this bonus episode follows the threads we couldn’t fit in the first time around, and digs deeper into the surprisingly emotional world of humans versus rats.

Ghana’s President John Mahama has proposed new legislation to stamp out sexual exploitation in the workplace. What would the law cover, how will it be enforced?

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hanging by a thread. An investigation uncovers troubling ties between a professor at Germany’s Federal Police Academy and the far right. And Eurovision returns, amid fresh controversy. Plus: a former pilot calls for a ban on private jets as Cannes gets underway, and how Ukraine is transforming its energy system under fire.++ https://shorturl.at/nAuU4 ++?maca=en-po...

This ship phase is over. But the nature of this virus means cases may rise — even as officials contain it.

DR Congo's president signals he could delay elections and stay in power longer, citing insecurity. How serious is the crisis — and is this about stability or extending his rule?

The US and South Africa have held fresh talks on mining cooperation, as the US steps up efforts to secure critical minerals and reduce its reliance on China. Is this a fair deal or strategic rivalry? And how does it compare with controversial mining agreements in DR Congo?

Uganda is debating a new "foreign agents" law billed as protection from outside influence. Critics say its broad scope could hit NGOs, opposition parties and businesses. Is it about sovereignty — or control?

After a life-changing accident, Vanessa spent years fighting a dangerous infection that kept coming back. Eventually, doctors discovered why: the bacteria fueling it were resistant to antibiotics. Her story leads us far beyond the hospital, into waterways, soils, and a hidden world where the medicines meant to save us may be helping create the next superbugs.

If you want to understand why the Andes variant of the hantavirus is different than COVID-19, this episode's for you.

Nigeria, Ghana, and Mozambique have all raised concerns about attacks on their citizens living in South Africa where locals claim that illegal migration is driving up unemployment, straining health services, and fueling crime. DW's Adwoa Tenkoramaa Domena looks at the painful yet familiar debate about xenophobia in South Africa.

What the UK local elections could mean for the country’s political system, how troop and tariff disputes are worsening relations between Germany and the US, and controversies surrounding a new report on France’s public media. Then: a deep dive into bioacoustics and how AI can support biodiversity research.

Zambia abruptly canceled an international conference on human rights in the digital age — allegedly after Chinese interference. Questions are now swirling about censorship, sovereignty, and the shrinking space for free expression in southern Africa.

Ghana’s decision to walk away from a multi-million-dollar US health deal is getting a lot of attention and praise across Africa. What exactly was Ghana asked to sign?

The increasingly close ties between politicians, criminal networks and police has eroded belief in South Africa's justice system, and given rise to fears of deeply embedded corruption. We look at how South Africans are dealing with the jaw-dropping allegations. Host Eddy Micah talks to policing researcher David Bruce, and DW's Nontokozo Mchunu in Cape Town.

Laundry seems harmless - but it’s not. Chemicals, microplastics, and energy use add up fast. Are we overwashing just to feel "clean”? Discover how to clean your clothes smarter - and greener.

Trump whispering and attempts to save NATO, Giorgia Meloni's push to reassert political dominance, and a conversation with ECFR Director Mark Leonard on "Surviving Chaos". Then: German apprenticeships under strain, a new ban on communist symbols in Czechia, and a newspaper in Tromsø using AI to its advantage.

We know advertising works. (It's why the industry exists.) But a new study on beer ads in Germany shows how. Causally.

When children are restrained and flogged in public and those who try to protect them are attacked, the question is no longer about street life. It’s about human rights, dignity, and whether society sees these children as people in need of care or problems to be pushed out of sight. Adwoa Domena speaks to James Okina, founder of Street Priests Inc, and DW's Azeezat Abiola Olaoluwa.

An inquiry set up by the Tanzanian government to investigate the 2025 election unrest revealed that at least 518 people died of unnatural causes. However, it failed to indicate who was responsible for the deaths, recommending further investigations. Eddy Micah Jnr speaks with senior researcher in the Africa Division at Human Rights Watch, Oryem Nyeko, to delve deeper into the pursuit of justice.

Malawi's fuel crisis is probably severe than anywhere in Africa. The government has been forced to sell of precious gold reserves to buy fuel to keep hospitals and agriculture running. How are Malawians coping and is there a solution? Eddy Micah Jnr. speaks with Michael Kaiyatsa, a human rights activist and head of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) and DW's Chimwemwe Padatha in Lilongwe.

Ghana is seeking to expand access to Malaria vaccines for children amid cuts in USAID funding. Experts now warn of new gaps in prevention and care. AfricaLink unpacks the progress, the politics, and the uncertain road ahead. Adwoa Tenkoramaa Domena speaks to Dr. Nana Yaw Peprah, Deputy Programme Manager for Ghana’s National Malaria Elimination Programme and DW's Eric Mawuena Egbeta in Accra.

When Russia targets Ukraine's energy system, it's not just turning off the lights — it's creating conditions for nuclear disaster. Each attack forces a rethink: more solar, more batteries, more distributed, harder-to-hit systems. For Ukrainians, this isn't about climate — it's about survival. What can the rest of the world learn from this?

Some people seem to know if others are intelligent. Others... don't. A new study suggests why.

Concerns about Palantir in the UK, Bulgaria's incoming prime minister, and the power of magic mushrooms. Then: DW's Delayland goes in search of Germany's lost mojo, women's role in Spain's progressive milestones, and Germany's handling of its colonial past.

The Nigerian military says ex–Boko Haram fighters deserve a second chance. Many Nigerians disagree. We explore the backlash and what's at stake.