What in the World

President Biden has just signed a law that says TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance has nine months to sell the app or it will be blocked in the US. We hear what TikTok users in the US think about the ban - and how it would affect them. Liv McMahon from the BBC tech team explains why the US government has done this, how TikTok has responded - and why it won’t be easy to sell the app. And the BBC’s Kerry Allen describes the origins of TikTok in China and the Chinese reaction to the ban.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Benita Barden and Mary Isokariari Editor: Verity Wilde

Nuclear weapons have been back in public conversation recently - partly due to rising tensions between Iran and Israel. Outside of the news, they have also been featured a lot in films and TV shows. (Think Oppenheimer and Fallout).

But, what are nuclear weapons? And is it likely they’ll be used again? Or, have we learnt from what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

The BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera explains. We also hear from a nuclear studies student in Islamabad, Pakistan, about why young people should care about them.

Plus, Alex Rhodes from the team talks us through some nuclear close calls. This includes how the actions of one Stanislav Petrov could have saved us all.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya Editor: Verity Wilde

There’s been massive flooding in Dubai, with twice the annual amount of rain in a single day. Roads, runways and shopping malls were flooded. Meanwhile, West Africa has been dealing with one of its worst heatwaves. Late March and early April saw consistent temperatures above 40 degrees centigrade, sometimes even at night. We know a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme weather events more likely - but are the freak events going to be the new normal?

Three BBC reporters take us through the facts. Abdirahim Saeed looks at the infrastructure in Dubai and our Climate Disinformation reporter, Marco Silva, explains what conspiracies around cloud-seeding were doing the rounds after the floods. We go to Lagos to speak to Makuochi Okafor, a BBC Health Correspondent for West Africa, and we also hear from three people in their early twenties about how they’re coping in the heat and trying to limit the effects of climate change.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Adam Chowdhury, Alex Rhodes, Emily Horler and Mary Isokariari Editor: Verity Wilde

The metaverse has been talked about as the next big thing in technology: a virtual world which will become a part of our daily lives (think Ready Player One). Mark Zuckerberg even changed his company’s name from Facebook to Meta in 2021, such was his commitment to building his own metaverse.

But what actually is a metaverse? And how close is it to becoming a reality? Technology reporter Omar Mehtab explains.

He also answers questions from two guests who want to know more about the metaverse. Yusaira, a college student in Bangladesh, and professional racing gamer Karl Etyemezian, who plays for the Veloce Esports team, and competed for Lebanon at the first ever Olympic Esports event in 2023. They discuss its real-life potential and their reservations.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Emily Horler

Korean shamans hold significant cultural importance in Korean society. They are often shown in Korean dramas and films, adorned in shiny and colourful traditional attire, dancing on sharp knives, summoning spirits, and banishing demons. They offer fortune telling services and perform rituals to help people with their personal issues.

In South Korean media, shamans are often portrayed as deceitful characters who misuse their status to manipulate people and profit from others… but that negative image is slowly changing as young shamans are modernising their approach. They now have shrines in the busy centre of Seoul and they've become big on social media, even offering consultations online. BBC journalist Soo Min Kim has been speaking to shamans and their customers about why people go to see them and how social media is making them more accessible.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Soo Min Kim Producers: Emily Horler and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

India’s live music scene is thriving with higher ticket sales and more concerts from international artists. To meet demand, the country is renovating old venues. And the government has simplified tax rules to encourage more stars like Ed Sheeran to perform.

Megan Lawton, a BBC reporter in Toronto, has been speaking to fans in India and people who work in India’s live music industry. Among other things, she explains how streaming is boosting the demand for live music events and why music promoters see India as an important market to target.

Plus, BBC reporter Trisha Husada in Jakarta, explains what Indonesia is doing to entice more global musicians. That’s after Taylor Swift snubbed most of Southeast Asia during her recent Eras tour.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Megan Lawton Producers: William Lee Adams and Mora Morrison Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

In this episode we chat with someone who just LOVES steak, and eats it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But Eric’s not the only one who loves beef: its consumption is going up around the world. But many people are also concerned about its huge carbon footprint - and how it impacts climate change.

BBC climate reporters Georgina Rannard and Marco Silva explain why cows are so bad for the environment, what misinformation exists online, and what alternatives are out there (if you’re looking to cut down).

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Women’s basketball is more popular than ever. Ratings for the WNBA are growing and the professional league has plans to increase its number of teams. Monday was a huge day for the sport, as the best college players in the United States gathered for the WNBA draft. The professional teams picked the college players who will join them for the next season. Dozens of women, including Caitlin Clark - who’s drawn comparisons to NBA legend Steph Curry - are now headed to the professional league and bringing their fans with them.

So what’s behind the success of women’s basketball? Shavonne Herndon, a sideline reporter for the Dallas Wings, explains. And Adam Chowdhury from the What in the World team shares some of the highlights from Monday’s draft. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Baldeep Chahal Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

Iran has carried out direct strikes on Israel for the first time. It’s believed to be a retaliation for a deadly strike on its consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus. The bad blood between both countries goes back many years. And it’s involved several countries in the region, including Lebanon and Syria. Previously, Israel and Iran had been engaged in a years-long shadow war - attacking each other's assets without admitting responsibility.

The BBC’s Shayan Sardarizadeh tells us why they are enemies, what’s lead to Iran’s recent airstrikes, who has nuclear weapons, and what the attack could mean for the rest of the world.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Baldeep Chahal Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

P-pop, or Pinoy pop, is a growing genre of music in the Philippines. It stems from OPM (Original Pilipino Music). You may be more familiar with K-pop, which is a multibillion-dollar industry. P-pop is hoping to get a slice of that global success.

One of P-pop’s biggest groups is Alamat. Each member comes from a different region of the Philippines and sings in their local language. In Manila, Hannah meets them and learns why spreading Filipino culture is so important to them, and what sets them apart.

We’re also joined by Camille Elemia, a Manila-based journalist, who explains P-pop’s origins and popularity. Plus, YouTuber Sylvia Kim tells us how P-pop compares to K-pop, and if it’s taking off in Korea.

(Music in episode: Dayang by Alamat)

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editor: Verity Wilde and Julia Ross-Roy

Famine is imminent in northern Gaza, according to the United Nations. There is some aid going into Gaza, but it’s severely limited and aid workers face dangerous, sometimes deadly conditions.

Last week there was widespread international criticism after seven people from World Central Kitchen died in an Israeli airstrike. Israel has said the attack was due to “grave mistakes”. The UN says over 200 humanitarian workers have now been killed in Gaza.

The BBC’s Hugo Bachega, a Middle East correspondent, explains how much aid is entering Gaza and the challenges of getting aid in and distributing it.

We hear what kind of aid is being delivered, from Karyn Beattie, the team leader for Save the Children’s program in Gaza.

And we ask - is Israel starting to allow more aid in?

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

When it comes to elephant conservation, Botswana is the world leader. It is now home to more than 130,000 elephants — or around a third of the world's elephant population. But this growing number poses major problems for humans: the animals destroy homes and crops, and even injure and kill people.

To manage its elephant population, Botswana allows so-called “trophy hunting”. Hunters from abroad pay for permits to shoot and kill elephants — and can then take a piece of the elephant home. Botswana then re-invests this income into conservation efforts.

It’s a controversial practice. Animal rights activists want Botswana’s government to seek alternatives to trophy hunting, which they deem as cruel. And in Germany — Europe’s biggest importer of African elephant trophies — the government has suggested there should be stricter limits on importing them. The president of Botswana recently threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany as part of the dispute.

Shingai Nyoka, a BBC reporter in neighbouring Zimbabwe, explains the laws that govern trophy hunting and why they’re up for debate. And John Murphy, a BBC News reporter in London, recounts his experience visiting an “elephant corridor” — regular routes taken by elephants in their daily commute between their feeding grounds on one side and water on the other.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Shingai Nyoka Producers: Alex Rhodes and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

On Monday, millions of people across Mexico, the US and Canada saw a total solar eclipse. That’s when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, blocking its light.

But it’s not just eclipse-chasers who are excited. Scientists are too. They’re using the opportunity to study the Earth's upper atmosphere (known as the ionosphere), the Sun’s corona, and even animal behaviour.

