What in the World - podcast cover

What in the World

BBC World Servicewww.bbc.co.uk

Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world. Big stories, small stories and everything in between. Understand more, feel better. Five days a week, Monday to Friday.

Episodes

The Diddy trial and verdict explained

After seven weeks of trial and 34 witnesses, a verdict has been reached: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found guilty of transportation for prostitution of ex-girlfriends Cassie and an anonymous “Jane” and not guilty on the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. The rapper had admitted to domestic violence, but always denied any non-consensual sexual encounters or a larger racketeering scheme. He has been denied bail and is expected to be sentenced on 3 October. He stil...

Jul 03, 202513 min

A Romantic Recession: How Gen Z isn’t settling for love

Recent data from the United States shows there’s a big political divide between Gen Z American men and women. For decades young Americans have mostly voted for the Democrat party. But in last year’s Presidential election, that trend was reversed. Gen Z voted for President Donald Trump and his Republican party, but young men a lot more so - one analysis found that 18-year-old men were 23 percentage points more likely to support President Trump than 18-year-old women. That’s more than double the g...

Jul 02, 202514 min

Why we are having fewer children than we want

The United Nations Population Fund World has described the low fertility rates around the world as a ‘crisis’ . Their newest report shows that many people do want to have more children but the cost of raising them and not having enough time are bigger barriers than before. Finding an appropriate partner to have a child with is a struggle too. The BBC’s Population Correspondent Stephanie Hegarty breaks down what’s in the recent UNFPA report. Plus she explains why it’s easier for countries to stop...

Jul 01, 202510 min

What's the Land Back movement?

For centuries, Indigenous people around the world have been fighting to reclaim lost land. In most instances, the term Indigenous is used to refer to the people who lived somewhere before colonisers and settlers from a different place arrived. In North America, nearly 99% of Indigenous land has been seized since European colonisers arrived. These days, an online movement using the hashtag #LandBack is supporting Indigenous people who want to take back their ancestral land. BBC journalist Vanessa...

Jun 30, 202512 min

Why do female footballers get more ACL injuries?

The women’s football European Championship kicks off next week in Switzerland. The Euros have thrust a recurring issue into the spotlight: ACL injuries. Female footballers suffer tears to their anterior cruciate ligament, also known as the ACL, more frequently than male footballers. Kesewaa Browne from the What in the World team explains some of the theories on why injury rates are so high. Research has lagged behind for years, but with the sport becoming more high-profile, focus has shifted to ...

Jun 27, 202511 min

BBC Journalists SHOCKED By ADDICTIVE And SEXY Chinese TikTok Dramas

You might have come across ads on your TikTok or Instagram feed for Chinese micro-dramas: short episodes lasting only a few minutes with highly addictive plots. Think scandalous affairs, hot vampires and over the top acting (and lots of slapping). They might be a little cheesy, but they’re big business, with China’s micro-drama market expected to be worth $14bn by 2027. The apps like ReelShort or DramaBox, that produce the dramas are racking up downloads around the world - but what does this mea...

Jun 26, 202514 min

Who is Iran’s Supreme Leader?

After twelve days of intense fighting, Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire that, for now, seems to be holding. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is the man in charge in Tehran. His current whereabouts are a mystery. As we wait to see what’s next in this conflict, we look into his leadership and how power works in Iran with the help of Ghoncheh Habibiazad from the BBC Persian team. Plus we explain what role President Masoud Pezeshkian plays in all of this too. Instagram: @bbcwhatinthewo...

Jun 25, 20259 min

Nitrous oxide: How dangerous is it?

Nitrous oxide or laughing gas as been used as a recreational and medical drug since the late 1700s. Dentists often use it as an anaesthetic. It’s been linked to hippie, festival and rave culture for decades. And in the last few years, American rappers like Kanye West, Young Thug and Gunna have been open about using it. You might have seen the little metal cannisters, that people use to dispense the drug, littering the streets. But now, manufacturers of nitrous oxide are producing bigger canniste...

Jun 24, 202510 min

Help! My friend won’t stop using AI

Whether you’re struggling to write an email, planning a holiday, or wondering what to cook for dinner: increasingly more and more of us are turning to AI for the answer. But some experts have raised concerns that people are becoming too reliant on the new technology - and that this will have implications for how we learn and communicate with each other offline. So what’s the best way to use AI, and what alternatives are out there? Our BBC Tech reporter, Liv McMahon, debunks some of the myths aro...

Jun 23, 202515 min

K-pop gets its first gay male idol

The K-pop industry is known for being super strict and encouraging idols not to share details about their private lives, especially their relationships. For LGBTQ idols, there’s an added layer of pressure, where they can’t reveal or talk about their sexuality at all, due to the stigma associated with homosexuality in South Korea. The country is deeply divided over LGBTQ acceptance. So what happens if you do mention your sexuality as a K-pop idol? BBC Korean’s Juna Moon has been talking to Bain f...

