DW's TV highlights in June

Ten Years of the Arabellion

The Arab Spring raised hopes for democracy and social justice. But today, Syria is in ruins, civil war rages in Libya, a brutal military dictatorship is still in power in Egypt and Tunisia remains in the grip of poverty. What happened? The two-part documentary "Arabellion – Ten Years After the Arab Spring" charts the whole story of the uprisings from the protagonists' point of view. Part 1 starting June 7.

The Language of Whales

What is the meaning of the sounds and acoustic signals emitted by whales – do they have anything in common with human speech? With the help of artificial intelligence, researchers are looking for recurring patterns that might suggest some sort of linguistic model. For example, a research team in the Canadian Pacific spent three years collecting data from various families of killer whales to explore possible links between vocal patterns and behavior. The documentary The Language of Whales shows the astonishing communicative powers of these marine giants. Starting June 4.

Sailing on Lake Constance

Best-known destinations include Konstanz, Lindau and the flower island of Mainau (pictured).

A mountain panorama, crystal clear water, and islands with palm trees – this is the backdrop awaiting Check-in presenter Lukas Stege on his sailing trip on Lake Constance. The lake covers around 540 square kilometers on the borders of three nations: Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Its banks are strewn with many pretty towns and villages, but also forests and vineyards, beaches and harbors. Join DW host Lukas Stege as he takes to the waters of Lake Constance. Starting June 5,

Read. Discuss. Form an Opinion

The jury has shortlisted eight books.

The German Nonfiction Prize premiere has been set for June 14, 2021! It's the first ever award for outstanding German-language works of nonfiction that expand horizons and spark debate. In an era dominated by the current pandemic, populism and the frenetic whirl of social media discourse, books like these serve an important role. Starting June 19, Arts.21 marks the first German Nonfiction Prize 2021 and presents the nominations – and of course the overall winning title. 

Street Debate: Africa's Stolen Art

The history of the Benin Bronzes is often one of sheer brutality

Looted and brought to Europe, Benin Bronzes, examples of the finest traditional craftsmanship, all ended up in the museums of Nigeria's former colonizers and elsewhere. For years historians, artists and activists have been calling for the return of these objects to the African continent. So where do these objects really belong? Would their return mean anything to Africa's mostly youthful population? Starting June 19, The 77 Percent discusses the issue of stolen art and restitution.

Open Your Eyes to the Unseen!

The new series looks at projects promoting healthier lives and climate protection

They are invisible but they lurk everywhere! "Open your eyes to the unseen!" – from June 21, the spectacular new series on Global 3000 draws back the veil. The scene: Southeast Asia. The heroes: People committed to promoting healthier lives and climate protection. In Indonesia, teams of doctors and architects tackle air pollution with innovative concepts. In Malaysia, a cooking show presenter campaigns against microplastics in food.

Women burn incense during a mass funeral for Yazidi victims of the IS.

The Forgotten Victims of the Islamic State

Abducted and enslaved by IS terrorists – a fate endured by the Yazidi Najlaa Matto as a young woman in Iraq. Following her release, Najlaa returned once more to her home village where she met other former captives with similar accounts of torment. The documentary "Jiyan – The Forgotten Victims of IS" tells of women who suffered rape as a weapon of war and remembers the Yazidi genocide. Starting June 24.

The Humboldt Forum

The Humboldt Forum is billed as the German capital's answer to the Louvre

The rebuilding of the Berlin Stadtschloss, home of the Humboldt Forum, has been one of Europe's most expensive and controversial cultural projects in recent years. Starting June 30, the documentary "The Humboldt Forum – A Palace for Berlin" answers these questions and more: Why was the 1970s Palace of the Republic torn down to resurrect a structure that recalls global power fantasies from the German imperial era? And is this really a place to foster a constructive dialogue of world cultures?