So, could this solar eclipse could help unlock some of the secrets of our universe? Astronomer Jimena Stephenson and the BBC’s Laura Garcia explain.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

*In this episode Laura says Mexico last witnessed a solar eclipse in 1999. But it was in fact 1991.*

Over the last few decades, most countries in Europe have abolished compulsory military service. But following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the debate around conscription has returned. Last year Latvia restarted mandatory military service for men between 18 and 27. And now other countries are expanding their policies on conscription and encouraging their allies to follow suit. Last month Denmark proposed extending mandatory military service to women.

BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake explains why countries are bringing back conscription and how changing rules are affecting young people. We also hear from two young conscripts in Estonia . They describe their training and the mental toll it can take.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison, Alex Rhodes, William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Vinícius Júnior is one of the top footballers in the world but recently he broke down in tears when asked about the racist abuse he’s suffered from fans while playing for Spanish side Real Madrid. It’s sparked a fierce debate about racism in the sport and in Spain itself. The Brazilian has said that La Liga “belongs to racists”, so what can be done about the problem?

We’ve got BBC Sport presenter Isaac Fanin and the What in the World team’s Maria Clara Montoya in the studio with Hannah to break down the issue.

And we hear how a small team in Madrid, Dragones de Lavapiés, is trying to tackle racism and prejudice at a community level. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde

Welcome to the future. There are some people who already live with an implant inside their head. Noland Arbaugh is one of them - he’s paralysed but can now work a computer with his mind.

There could be more people with brain chips if Elon Musk's hopes for his company, Neuralink, come true. He wants humans to merge with artificial intelligence to stop AI from taking over the world. That’s not happening any time soon, but there are lots of questions around how brain implants are used at the moment. How are they helping people? Are they ethical? Could we all have one at some point?

Wired's biotech reporter, Emily Mullin, tells us more about how these brain interface devices work. And neuroethicist Laura Cabrera reflects on the moral implications of these implants.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Baldeep Chahal, Benita Barden and Emily Horler Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Senegal's democracy was put at risk earlier this year when former president, Macky Sall, tried to hold onto power by delaying elections and putting political opponents in prison.

But the election went ahead and Senegal now has a new president. Who is Bassirou Diomaye Faye and with him in charge, what’s the future for the country?

From Dakar, BBC correspondent Thomas Naadi tells us more about Faye's road to the Senegalese presidency.

And BBC journalist Natasha Booty gives us some details about Faye's personal life, which has attracted much attention now he’s the first president in Senegal in a polygamous marriage with two wives.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Maria Clara Montoya and Benita Barden Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

You may have started seeing adverts on your social media feed for a website called Temu. Its motto is “shop like a billionaire” and it sells… well, pretty much everything. The only thing the products in its marketplace have in common is that they’re dirt cheap and made in China.

It’s the global wing of a Chinese e-commerce shopping company and burst onto the scene in 2022. It’s now worth just under 150 billion dollars. It’s aggressively marketed itself, releasing glossy adverts during the Superbowl, cultivating an army of influencers and offering promotions that encourage users to sign up other shoppers for cash giveaways.

But the small print details of these deals got some experts worried about data and privacy protection.

Alex chats to BBC Business and Tech reporter Sam Gruet talk about the origins of the company and how it manages to make money when its products are so cheap.

Hannah speaks to BBC journalist Tom Espiner about the giveaway promotion and why users may have signed away more than they’d bargained for.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart and Alex Rhodes Producers: Baldeep Chahal and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

The cost of cocoa - the key ingredient for making chocolate - has reached an all-time high. In fact, the price has roughly doubled over the past year. The soaring cocoa prices are squeezing major chocolate makers and filtering through to consumers who are paying more for their sweet treats.

Nkechi Ogbonna, the BBC’s Senior West Africa Business Correspondent, explains how climate change, irregular rainfall and crop infestations are contributing to the price hike. It’s a similar story for coffee, as producers face growing demand and environmental challenges. Vanusia Nogueira, the executive director of the International Coffee Organization, tells us more.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: William Lee Adams, Baldeep Chahal and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Marina Summers is one of the top drag queens in the Philippines and she was one of the finalists on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World. Her drag embraces her Philippine identity, with looks on the show inspired by rice farming and even the national fish. Drag culture in the Philippines is becoming more mainstream but it’s not completely easy for all drag queens - one queen, is facing prison time for ‘offending religion’, after dressing up as Jesus in a show.

So what is life like for a Filipino drag queen? Plus we hear from two young LGBT people about what drag and being LGBT means to them.

Also, William Lee Adams, from the What in the World team, takes us through what LGBT rights are like across Southeast Asia. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

Beyoncé has released her highly anticipated new album, Cowboy Carter. It is a deep dive into the country-western genre. Some critics have questioned why one of the biggest R'n'B vocalists in the world would experiment with country. But others say it is her right as a Texas-born singer. Regardless, there is a strong sense that she is helping black artists take up more space in a genre long associated with white Americans.

Sophie Williams, a BBC reporter, explains how black artists have often felt excluded from the country music industry. We also hear the from two black women working in country music: Holly G, the founder of Black Opry, an organisation that connects black artists in the country and Americana genres, and Tiera Kennedy, a singer-songwriter from Alabama who appears on Beyoncé’s tracks Blackbird, which is a cover of The Beatles’ original song, and Tyrant.

We also hear from Dr Emmett G Price III, dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music & Boston Conservatory. He explains how African-American history influenced the development of country music.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Sophie Williams Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Flying cars are something that’s straight out of sci-fi films and novels. But despite predictions in the past that we’d all be driving/flying one by now, they’ve always been confined to visions of the future. But could all that be about to change?

A Chinese firm has bought a European company who’ve made a working flying car and has got permission to fly them in an unspecified location in its home country. China is a huge driving force behind the adoption of electric vehicles - can it do the same for flying cars?

The BBC’s Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman takes us through the story. Plus Alex from the What in the World team drops in to talk about other predictions and whether they came true.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Adam Chowdhury and Baldeep Chahal Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

More than two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western countries have ramped up their attempts to stifle Russia’s economy using sanctions. These are economic penalties imposed by one country on another to stop them acting aggressively or breaking international law. There are now around 16,500 sanctions against Russia that target sectors from energy to finance to aviation. However, Russia’s economy has proven resilient. Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia editor at BBC Monitoring, explains the ways Moscow has managed to evade sanctions. He also assesses whether sanctions can work long-term. Plus, Dr Thomas Withington, an expert on electronic warfare, discusses how Russia uses ‘ghost ships’ to trade sanctioned goods without being caught.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

All of these African countries have suffered major internet disruption this month: Ivory Coast, Liberia, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia, Burkina Faso. This meant people couldn’t do everyday things like post on social media, send money to each other or order taxis.

It’s because of damage to some of the underwater cables off the coast of west Africa. These cables, some only as thick as a garden hose, span thousands of miles and are responsible for most of the earth’s internet access.

BBC Africa business reporter Jewel Kiriungi tells the affected countries are dealing with being knocked offline.

And internet infrastructure expert Doug Madory explains how exactly this vast network of cables works and what might have happened to cause the online blackout.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross Roy, Alex Rhodes and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Havana Syndrome has confused scientists ever since it first emerged in Cuba in 2016. The mystery illness mostly affects American officials working in embassies abroad. They report symptoms like hearing buzzing and screeching noises, and often experience pulses of pain and intense pressure in their skulls.

Among other theories, people have suggested it’s a side effect from some unknown surveillance technology or the result of microwave weapons deployed by foreign enemies. Others argue it’s likely a mass psychogenic illness — so one that’s all in the mind — resulting from stress.

But some scientists think it might be physical, so there have been studies that look for signs of damage in the brains of people experiencing symptoms. Two of the most recent studies in the U.S. failed to detect any. So what or who is causing this illness?

We hear from Gordon Corera, the BBC’s Security Correspondent, who talks us through the some of the theories.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Gordon Corera Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Simon Peeks

Cookies are a way for organisations to collect data from people who visit their site or app. You might see banners popping up on sites you visit asking you to accept or decline them. Maria Clara Montoya from the What in the World team explains how cookies work and why we often see that choice.

Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has rolled out a paid-subscription version of their social media sites for users in Europe. If you pay the subscription you don’t get advertisements and Meta says it doesn’t get your data. If you don’t pay, the sites get your data and you see ads. Meta says they’re doing this to comply with European Union laws on data collection.

But some privacy campaigners say people shouldn’t have to pay if they don’t want to share their data. Privacy expert and campaigner Alexander Hanff, known as That Privacy Guy, explains what happens to our data when we browse online.