Jun 20, 202510 min

The young people fighting to save their culture from the climate

Climate change is one of the biggest issues of our time. Warmer weather and melting ice is forcing people and animals to migrate but it’s also threatening traditions. Myths, dances and national dishes - we’ve all got distinctive, defining customs that we would never want to lose. So what are people across the world doing to keep hold of their identities? BBC journalist Abiona Boja explains how cultural heritage loss is affecting young people across the globe. We hear from Muntadhar Abdul Ali abo...

Jun 19, 202513 min

Thinking Out Loud: What Ed Sheeran’s copyright trial means for the music industry

Ed Sheeran’s long-running copyright battle over his hit Thinking Out Loud is finally over. That’s after the US Supreme Court rejected an appeal to revive the copyright trial. It all started back in 2016 when Sheeran and his co-writer Amy Wadge were sued for allegedly copying Marvin Gaye’s 1973 classic Let’s Get It On. Sheeran, whose subsequent hits include Azizam and Shape of You, ended up winning that case, with the judge saying that lots of songs share similar elements and that Gaye’s chord pr...

Jun 18, 202514 min

Why Elon Musk and JD Vance want a US baby boom

There is a small but growing group of people in the US who are concerned that civilisation might collapse if people don’t have enough children. They’re called pro-natalists, and they argue that less children will lead to fewer workers and smaller economies, leading to an eventual collapse. Their solution: to save humanity people simply need to have kids. High-profile supporters of the movement include tech bros like Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The BBC’s population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty...

Jun 17, 202511 min

What do we know about Iran’s nuclear capabilities?

Israel has launched a huge wave of attacks on Iran. They say the targets of their attacks are Iran’s nuclear facilities and important scientists. Iran has claimed it is not developing any weapons, yet several secret nuclear sites have been uncovered in the past. Iran has responded with drones and missiles. So is Iran developing nuclear weapons? Ghoncheh Habibiazad from the BBC Persian team talks us through Iran’s history with nuclear weapons. She also gives us an insight into what the reaction o...

Jun 16, 202513 min

Why was the Indian hip hop star Sidhu Moose Wala murdered?

Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala was at the peak of his fame when he was murdered in 2022. Goldy Brar, a gangster based in Canada, has said that he ordered the killing. But how did one of India’s most popular musical acts become the target of a feared gang? Investigative journalist Ishleen Kaur has spoken to Brar about the murder and his motivations, which she explores in the BBC Eye documentary “The Killing Call.” Ishleen tells us about Moose Wala’s musical origins and his rise to fame. She also...

Jun 13, 202515 min

Degrowth explained: A radical idea for a sustainable future

More money, more growth, more stuff. Can our economies keep on growing forever? And should they? A group of activists and academics are questioning the possibility of endless economic growth on a finite planet and are advocating for a bold solution: degrowth. The movement argues for a 'democratisation of the economy' and for collectively managing key resources, like housing. This, they argue, would also help us to live more sustainably - and help in the fight against climate change. But critics ...

Jun 12, 202510 min

Who let the dogs out? Not Iran

Dog walking has been banned in at least 20 cities across Iran, after it was first outlawed in the capital, Tehran, six years ago. It’s the latest restriction to come from the authorities, who argue that dogs are ‘unclean’ and see having pets as a sign of growing Western influence. Despite this, dog ownership has risen in the country in recent years and many owners have started walking their dogs in secluded areas at night to evade detection. Ghoncheh Habibiazad, from the BBC Persian team, explai...

Jun 11, 202512 min

Why is protein being added to everything?

‘High’ or ‘added’ protein foods are popping up everywhere - from ice cream to pizza and even coffee. The nutrient’s newfound popularity has a lot to do with the fact that it helps our bodies repair and build up muscle. But could these new snacks come with hidden health risks? And are there other nutrients, like fibre, we should be paying more attention to? BBC journalist Chelsea Coates talks us through why high-protein foods are on the rise and explains how much protein we need to stay fit. Plus...

Jun 10, 202514 min

Why Morocco’s king has banned sheep for Eid

For millions of Moroccans, Eid al-Adha means quality time with your family, eating delicious food - and the tradition of sacrificing sheep. But this year, the king of Morocco, Mohammed VI, has banned the practice because of a seven-year drought in the country. Dry pastures have meant that the number of sheep herds has dropped sharply, while the cost of meat rises. King Mohammed says the ban is necessary to prevent “significant harm” to families struggling with high prices - but not all Moroccans...

Jun 09, 202510 min

How to hack your flight luggage allowance

Baggage fees have become part and parcel of international travel, with charges taking off in recent years. Globally, passengers spent $150 billion USD last year on added ‘extras’ such as seat selection and baggage fees - that’s 25% more than they spent in 2023. There’s also a growing number of ‘packing hacks’ videos on social media, with more people looking for ways to avoid paying fees for their bags. BBC reporter Sam Gruet explains why airlines started charging for luggage in the first place a...