And Bipana Dhakal, founder of “The Learning Fortress” in Nepal, explains how you can keep your online data safe.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler, Maria Clara Montoya and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Plane manufacturing giant Boeing has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Videos of a dramatic door blowout onboard an Alaskan Airlines flight swept through social media in January. BBC reporter Thomas Mackintosh tells us about his chat with Cuong Tran, the man who was just inches away from the hole in the plane.

We also hear from the BBC’s North America Business Correspondent Erin Delmore, who tells us what might be behind the other incidents involving Boeing this year and how the company has responded.

Plus we discuss the allegations of a whistleblower who appears to have taken his own life in between testifying against the company.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Alex Rhodes and Baldeep Chahal Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Some women with afro and curly textured hair use chemicals to straighten their hair. But using these products can lead to burns and skin irritation. And some of the ingredients, like formaldehyde, are carcinogens. Some studies have shown a link between their use and higher rates of some cancers.

Kate Holden, a hair and scalp expert, tells us how chemical straighteners work. Dorcas Wangira, the BBC’s Africa Health correspondent, explains the health effects of using these products. Mary Isokariari from the What in the World team discusses why some women feel pressure to straighten their hair. Chinenye Ézémbu in Nigeria tells us why she chemically relaxes her hair and Deborah William shares her health issues, which she thinks are linked to her use of chemical hair straighteners.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mary Isokariari, Emily Horler and Adam Chowdhury Researcher: Jaidaa Taha Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Idris Elba, one of the actors rumoured to be the next James Bond, is leading a project to turn an island in Sierra Leone into an eco-city. The new plans for Sherbro Island include wind-powered renewable electricity, solar farms and a film studio. The hope is that the island will become a tourist destination for people seeking the sun.

The BBC’s David Waddell spoke to Elba about his new project. David joins us to explain the actor’s motivations and his vision for the city.

But we can’t not mention Akon City! Grammy award-winning artist Akon also has plans to transform a part of Africa. In 2018, the Senegalese-American said he would build ‘Akon City’ on the coast of Senegal. The R&B star said he wanted to create something like Wakanda from Marvel’s Black Panther. However, the project has been hit by delays and has barely got off the ground. Borso Tall, a journalist based in Senegal, takes us though the latest.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: William Lee Adams and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Emily Horler

The Philippines is one of the most at risk countries in the world from the effects of climate change. At the same time, it has some of the most expensive energy in Southeast Asia and relies heavily on imported coal. But a recent report by the NGO Climate Analytics found that, by 2050, the Philippines could get its energy entirely from renewable sources.

Is it feasible? Three Filipinos give us their thoughts. Jhesset Enano is a journalist, Mitzi Jonelle Tan is a climate activist and Joshua Miguel Lopez works for Reboot, a youth-led organisation working towards a just energy transition.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Emily Horler

In Cameroon, 62 football players have been suspended from the domestic league for double identification or age fraud. One of them is 17 year old Wilfried Nathan Doualla who was part of the Indomitable Lions squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

There have been claims of age fraud in Cameroonian football for a long time now. Last year, 21 members of their under-17s squad failed age tests. Some of them were found to be in their late 20s and early 30s. But these allegations aren’t just limited to Cameroon - there have also been cases in Ghana and Nigeria.

BBC Sport Africa reporter Oluwashina Okeleji explains why some players lie about their age and how clubs use MRI technology to work out if a player is under 18. Former Premier League footballer and Ghana international Kwesi Appiah talks about his experience of how age impacts players on the pitch. And Alex from the What in the World team chats about other cases of age fraud and age controversy outside football, from gymnastics to Mariah Carey.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Josh Jenkins Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

At least six trans people have been killed in Mexico since the beginning of the year. Human rights groups say that Mexico is the second most dangerous country to be trans, after Brazil.

One of the women killed was Samantha Gómez Fonseca, a trans activist and politician. She was shot multiple times in a taxi in Mexico City. Miguel Fuentes, from the LGTBQ organisation Yaaj, tells us about her life. Naran Sofia Martin del Campo explains the daily challenges that come with being a trans woman in Mexico. And BBC journalist Marcos Gonzalez talks about the culture in Mexico and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Maria Clara Montoya Researcher: Elena Angelides Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan. It's a month of fasting, reflection, community and family time. But this year it feels different.

Iqra Farooq, a BBC journalist in London, explains how people have traditionally marked Ramadan and how the Israel-Gaza war is impacting those traditions.

We also hear from Muslims, from Gaza to Sudan, who discuss how the conflict is affecting them and their families during Ramadan.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Iqra Farooq Producers: William Lee Adams and Baldeep Chahal Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

An online storm has engulfed Kate Middleton. Rumour and speculation have swirled ever since she underwent planned abdominal surgery at the start of the year. Kensington Palace said from the beginning that she wasn’t expected to resume Royal duties until after Easter but that did nothing to stop the pressure mounting over a lack of public appearances.

Over the weekend the Palace released a photo of the Princess of Wales with her children but then people started noticing odd details. Soon the press agencies that distributed the photo had issued a “kill notice” - over concerns that it had been digitally altered or edited. Eventually Kate issued a statement on Instagram, admitted “experimenting” with editing and apologised for any “confusion” the picture may have caused.

This PR disaster has done nothing to quell the rumours.

In this episode we break down the timeline of the story so far, the BBC’s Jacqui Wakefield looks into how the image may have been edited and we get some PR tips from crisis management expert Molly McPherson.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

These days tickets for big music tours and sports events can sell out in a matter of seconds. And not everyone who buys a ticket is planning on going. Touts, scalpers, resellers (whatever you know them as) are using increasingly high-tech ways to snap up all the tickets before real fans get a chance, then selling them on for dizzying amounts.

It’s not just big stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, it’s also huge sports events like the Cricket World Cup, the Superbowl and the Euros.

We hear from Rachel Lee, a reporter in South Korea, and Roxy Gagdekar, a reporter in India, about the scale of the problem in their countries. Plus we speak to Alessandro Moretti, a criminologist who’s spoken to some prolific touts to study their secrets.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Beverly Ochieng Producers: Alex Rhodes, Baldeep Chahal and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

By the end of March, the Academy Awards and the Grammys will have finished, with hours of dedicate coverage, posts and memes galore. But viewing figures in the US show less people are tuning in. There’s a tendency to highlight the glitziness and importance of these events in the US, UK and Europe, but are award shows held to the same standard everywhere? And do these shows even matter anymore?

Noor Nanji, the BBC’s Culture Reporter and Fan Wang, a BBC Journalist in Singapore tell us about what award shows exist across Asia, and whether winning an award holds the same weight culturally. Nyasha Michelle, a journalist at BBC Africa also gives us a glimpse into Africa’s award show industry.

Plus, what do you have to do behind the scenes to actually win an Oscar? It's not as simple as putting in the best performance. Stars like Oppenheimer's Cillian Murphy, Maestro's Bradley Cooper, Killer of the Flower Moon's Lily Gladstone and the studios behind them have been on the campaign trail to try and secure that famous golden statue.

We get some Hollywood insight into what it takes from Jillian Chilingerian, the co-founder of Offscreen Central.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Beverly Ochieng Producers: Alex Rhodes, Adam Chowdhury and Benita Barden Editors: Simon Peeks

South Korea has had the world’s lowest birth rate for several years. And recent figures show that it has dropping even further.

Yuna Ku, a reporter in the BBC’s Seoul bureau, explains why the high cost of childcare and expectations about women in the workplace have really put young people off. She also tells us about government efforts to encourage women to have kids, including subsidised housing, IVF treatment and even cash handouts.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Beverly Ochieng Producers: Josh Jenkins and William Lee Adams Editors: Simon Peeks

Senegal has a reputation as being a beacon of stability in West Africa. Even (whisper it) a bit boring when it comes to politics - but in the last few months all that has changed.

Senegal was supposed to hold a presidential election in February but that hasn’t happened and no new date has been set. Critics of the current president, Macky Sall, say they’re worried he’s trying to stay on for a third term - which is prohibited under the country’s constitution. Young protestors have been out on the streets, they don’t think they’re getting enough opportunities and are worried that if the chance to vote is taken away then nothing is going to change.

The BBC’s West Africa Correspondent Mayeni Jones helps us take a complicated situation back to basics and explains why what happens in Senegal might have big consequences for the entire region.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Beverly Ochieng Producer: Alex Rhodes Editors: Simon Peeks

Doctors in Kenya have been on the streets protesting against the state of healthcare in the country. They’re angry about a shortage of staff in hospitals and other public medical facilities.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union or KMPDU want the government to plug the gaps by paying for medical interns to start working in hospitals immediately. But the country’s Ministry of Health says it doesn’t have the funds to do that.

Dorcas Wangira, the BBC’s Africa Health correspondent, explains the doctors’ main demands and discusses how a planned 14-day strike could impact the health system.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Beverly Ochieng Producers: Josh Jenkins and William Lee Adams Editors: Simon Peeks

Haiti is battling a wave of gang violence. On Sunday armed gangs stormed a major prison in the capital Port-au-Prince. At least 12 people were killed and around 4,000 inmates escaped. The United Nations says the country has reached a critical point, with more than 1,100 people killed, injured or kidnapped in January alone.

Kenya’s government has offered to help. It’s agreed to lead a multinational security force in the country and will deploy 1,000 troops to Haiti. Pascal Fletcher, a journalist with BBC Monitoring, explains the roots of Haiti’s instability.

We also hear from women across the Haitian diaspora including Bertrhude Albert, Monique Clesca, Gessica Geneus and Dr. Tatiana Behrmann.

This episode contains discussion about sexual assault, kidnapping and violence. Details of organisations offering information and support with these issues are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Beverly Ochieng Producers: Benita Barden and William Lee Adams Editors: Simon Peeks

If you’ve made a TikTok recently, you might not have been able to add your favourite artist’s music. That’s because Universal, a massive record label that represents a third of all music in the world, won’t let TikTok use music by any of its signed artists - or songs that were written by any of its artists either. It’s part of a huge dispute that’s been going on in the music industry. We break this down with BBC Radio 1 presenter Maia Beth and producer and music journalist Siobhán McAndrew. Who’s going to lose out? And can Tiktok survive without all that music?

Plus former Manchester United midfielder and World Cup winner Paul Pogba has been banned by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) from playing football for four years for a doping offence. BBC Sport Africa’s Kelvin Kimathi tells us all about it.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Josh Jenkins and Baldeep Chahal Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Shaikh Mohammad Sarfaraz, a young Indian man from Kolkata, thought he’d landed a great job in another country; the pay was good and he believed he’d get a passport after just a few months’ work. He was told he was going to be a helper for the Russian military, working as a security guard or in the kitchens. But once he got there he found out he wasn’t going to be a helper, he was going to be a soldier - and he was being sent to fight in Ukraine.

Neyaz Farooquee, a reporter from the BBC’s Delhi bureau, has spoken to a number of Indian men who say they were also tricked. He describes their experiences. Plus Veronika Malinboym from BBC Monitoring in Georgia tells us about the other foreign nationals fighting in the Russia Ukraine war - on both sides of the conflict.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes and Baldeep Chahal Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Singeli is a style of electronic dance music that developed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in the mid-2000s. The genre fuses incredibly rapid beats, with MCing and more traditional Tanzanian music. It started in underground parties but is now making waves globally. It’s played at Uganda’s Nyege Nyege festival, as well as in Boiler Room sets. Popular artists include Jay Mitta, Abbas Jazza and Sisso.

Gloria Achieng and Macharia Maina have been researching the genre for the past year for the BBC. They explain its origins and unique dance style.

We also hear how Mimah, and other female artists, are challenging negative stereotypes around the genre.

Plus, 23-year-old DJ Travella - a producer from Dar es Salaam - shares his hopes for the future.

The Singeli track in this episode is Agaba Kibati by Bamba Pana.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

There are more than 7000 languages spoken around the world. However, nearly 40 percent of them are considered endangered and are at risk of dying out completely. It’s estimated that in the next one hundred years, at least half of the languages spoken today won’t be around anymore. To find out why and whether anything can be done to save them, we spoke to Stephanie Witkowski, the head of ‘7000 Languages’, an organisation that works to keep endangered tongues alive and kicking.

And if you’re looking to learn a new language, we’ve got some tips for you from polyglots - people that can speak more than three!

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Adam Chowdhury, Baldeep Chahal and Alex Rhodes Editors: Simon Peeks

Darryl George, an 18-year-old student, has been in in-school suspension since August for refusing to cut his dreadlocks. They violate his school’s dress code.

His lives in the U.S. state of Texas which had just passed the Crown Act, a law designed to prohibit race-based hair discrimination. A judge has ruled that this does not apply in Darryl’s case. Brandon Drenon, a BBC journalist based in Washington, explains.

We also hear from Beverly Ochieng, from BBC Monitoring based in Nairobi, who explains hair standards in Kenya.

Plus, BBC news presenter Lukwesa Burak tells us what it was like when she stated to wearing her natural afro on screen.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Benita Barden Producers: Mora Morrison and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

American company Intuitive Machines has successfully landed its Odysseus robot near the lunar south pole. The US space agency Nasa had purchased room on it for six scientific instruments. It’s also carrying a box containing 125 small stainless steel balls or mini moons by the American artist Jeff Koons to be left there. There’s now hundreds of tonnes of human objects on the Moon - from old space boots and moon buggies to family photos and a javelin. There are also bags of vomit, urine and poo. It’s becoming a lunar junkyard.

Professor Jill Stuart from the London School of Economics explains the laws governing the moon and BBC journalist Daniel Dadzie tells us what’s up there and what people might take in future.

Also, two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, what’s life like as a student there? We hear from Vitalii Pashchenko, 21, Arina Stolbtsova, 21 and Yehor Olshevskiy, 17.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Elena Angelides Researcher: Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Farmers in India are protesting in the country once again, wanting assured prices for their crops. There have already been four rounds of talks with the government which have failed to reach an agreement.

Many have been marching on the capital Delhi, with barricades and barbed wire lined up across the city to stop protesters from entering the city. The last major farming protest in India took place in 2020, with dozens of people dying in the year-long protest.

BBC Monitoring reporter Rupsha Mukherjee is in Delhi and explains what people in India are saying, and why the protests take extra significance due to the country’s upcoming general election.

Meanwhile in Ghana, the country’s parliament looks set to pass a strong anti-LGBT bill which would bring in harsher penalties. The BBC’s Favour Nunoo explains what the new law would mean for gay people in the country.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Josh Jenkins and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Nigeria is struggling with a kidnapping epidemic. Every year hundreds of people are abducted and held for ransom. The kidnap crisis hit the headlines ten years ago when the Chibok school girls were snatched by Boko Haram militants - but now, arguably, the problem has got worse. We speak to Chimezie Ucheagbo, a journalist with BBC Igbo, about how it’s affecting every day life for Nigerians. Plus, we hear from a family who had to deal with the problem first hand.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Thailand became the first Asian country to make cannabis legal back in June 2022. They are one of the very few nations in the world to let people use the drug recreationally. Farmers switched from wheat to weed and cannabis cafes have popped up all over the country.

However, before even reaching the two-year mark, the Thai government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s populist Pheu Thai party, looks set to reverse the decision and outlaw the drug.

BBC Thai reporter Tossapol Chaisamritpol explains how the public are feeling about the government’s direction, how it will impact the cannabis business and how the drug is being used in Thai cuisine, including tom kha gai and tom yum soup.

The Netherlands is also reconsidering its relationship with the drug. The popular tourist destination city Amsterdam has long been known for its red light district and cannabis hotspots, despite the fact that the drug is technically illegal in the European country. After complaints from residents about rowdy visitors ruining their home town, the local government has placed restrictions on cannabis and other red light district related activities, including a ‘Stay Away’ campaign targeted at certain tourists.

The BBC’s correspondent in the Netherlands, Anna Holligan, tells us about how life is changing in Amsterdam.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Alex Rhodes and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Alexei Navalny, the most prominent critic of Russia’s government, has died in a Russian prison, just months after he was placed in a high security cell in a remote Siberian penal colony. His allies, and his wife Yulia Navalnaya, blame President Vladimir Putin and say it was under his orders.

What is the state of opposition in Russia without him? BBC Monitoring’s Russia editor, Vitaly Shevchenko, takes us through who Navalny was and where other prominent Kremlin critics are now.

With Russia’s elections taking place next month and Putin on his way to a fifth term as president, media censorship is at a high. BBC Monitoring’s Jen Monaghan tells us how Russian state media covered the news of Navalny’s death.