Jun 06, 202511 min

Is it possible to end new cases of HIV by 2030?

World leaders pledged to end the AIDS pandemic as a public health threat by 2030. And the World Health Organisation aims to reduce HIV infections from 1.5 million in 2020 to 335,000 by 2030. The African continent still has the highest number of HIV infections globally. How will cuts to the US government's main overseas aid agency, USAID, affect the treatment and prevention of HIV in Africa? And will it make it harder for countries to end new cases of HIV by 2030? BBC Africa health correspondent ...

Jun 05, 202512 min

Made in Vietnam: Why its homegrown fashion is having a moment

What do Billie Eilish, Doja Cat and Jennie from Blackpink have in common? They have all been spotted wearing Vietnamese fashion brands. You might have noticed that your clothes and shoes have labels saying "Made in Vietnam". The garment and textile industry in Vietnam is massive - it's the second biggest exporter in the world, after China. And it employs three million people, most of them women. Global brands like Nike and Uniqlo make their clothes there. But recently, Vietnamese brands are bein...

Jun 04, 202510 min

Can refreezing Arctic sea ice help save polar bears?

Polar bears are the biggest bears in the world and the only marine bear. There are estimated to be around 26,000 globally. They’re mostly found in Canada, but also in Russia, the US, Norway and Greenland. Their main prey is seal, specifically seal blubber, as they need a diet high in fat to survive the freezing Arctic conditions. Polar bears are great swimmers but they can’t outswim seals. So they hunt them on the Arctic sea ice, waiting for them to come up for air and then pouncing. But as the ...

Jun 03, 202511 min

Why some athletes and musicians are using OnlyFans as a side hustle

OnlyFans is an online platform where people create content (photos, videos and live streams), which can be monetised. Although it hosts a variety of content across topics like fitness and cooking, OnlyFans is known widely for hosting adult content, much of it explicit. As its popularity has soared, so too has the controversy and stigma surrounding the platform. Last week, Kurts Adams Rozentals, a world-class British canoeist, revealed that he had been banned from competing by Paddle UK — the spo...

Jun 02, 202512 min

It’s prom night in Uganda baby!

High school prom may have started off as an American tradition, but now, it’s spread across the globe. In Uganda, proms are often a super lavish event, with couples flying in on helicopters or pulling up in expensive cars, before doing multiple outfit changes through the night. But the government says it’s gone too far — and it’s brought in new rules to curb the celebrations. Uganda’s Ministry of Education has banned what it calls “indecent dressing” and has even introduced a 6PM curfew, arguing...

May 30, 202513 min

The ongoing mysteries of Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are among Egypt's most famous landmarks. The Great Pyramid is made up of 2.3 million stone blocks, weighing five million tonnes in total. For centuries no one has known precisely how they were built, or how the stones were transported. Using radar satellite imagery, historical maps and geophysical surveys, a research team has mapped a long-lost, ancient branch of the River Nile - which they believe was buried by a major drought and sandstorms thousands of years ago. They thi...

May 29, 202510 min

How politicians use styling to win hearts (and votes)

In South Korea, what presidential candidates are wearing is a hot topic. People use fashion to express themselves. Many of us think carefully about what we put on and how others will view our outfits, whether we choose an iconic hat or a monochrome look. But for politicians and their spouses, every look is carefully calculated to send a specific message. South Korea is having a snap election which means that image consultants are quietly shaping the new public faces of leadership, from tie colou...

May 28, 202512 min

How do musicians make money?

From Taylor Swift to Michael Jackson, there’s been countless superstar musicians who have called out their record labels for how much they’re being paid for their music. For musicians at the start of their careers it can be even more challenging to make money. The emergence of streaming sites like Spotify has made understanding publishing a bit more complicated. So how does it all really work? BBC Newsbeat reporter Riyah Collins talks us through how musicians make their money - from royalties, t...

May 27, 202511 min

Why Trump’s ‘white genocide’ claim in South Africa is false

US president Donald Trump has claimed that white farmers in South Africa are being executed en masse. But this is simply not true. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation went to Washington last week hoping for a boost and a reset after months of bitterness with the Donald Trump administration. Instead they got brutal, high-stakes diplomacy, peppered with insults, which played out to millions across the world in real time. This included Trump showing a video which supposedly ...

May 26, 202511 min

The difficulties of getting aid into Gaza

After cutting off the supply of aid to Gaza for more than two months, Israeli officials have allowed some trucks to enter. But despite over a hundred aid trucks carrying essential products like flour and baby food into Gaza, the United Nations says it’s only a “drop in the ocean”. There have also been significant delays to distributing the aid, lasting days in some cases. The UN estimates that one in five Gazans face starvation and that an average of 600 trucks a day are needed to start tackling...

May 23, 202515 min
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