We’ll also answer the title question with Vitaly - what would it take for Putin to lose power in Russia?

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Kevyah Cardoso Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

It’s awards season. We’re talking Grammy’s, Golden Globes, Emmy’s and the Oscars. But, as usual, there’s been controversy about how diverse the nominees and winners are. After Barbie’s director Greta Gerwig was snubbed for the Best Director nomination, it’s got people talking.

The BBC’s culture reporter Noor Nanji talks us through some of the times when awards shows failed in diversity and the ways they are trying to fix it. We get the inside track on how the Grammy nominations work, from recording academy member Navjosh Singh.

And the founder of Diversity in Cannes, Yolonda Brinkley, tells us how she thinks the film industry needs to change.

Also, the BBC’s Kostas Kallergis explains what’s behind Greece’s recent decision to legalise same sex marriage.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Imogen James, Adam Chowdhury and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Rival gangs in El Salvador used to rule the streets. It was one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with a really high murder rate. But now its President claims it is one of the safest in the Western hemisphere. How did he do it?

By creating a state of exception and arresting 75,000 people. Some of them have ended up in a new mega-jail, where inmates can’t have visitors, go outside, or even make a phone call. It can house 40,000 prisoners.

Human rights groups say many innocent people have also been arrested, with little evidence or access to due process.

A year after it was built journalists have finally been allowed to go inside. We hear from BBC Mundo’s Leire Ventas who was one of them. And she tells us a bit more about El Salvador’s President Bukele, who described himself as “the world’s coolest dictator”.

Also, Anselm Gibbs, the BBC’s reporter in Trinidad and Tobago tells us about a mysterious oil spill that interrupted the islands’ carnival celebrations.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Kevyah Cardoso Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

South Africa has the most industrialised and diverse economy in Africa. Yet it faces a major youth unemployment crisis with around four in ten young people jobless.

Young people are becoming disenchanted and disenfranchised, which could impact elections later this year. Polls show that the governing ANC party could lose its outright majority for the first time in three decades.

Siyabonga Ncala lives in Soweto and is currently hustling to find work. He talks us through some of the barriers he’s facing. Nobuhle Simelane, a BBC producer in Johannesburg, explains what the government is doing to help.

And we also hear from Ofentse Lekwane from the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. She explains what the future of work could be for young South Africans.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Mora Morrison, Kevyah Cardoso and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Netflix’s award-winning series ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ brought to light some of the sexist attitudes people have towards women competing in chess. It’s all fiction, but how much of this happens at real chess tournaments?

Matt Graveling, a BBC Sport reporter explains how the professional world of chess works, including why there’s a Women’s Chess Championship and what it takes to compete.

A BBC reporter in Mumbai, Cherylann Mollan, takes us through what hurdles women in India have to deal with when competing. International Master Divya Deshmukh recently posted on Instagram about the issues she faces as a woman in chess. She said people often focus on her appearance instead of her skill.

And two female chess players tell us about what barriers they’ve seen for women in the sport.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Imogen James, Emily Horler and Benita Barden Researcher: Marcia Veiga Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

In this episode we’re stepping into the world of art theft. According to the CIA it’s one of the top criminal enterprises in the world.

A case was in the headlines recently after two British brothers admitted to raiding a museum in Switzerland and making off with iconic Chinese Ming dynasty era artefacts worth millions. They then fled abroad to try and shift the pieces. But were later caught. The BBC’s Thomas Mackintosh walks us through how the police tracked them down.

The art itself however can be more tricky to recover, as it’s often hidden or traded by criminal gangs. Arthur Brand, a Dutch art detective, has recovered hundreds of stolen artworks, including a Van Gogh. He tells us how.

Plus, we hear reaction from Ivory Coast and Nigeria football fans following Sunday’s AFCON final.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Imogen James and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

American Football, Rugby, MMA, UFC. All these adrenaline-filled sports bring in millions of viewers each year, and athletes put their bodies and brains on the line to excel in them.

But there’s increasing concern that head injuries are leading to serious mental health problems.

BBC Sport reporter Bobbie Jackson tells us about the research into this. He’s been speaking to the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) to see what’s being done across different sports bodies.

We also hear from three athletes; Wayne Drew, Leeon Nyang, Terry Mngomezulu who tell us why they’re willing to take the risk and what drives their passion for the sport.

There’s also recognition about the links between concussion and a brain condition called CTE; chronic traumatic encephalopathy, that can only be diagnosed post-mortem. Michelle Roberts from the BBC’s Health team explains the symptoms.

This episode contains discussion about suicide and violence. Details of organisations offering information and support with these issues are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Hundreds of thousands of people are illegally crossing the border from Mexico into the US every month right now. Some of them try to get across the Sonoran desert - where temperatures can reach 50 degrees. Some people get lost there, and some die. A volunteer group called the “Eagles of the Desert” searches for missing migrants. BBC reporter Valentina Oropeza has been out with them and tells us about the work they do.

President Trump was famous for his slogan “Build the wall” but did illegal migration go down under his watch? Why is it so high now? And what has President Biden tried to do about it? Bernd Debusmann Jr, a BBC reporter in Washington D.C. explains why immigration is such a hot topic in the US right now.

Also, we hear from someone who’s crossed that border; Leni Alvarez is 27 years old and she now works with the Global Fund for Children in Mexico.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Social media can be a messy business full of opinions and celebrity influence. But can celebs speak freely online, and what happens when they do?

In some parts of the world celebs and influencers are sometimes censored from sharing opinions altogether, unless they align with the state.

We look at three countries: Egypt, India and China. The BBC’s Jaidaa Taha in Egypt talks us through what footballer Mo Salah has said online. Rupsha Mukherjee, a BBC reporter based in India, explains why actor Chetan Kumar was arrested over a tweet. And Kerry Allen, the BBC’s Chinese Media Analyst, shares what’s allowed, and what’s not, in China.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Jaidaa Taha, Emily Horler, Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Guinea worm could soon be the second human disease to be eradicated.

In the 1980s millions of cases were recorded annually in 21 countries in Africa and Asia. Now, thanks to huge efforts globally, only 13 reported cases remain. That’s according to The Carter Center - which is leading the international campaign to eradicate the disease.

If successful, guinea worm will not only be the second disease in history to be eradicated, after smallpox, it will be the first to be wiped out without a vaccine or medicine. Adam Weiss, the director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program, talks us through the actions they’ve taken to cut cases.

The world is on a mission to eradicate other diseases too, including polio. What can we learn from the potential eradication of guinea worm? Dorcas Wangira, the BBC’s Africa Health Correspondent, explains.

Note: This episode contains medical descriptions of removing worms from the human body.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Imogen James, Mora Morrison and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

It’s been three years since Myanmar’s military coup when the army took control of the country, a decade after agreeing to hand power to a civilian government. A civil war broke out after the after the military used lethal force to put down mass protests in the weeks after the coup.

Before all this, Myanmar’s army was accused of committing a genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution and violence. Thousands more died trying to flee.

Soe Win Than, editor of the BBC Burmese Service, walks us through what thinks are like now in Myanmar and how it’s impacted young people’s plans for the future.

(13:46) Also in this episode - Faith Oshoko, a reporter for BBC Pidgin tells us what it means for the Grammy Awards to finally recognise African musicians in its new category - Best African Music Performance.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Adam Chowdhury and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Hong Kong’s government has said it wants to pass a new national security law. It comes four years after China imposed sweeping legislation in the wake of massive pro-democracy protests.

The proposed law would lay out five major areas of offenses: treason, insurrection, theft of state secrets, sabotage and external interference.

The proposal, known as Article 23 legislation, has long been a point of conflict in Hong Kong.

Martin Yip, a BBC journalist based in Hong Kong, walks us through the significance of this new law, how it relates to the umbrella protests in 2014 and 2019, and if more mass protests are expected.

Plus, Nicole Kidman’s new Amazon Prime series ‘Expats’ - a show about the life of foreigners in Hong Kong - has aired everywhere except in the territory itself. The BBC’s Fan Wang explains.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

This is our simple(ish) guide to how America picks its president.

In November 2024, America will go to the polls to pick the next President of the United States. At the moment it looks like we’ll see a 2020 rematch, Republican Donald Trump vs Democrat Joe Biden. But how do US elections actually work? They can be quite complicated, the candidate with the most votes doesn’t always win. In this episode, we explain things like the electoral college, Super PACs and find out just how much running a campaign ad for the most powerful job on earth can cost.

BBC reporter Sam Cabral joins us from Washington and takes us through the process. And business reporter Erin Delmore checks in from New York to talk about the money.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been jailed for 14 years after being convicted of illegally profiting from state gifts. It’s the second sentence handed to Pakistan's former prime minister in two days. Khan, who was ousted as PM by his opponents in 2022, was already serving a three-year jail term for corruption.

Imran Khan been a dominant figure in Pakistan for decades. He first rose to international fame on the cricket pitch, before shedding his playboy past and embarking on a decade-long marriage with billionaire heiress Jemima Goldsmith in a story captured in the pages of Hello! magazine. He founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in 1996.

So what changed, and what does this sentencing say about the state of democracy in Pakistan?

The BBC’s Pakistan correspondent Caroline Davies explains. Plus, we hear reaction from some of his supporters.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

More than 171 trillion pieces of plastic are estimated to be floating in the world's oceans. We’ve touched on the extent of the plastic problem before on the pod, but this time we’re looking into how exactly its affecting marine creatures. Researchers say hermit crabs are increasingly using plastic waste instead of shells for shelter and they are not the only wildlife being affected by our rubbish. Our Science Correspondent, Victoria Gill, gives us a deep dive into that.

Plus, the world's largest cruise ship set sail from Miami on its maiden voyage, but there are concerns about the vessel's emissions. That’s despite the ship running on liquefied natural gas, which burns more cleanly than traditional marine fuels. So why are environmentalists worried? Jaidaa Taha, from the What in the World team, explains that for us.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Jaidaa Taha, Baldeep Chahal and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Demonstrations have been taking place across Kenya to protest femicide and violence against women. The demonstrations follow the murder of socialite Starlet Wahu and the dismemberment of student Rita Waeni earlier this month.

BBC Africa journalist Danai Nesta Kupemba tells us about the cases and explains what changes are needed to protect women in Kenya. Esther Ogola, a BBC women’s affairs journalist based in Nairobi, describes how violence against women is rooted in social beliefs.

The two brutal murders have sparked a wave of activism. People are using the hashtags #StopKillingWomen and #EndFemicideKe and attending rallies across the country. Women who joined these marches tell us why it’s important to protest.

Among the many challenges women face is ‘the manosphere’, a dark corner of social media where it’s common to blame the victims of gender-based violence. Activist Onyango Otieno explains how he is trying to tackle toxic masculinity in Kenya.

This episode contains discussion about sexual assault and harassment. Details of organisations offering information and support with these issues are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Imogen James and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Nigeria’s youth curling team, the Broomzillas, are Africa’s first curling team to reach a Winter Youth Olympics. Their journey to the 2024 Gangwon Games in South Korea hasn’t been easy. They’ve struggled with funding and of course, as Nigeria doesn’t have freezing weather, access to ice to train is incredibly difficult.

We speak to two of the team - Tomi and Fatiu. So how do they get ready for the competition?

Also, BBC Africa sports reporter, Isaiah Akinremi, takes us through the wider picture across the African continent and the challenge athletes face to break into winter sports.

Plus, Ghana is getting back some of its most treasured artefacts… but only on loan. They were looted from the Asante royal court by the British one hundred and fifty years ago. They ended up in a London museum which has now agreed to lend them back for three years. The BBC’s Ghana correspondent, Thomas Naadi, tells us that many want the move to be permanent.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Alex Rhodes and Baldeep Chahal Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

366 million adults worldwide have ADHD as of 2020 - that’s over 6% of the whole population. And more young adults are being diagnosed with the condition. BBC health reporter Dominic Hughes explains the causes and treatment of ADHD.

Does your culture and background affect your diagnosis? Some women have found that their symptoms are not the standard ones that doctors have traditionally linked to ADHD. We hear from people living with ADHD including Abigail Agyei in the UK and mental health advocate Emily Unity in Australia and ask them how ADHD influencers have changed the nature of the conversation online.

Some health professionals have raised concerns about the accuracy of some of this content and whether it could contribute to more self-diagnosis. A study from 2022 looked at the 100 most popular ADHD videos on TikTok and found that over half of them were judged by clinicians to be misleading.

The BBC’s Suhnwook Lee, in South Korea, explains why ADHD prescriptions go up around the time of the annual college exam there. And pharmacist Jonathan Silcock from the UK’s University of Bradford sets out why there’s a global shortage of ADHD medication.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Maria Clara Montoya, Benita Barden and Luis Felipe Molina Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Last week Iran carried out an airstrike on Pakistan’s territory in Balochistan. Pakistan responded with an attack of its own. Both sides say they were targeting rebel groups rather than each other but it’s an escalation in an area of the world that is already very tense. Iran had also attacked targets in Syria and Iraq. Like Pakistan, both of these countries are technically its allies.

It all can appear very confusing - so in this episode we’re going to give you a basic guide to what’s happened and what it might mean for the region. BBC Correspondent Farhat Javed, gives us some background. Also, Paul Adams our Diplomatic Correspondent and BBC Persian’s Mohammad Vaziri weigh in about what could come next.

Plus, reporter Mariko Oi talks to us about Japan’s Princess Aiko. She’s trading the palace for the office, with plans to work at the Red Cross charity.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Josh Jenkins, Baldeep Chahal and Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

We mentioned an article on the strikes across the Middle East. Here's the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68017051

Wrestling is huge in India. Not just the type with WWE stars like Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins - but amateur wrestling, which is an Olympic sport. But last year women’s wrestling in India was rocked by a sexual harassment scandal. Top athletes, like Rio Olympics bronze medal winner Sakshi Malik, accused wrestling official Brij Bhusan Singh of abusing female wrestlers. He denied the claims but eventually stood down from the job. Progress on the issue has been slow and last month Sakshi Malik quit the sport in frustration. We spoke to BBC Marathi reporter Janhavee Moole to find out, a year on from when the protests started, has anything really changed?

Plus we chat to Science Correspondent Jonathon Amos about Japan’s mission to the moon. The spacecraft, nicknamed Moon Sniper, was designed for very accurate landings… but it’s landed the wrong way round and it’s causing all sorts of problems.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Kevyah Cardoso and Baldeep Chahal Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

There are a growing number of people speaking out about their decision not to have children because of climate change. They worry about the environmental impact of bringing a new person into the world. But how polluting is it to have kids? And is staying childfree a good way to limit how much carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere?

The BBC’s Georgina Rannard talks us through some research from University College London. And researcher Johannes Ackva, from the Founder’s Pledge, brings us a study he co-wrote looking at how different lifestyle choices - including flying, driving a car and having children - impact the climate. He thinks that, as governments’ net-zero pledges really start to ramp up, emissions per person will likely go down - and this could impact how polluting it is to have babies in the future.

Plus, we hear from three people who’ve decided not to have kids: Nirupama Kondayya, and husband Vipin Nair from India now living in the UK, and a woman from the US.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Maria Clara Montoya and Mora Morrison Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

For the first time, Ubisoft have released a Prince of Persia game with an option to have all the characters fully voiced in Farsi. It says it wants Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown to "depict and respect Persia and Iran". The game has great reviews and a lot of Iranian fans are very excited they’ll be able to experience it in their own language.

What does this say about culturally sensitivity in gaming?

We hear from Alireza Vasefi, an Iranian games reporter for BBC Persian Click, who’s played the series for years. He explains what the language option means to him.

We’re also joined by Kirsty Evers who wrote a study about gaming cultural stereotypes. She found that a majority of her participants wanted to see better representation.

Plus, what’s it like to help accurately map a historical place for a videogame? Renowned French archaeologist, Egyptologist and historical illustrator Jean-Claude Golvin helped do this for Assassin's Creed: Origins. He talks us through the process.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Benita Barden and Mora Morrison Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

Young people seem to be moving away from Romania. In 2000, it had a population of 22.4 million people. But two decades later it had fallen to just 19.5 million - outward migration is responsible for most of that decline.

They’re mostly moving to other European countries, like the UK. Madeleine, from the What in the World team, went to a gig in London by a Romanian band called Subcarpați. While she was there, she chatted to young Romanian fans - why did they move away? And what does that mean for the country they’ve left behind?

It’s not just Romania that is seeing people move away for better work opportunities or to avoid a political climate they don’t like. Countries like Croatia have a similar situation - we hear from Baby Lasagna, a Croatian singer whose song ‘Rim Tim Tagi Dim’ is all about people leaving their home country.

Also, a dog called Bobi made news headlines last year when he was given the title of the world’s oldest dog by Guinness World Records. But some people don’t believe that he really made it to the ripe old age of 31. Whilst we don’t know yet if Bobi is going to lose his title (sadly he died not long after taking the crown) Alex from the team takes us through some other records that have turned out to be false. Including one very close to home…

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Madeleine Drury, Alex Rhodes and Emily Horler Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

It’s estimated that a garbage truck full of clothing is being sent to a landfill every second, with less than 1% recycled into new clothes. One way to stop clothes reaching landfill is reusing, repairing and recycling them. This is part of ‘circular fashion’ - where textiles already in circulation are used again and again, instead of producing new ones.

Lots of fashion brands and consumers are trying to make the fashion industry more sustainable. We hear from two projects at the forefront of this. Whitney Speke joins us from Nairobi to tell us how Africa Collect Textiles is tackling clothes waste in Africa. She also shares her views on the 30 wear challenge - which encourages consumers to wear their clothes at least 30 times.

We’re joined by Taylor Greene who works for Circ, a US-based company. Circ’s innovative recycling technology is addressing the fashion industry’s carbon footprint – which accounts for around 8% of global carbon emissions.

Plus, sustainability journalist Sophie Benson explains how apps have helped make sustainable fashion more accessible, and how it might be scaled up in the future.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

Cape Verde has become the first sub-Saharan nation to be declared malaria-free in fifty years. But mosquitoes, the insects that spread the deadly disease, have started to fight back. One type of the insect has adapted to break all the rules and dodge all the measures we’ve brought in to beat them. Unlike most mosquitoes, Anopheles Stephensi, can live in urban environments potentially putting people in cities in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Djibouti, Ghana and more at risk.

The BBC’s Tulip Mazumdar explains the symptoms and effects of malaria. And Dorcas Wangira, our Africa Health correspondent in Kenya, talks to us about this adapted mosquito and the challenges it poses.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

The Houthi, a political and military group in Yemen, have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November. They say they’re targeting vessels headed to or owned by Israel as a way to support Palestinians in Gaza.

Not all of the ships are connected to Israel. And now the US and UK has launched military airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen to reduce their military capability.

So what’s happening in the Red Sea?

Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, explains who the Houthis are and what’s motivating their attacks. And Nawal Al-Maghafi, an international correspondent for the BBC who’s reported extensively from Yemen, tells us a bit more about the group’s political strategies and how they’re framing their approach to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

As a result of the Houthi attacks, many of the world's biggest shipping companies have stopped vessels using the Red Sea route, opting for an alternative route through the Cape of Good Hope. Michael Race, a BBC Business reporter, explains how these attacks are affecting the transport and price of consumer goods.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

Hundreds of people have been trying to set new world records in Ghana, with applications flying in since July 2023.

Earlier this week a Ghanaian chef, Faila Abdul-Razak, completed the longest non-stop cook-a-thon, chopping and frying for more than 227 hours. She hasn’t yet officially been given the title.

She isn’t the first to try though - last year a Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci, broke the world record, jumpstarting a trend for breaking world records in Nigeria too.

So why are there so many attempts in Ghana and Nigeria? Our reporter in Accra, Favour Nunoo, runs us through some theories.

We also chat to Afua Asantewaa - a Ghanaian who’s attempted to set the Guinness World Record for the longest singing marathon. She managed five days straight.

And William from the What in the World team demonstrates a hidden talent that definitely breaks our records! (12:00) Plus AFCON, the Africa Cup of Nations, kicks off this weekend with Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau as the opening match. Teams like Morocco, Senegal and Egypt are among the favourites to win the tournament - but we find out from the BBC’s Isaac Fanin how one man used the video game Football Manager to try to give underdogs Guinea-Bissau an advantage.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

The notorious leader of Ecuador’s main criminal gang escaped from prison this week - he is still missing. The country’s President declared a state of emergency and the gangs fought back, with gunmen breaking into a TV studio during a live broadcast. Separately 130 prison staff are being held hostage by inmates.

BBC Monitoring’s Rachelle Krygier, who focuses on Latin America, explains who the gangs are and how they operate from within the prisons. BBC Mundo’s Ana Maria Roura, who’s from Ecuador, talks through whether the government’s strategy of bringing in the army could work.

Also, Madeleine Drury from the What in the World team tells us about various approaches being tried in different South American countries to tackle the gangs.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Madeleine Drury and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

More than one in five people between the ages of 16 and 24 are jobless in China according to the latest government data. But the figure could be even higher.

Millions of university graduates are struggling to find high paying jobs. So the government is encouraging them to roll up their sleeves and consider manual work in the countryside instead.

But many aren’t keen and some are ducking out of the rat race all together, sharing memes of themselves ripping up their degrees. We hear from Joy, who says that out of her class of 32, only around a third have found full-time jobs since graduating in the summer.

Laura Bicker, a BBC correspondent based in Beijing, explains what led to this point, and what might happen next.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

We need precious metals to run green tech but what’s the cost of mining them?

Norway has approved commercial-scale deep-sea mining off its shores in the hunt for precious metals which are in high demand for green technologies. However, environmental scientists warn it could be devastating for marine life. Climate reporter Esme Stallard takes us through the controversial plans.

One of the metals Norway is looking for is cobalt. Currently the world’s main source of cobalt lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where miners toil in often poor conditions and armed conflict in the country has contributed to what the United Nations says is one of the “largest humanitarian crises in the world”.

BBC Africa’s Wedaeli Chibelushi describes the picture in the country and explains why some TikTokers are quitting vaping because of mines in the DRC.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Alex Rhodes and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

It’s been nearly two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Millions of people have fled the country and thousands have been killed. The fighting is still going on, with Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky continuing to appeal for international support.

BBC Monitoring’s Russia editor, Vitaly Shevchenko, takes us through what Zelensky’s life has been like since the war began. Before becoming president in 2019, he was a comedian and even voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the film - how is he dealing with being in charge?

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Disney’s copyright on ‘Steamboat Willie’, which features the earliest version of Mickey Mouse, expired in the US on New Year’s Day - meaning the image is in the public domain and free to use… with some caveats. So what’s next for Mickey?

Some creatives have already sprung into action. Noor Nanji, a BBC Culture reporter, tells us about an upcoming Mickey Mouse slasher movie and a video game.

We also hear from Erin Delmore, the BBC’s North America Business Correspondent and Jennifer Jenkins, a professor of intellectual property law at Duke University, about how public domain laws work. Plus we pitch some ideas of our own.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Benita Barden, Adam Chowdhury and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Pictures of a burning Japan Airlines plane have been all over the news this week after it collided with a smaller aircraft on a runway in Tokyo. Amazingly, all 379 passengers in the larger plane survived, thanks to a flawless evacuation.

But how common are plane crashes, and how can you improve your chances of survival? Geoffrey Thomas, the editor of the website Airline Ratings, explains.

Sadly, five died in the smaller aircraft which was on its way to help with rescue efforts following a huge earthquake in Japan on New Year’s Day. The quake ripped apart motorways and left tens of thousands without power.

Japan is used to earthquakes - and takes preparations seriously. What can the world learn from Japan’s efforts to reduce the damage from them? The BBC’s Mariko Oi sends her thoughts.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Officials in Lahore, Pakistan have been using artificial rain in an effort to lower levels of air pollution. They make it rain through cloud seeding, a process that involves firing special particulates from a plane.

Alex from the What in the World team explains how the process works. And Navin Singh Kadka, the BBC’s global environment correspondent, discusses the impact of creating artificial rain and the controversies that come with it.

Also: The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) starts on 13 January. Several of Africa’s top footballers will step away from their clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia during the month-long tournament. Nishat Ladha, a reporter with BBC Africa Sport, explains the impact that could have on their clubs and their careers.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Alex Rhodes and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

China’s population is shrinking so its government is trying to get more people to have kids by offering financial incentives and its own dating app. But not everyone is on board. Some people, especially young women, aren’t keen to follow in their parents’ more traditional footsteps. The BBC’s Fan Wang tells us how China got into this situation. Is it fair to put it all on women?

And Mei Fong, the author of ‘One Child: The Story of China's Most Radical Experiment’, talks us through why she thinks an apology from the government over its strict one-child policy could help it persuade more people to have babies.

Plus, our population correspondent, Stephanie Hegarty, explains what China’s shrinking population could mean for the rest of the world.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Emily Horler, Julia Ross-Roy and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin says he’s going to stand for the top job again in March. He’s been in charge of the country in some way or another for almost 25 years. The BBC’s Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg takes us through his rise to power and how the country has dramatically changed under his rule.

Plus Alex from the What in the World team brings us five surprising facts about the man himself. Here’s one to get you started… he might be the richest man on earth.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

From the Chupacabra to the Yeti, lots of countries and regions around the world have their own myths about strange creatures whose existence has never been scientifically proven - known as cryptids.

These 'eyewitness sightings' have captured people’s imaginations for decades and even centuries. Alex from the What in the World team takes Hannah on a tour of some of them - with help from BBC reporters Beverly Ochieng, Surbhi Kaul, Fan Wang, Blaire Toedte and Anselm Gibbs.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

There are more than 2000 billionaires worldwide with a combined wealth of $13 trillion. Some say they’re good for society, others call them a symbol of inequality.

Even though many billionaires donate to philanthropic causes, there is growing scrutiny on how they make and spend their money.

We hear from Simon Jack, the BBC’s Business Editor, about how people get rich nowadays - and why tax is such a hot topic.

And Mahayle Khonziwe, who campaigns against inequality, joins us from South Africa to share why she thinks billionaires are bad.

But, what do you think? Do you think billionaires are a good thing? Send us a WhatsApp on the number below.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Ethiopia says its huge dam upstream on the Nile will generate electricity for millions. But downstream countries like Sudan and Egypt are worried about what it’ll mean for their water supply.

We get the details from two BBC reporters: Kalkidan Yibeltal, in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa and Jaidaa Taha, in Egypt’s capital Cairo.

We also take a look at disagreements over the Mekong River in Asia. It runs through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Brian Eyler is from a foreign affairs think tank, the Stimson Centre, and has written a book on it. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Kush is rumoured to contain everything from chemicals used to preserve dead bodies to shoe polish. Nobody really know what’s in it or where it’s coming from. But we do know that it’s having a big impact on young people in Sierra Leone, who are already struggling with high unemployment and a difficult economy.

We speak to the BBC’s West Africa Correspondent, Mayeni Jones, to establish what we know about the drug. We also hear from charity head, Sidikie Kamara, who’s seen its devastating effects first hand.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Indian software billionaire Narayana Murthy (the father-in-law of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak!) - says that young people in his country should be happy to work 70 hours a week to help India’s development.

Indians already work long hours but how does it compare to other countries? We take a trip to India, Mexico, and Sweden to hear from three BBC reporters: Umang Podder, Laura Garcia and Phelan Chatterjee.

Emily, from the What in the World team, runs us through some of the countries that have the longest and shortest working hours.

And Dr Carolyn Rubenstein is a psychologist - she gives us tips on how to reset your work-life balance and some tiny things to do if it’s not that easy. How can you avoid burning out at work?

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Julia Ross-Roy and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

A volcanic eruption in the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland has captured the world’s attention. But how dangerous are volcanoes, and how much do we know about their activity?

The BBC's Science correspondent Pallab Ghosh explains why Iceland is such a hotbed of volcanic activity and the health risks that volcanoes can pose. Nick Beake, the BBC’s Europe correspondent, describes his helicopter ride over the Grindavik volcano. And Dr Kenna Rubin, a volcanologist at the University of Rhode Island, explains the different types of volcanoes you can find all around the world.

We also speak to Anna and Sigrún — two of the more than 4,000 residents of Grindavik who have been evacuated to safety.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Chelsea Coates, Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Since April this year the Sudanese army and a rival military group called the RSF, the Rapid Support Forces, have been locked in a civil war that’s raged across the country. The United Nations says more than 12,000 people have been killed, and over seven million displaced.

Two Sudanese women in different parts of the country describe the effect the war has had on their lives. Kalkidan Yibetal, a BBC journalist based in Ethiopia, explains who’s winning where, the massive impact on civilians and why there’s no sign of a peace deal. And James Copnall, who used to be a BBC correspondent in Sudan, gives us the background to this war, broken down into three parts.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Chelsea Coates and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Myanmar is now the world's largest producer of opium, overtaking Afghanistan. That’s after the Taliban banned the cultivation of opium poppies, which can be used to make heroin.

Growing opium is illegal in both counties, but that isn’t stopping all farmers from growing the crop.

Yogita Limaye, the BBC’s South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent, explains how the ban has impacted farmers who previously depended on opium to survive. And Soe Win Than, editor of the BBC Burmese Service, tells us how corruption and political instability in Myanmar have contributed to the growth in opium production.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Baldeep Chahal, Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

As AI technology advances, new image generator apps pop up all the time. Some of these can be used to make deepfake pornography where someone’s face is stitched onto an image of a naked body. Pictures of faces are often taken from social media profiles and used without consent.

Our Disinformation Reporter, Jack Goodman, takes us through how the tech works and what you should do if a deepfake video is made of you.

It’s not just deepfake porn that’s a worry though - fake videos can be made of almost anything. The BBC’s Noor Nanji explains how Bollywood actresses are being targeted in this way.

And Dr Kerry McInerney and Dr Eleanor Drage from Cambridge University and the Good Robot podcast tell us about their biggest concerns around AI. What do tech companies need to do to protect people?

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Alex Rhodes and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

There’s a concerning rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe. That’s according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In a new report they focus on three specific STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV).

Lina Nerlander, the lead STI expert at the ECDC, explains some of the factors that may be contributing to the increase.

So how do you know if you have an STI? Michelle Roberts, a doctor and health reporter with the BBC, talks us through some of the symptoms.

And Adriana Stinga, a sexual health counsellor in Romania, discusses how she’s working to improve sexual health education in her country.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Mora Morrison Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

All members of BTS are now in the South Korean military. This week, lead vocalist Jung Kook joined the rest of the group to enlist - a requirement of all able-bodied South Korean men aged 18-28.

There have been exemptions given to Olympic medallists and classical musicians but not for the BTS boys - although they were allowed to defer their service until the age of 30.

The BBC’s Frances Mao explains what their service will involve and when we can expect them to return. And Alex from the What in the World team runs us through some other celebs that have served in their country's army.

Also, we’re going to take a look at football violence in Turkey after a referee got punched in the face by an owner of one of the teams. We speak to Victoria Craig, a BBC reporter in Ankara. How linked are football and politics in Turkey?

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editor: William Lee Adams and Simon Peeks

It’s been over two months since Hamas attacked Israel. The war between both sides has continued since then, with a temporary ceasefire and pauses in fighting in recent weeks. The BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen, who has been covering the Middle East for nearly 30 years, gives us his analysis on how the war could end.

One challenge for Israel is Hamas’s network of tunnels, where its leaders are thought to be hiding. It’s believed to run for hundreds of miles, under most of Gaza. Jeremy is one of few BBC journalists who has been inside the tunnels, several years ago. He describes what they’re like and why they’re so important in this conflict.

The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees recently described Gaza as “hell on earth”. Hisham Mhanna from the ICRC tells us what it’s like in Southern Gaza right now, and the BBC’s Sally Nabil in Cairo explains the challenges getting aid across the border.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Nearly 200 countries have agreed a new global deal on climate change at COP28 in Dubai. It’s the biggest step forward on climate since the Paris Agreement in 2015.

For the first time, countries are calling for a move away from fossil fuels, but the language is far weaker than many wanted.

Our Climate and Science reporter, Esme Stallard, walks us through the details of the deal. What could mean for our futures?

We also hear from three BBC Monitoring journalists: Rupsha Mukurjee, who covers India; Padmaja Venkataraman, who reports on China; and Rose Njiroge, who covers sub-saharan Africa. What scores out of 10 does this COP get from India, China and Africa?

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

On Monday, India’s Supreme Court upheld the government’s 2019 decision to revoke Article 370. That’s a law that previously gave the region of Jammu and Kashmir special status within India to make its own laws.

Umang Poddar, a reporter in the BBC Delhi Bureau, explains why Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the law and what it means.

Plus: Is it a good idea to take a social media detox? Luis from the What in the World team tells us about a recent study that suggests some drawbacks.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Umang Poddar Producers: William Lee Adams, Baldeep Chahal, Luis Felipe Molina Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks