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.
It’s 2025 and Katy Perry has officially gone to space. On Monday 14th April, she strapped herself into the Blue Origin rocket and blasted off like a “Firework” with five other well-known women. The rocket is owned by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancé Lauren Sanchez was also on board. The women claimed this all-female mission was to “take up space” but the reaction to the trip has been “Hot N Cold“. Some argue this wasn’t a win for feminism, only for the “Roar“ of capitalism. But what ...
‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem is an Afrobeats song which criticises Nigeria’s president Bola Tinubu and calls on his son, Seyi Tinubu, to let his father know that "people are dying" because of hardship and insecurity, and that there is "hunger" in the country. After its release, Nigeria’s National Broadcast Commission (NBC) ordered TV and radio stations not to play the track. They classed it as "inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature", adding that it falls short of ...
A pet can bring so much joy to a person’s life. Usually, the owner will outlive their pet. But advances in modern veterinary care has made more treatments available to keep animals alive for longer. It can be expensive, with owners spending thousands of dollars to keep their beloved pet alive. But are these treatments worth it? And when does medical care for pets cross a line? BBC Brasil journalist Julia Braun joins us in the studio to discuss animal euthanasia and why pet owners face such diffi...
An enormous fifty-year-old ocean liner, the SS United States, is set to be sunk and become the world’s biggest artificial reef, off the coast of Florida in the US. The area already has over 500 artificial reefs. These are manmade structures that may mimic some of the characteristics of a natural reef. The people behind it say it’ll improve biodiversity, local tourism and fishing. And it’s not just old ships; people have sunk oil rigs and subway carriages. They don’t always have a positive effect...
East of India is a small island called North Sentinel Island. It’s home to the Sentinelese people. But no one else is welcome to visit, and if they try, they may face death. The Sentinelese have made it clear they don’t want to be contacted and prefer to be alone. But recently, a 24-year-old American tourist allegedly managed to sneak onto the island and leave a can of coke and coconut as an offering. So who are these uncontactable groups and why do people keep trying to visit? The BBC’s global ...
The US company Colossal claim to have brought back the dire wolf from extinction after 12,000 years through genetic engineering. The three pups, called Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi, are now living in an undisclosed nature preserve, unaware that their existence has made headlines around the world. But Colossal aren’t finished yet, they want to continue to “de-extinct” other animals, such as the woolly mammoth. BBC Science Correspondent Victoria Gill explains how the experiment was done. How realis...
Tensions in South Sudan are rising, threatening an already fragile peace deal between President Salva Kiir and his rival First Vice-President Riek Machar. They signed the peace agreement in 2018 to end a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people. But now, many are worried that South Sudan could be on the brink of another civil war. Ashley Lime, a BBC reporter in Nairobi, explains why this latest violence has escalated and outlines the relationship between these two leaders. Instagram...
Taiwan’s government recently deported Liu Zhenya, a Chinese national who goes by “Yaya in Taiwan” on social media. It’s after Liu posted comments on Douyin — the Chinese version of TikTok — that Taiwan’s government described as threats to national security. Since then Taiwan has deported two other “mainland wives” (Chinese citizens with Taiwanese husbands) over similar concerns about their social media posts. It’s also investigating several others. Benny Lu from BBC Chinese explains why Taiwan’s...
The International Criminal Court has been in the spotlight recently after it issued several arrest warrants for both Hamas and Israeli officials involved in the Israel-Gaza war. Following this, US President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the court and Hungary also accused them of being ‘politically biased”. Based in the Dutch city of The Hague, the court was established in 2002 and has the power to bring prosecutions for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. But how does it...
Donald Trump has introduced tariffs on imports to the US. This has caused a huge reaction across the world with many major stock markets in free fall ever since. Are you confused by all the different words being thrown around? What actually is a tariff? Don’t worry - we’re joined by BBC business presenter Will Bain to explain everything you need to know about tariffs and how they can impact your life. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Pre...
Rhinos are at extreme risk of extinction because of poaching and habitat loss. The work of conservationists has made sure that their numbers have continued to rise, but poaching is still a major threat to their existence. Most of the global rhino population lives in South Africa, where the government has taken big steps to prevent the killings, but recent data shows criminal poachers are still targeting the animal So scientists are getting experimental with how to protect them! We hear from the ...
The average person who menstruates has their period for 2,535 days (nearly seven years) of their life, according to the UN. That’s A LOT of tampons and pads. But the World Bank says 500 million women don’t have access to menstrual products. Period poverty - when women and girls can’t afford or access sanitary products - is a global problem, affecting lots of countries in Africa as well as the US, UK, India and New Zealand. Gloria Achieng, a BBC journalist in Kenya, talks us through the causes of...
President Trump and his administration is cracking down on international students who have been active in protests against Israel on university campuses. Last week, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at least 300 students had their student visas revoked. Trump officials said the Immigration and Nationality Act allows the State Department to deport non-citizens who are "adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests" of the US. The arrests are a part of Trump's pledge t...
In this episode we’re tracing the route of a shadow ship. These ships are part of a network carrying Russian oil around the world - in violation of international sanctions. And some of them have been accused of sabotage, severing undersea cables that connect European countries. The “shadow fleet” is growing in size and posing a risk to other ships and the environment. BBC journalist Emilia Jansson explains what shadow ships are and what some Scandinavian countries are trying to do about them. An...
Myanmar is reeling following a powerful earthquake on Friday. The epicentre was near the second largest city Mandalay, home to about 1.5 million people. According to the government, more than 2,000 people have been killed. The country is already in the midst of a worsening humanitarian crisis and civil war. It’s also ruled by a military junta who control almost all the media. We hear from Soe Win Than, the editor of the BBC’s Burmese service, about why it’s difficult to get all the information. ...
US Vice-President JD Vance and his wife Usha are scheduled to land in Greenland on Friday afternoon. Their visit comes as President Donald Trump continues his threats to take over the world’s largest island, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. But the planned visit has been scaled back following protests. Rather than visiting a dog sled race and cultural sites, the Vances will instead tour an American space facility. BBC journalist Laura Gozzi explains the basics of what the United ...
The global hair wig and extension market was valued at $7.5billion in 2024. Hair is big business - especially in India, which is the world’s biggest exporter of human hair, supplying 85% of global demand. Some comes from temples, where people shave off their hair as an act of devotion to the gods. It is then sold at auction. The rest comes from hair pickers who collect it from women’s combs, salons and even rubbish dumps. Priti Gupta, a journalist in Mumbai, talks us through the Indian hair indu...
Thousands of people in Turkey turned out for a seventh night of protests which have so far seen more than 1,400 people detained, including students, journalists and lawyers. Demonstrations began in Istanbul on 19 March, when the city's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - who is seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival - was arrested on corruption charges. In this episode we bring you the background to the protests. Nihan Kalle, a reporter for BBC Monitoring in Istanbul, tells us why Pres...
Fluoride has been in most American tap water for decades. It’s there to help to prevent tooth decay, especially in children. Scientists and health officials say it’s one of the biggest public health wins of the 20th century. But lately, fluoride has found itself at the centre of a heated debate, with some people concerned about side effects. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US Health Secretary, is one of those, but he has long expressed views that conflict with scientific evidence. We break down the fac...
Over 500 schools and universities in South Korea are dealing with a deepfake porn crisis. Explicit images and videos of classmates and teachers are being shared. The perpetrators are often students themselves. In fact, 80 per cent of those arrested for creating and distributing deepfakes are teenagers. Hyojung Kim from the BBC’s Korean Service explains what’s happening and what’s being done to stop it. Plus, presenter and campaigner Jess Davies gives us tips on what to do if you have been deepfa...
The annual World Happiness Report is out and Finland has been named the happiest country for the eighth year in a row. What makes the Finns so joyful? Emilia Jansson from the What in the World team breaks it down for you. But, is happiness just a fleeting emotion or is there more to it? Sarah Jelbert, a lecturer who teaches courses on the science of happiness explains how you can improve your life satisfaction. And we hear from Sweden and Costa Rica, two countries that rank in the top ten. Insta...
Netflix has a TV show out called Apple Cider Vinegar - it’s a dramatisation of a real story of a real influencer who was popular online, and said she was treating a terminal illness with alternative therapies. But it turned out the supposed natural treatments she was promoting didn’t do anything, because she didn’t really have brain cancer. So it got us thinking - how can you spot false wellness claims? Drinking special tea to make you slimmer. Rubbing bee venom on your face to reduce fine lines...
This episode of What in the World explores the extended mission of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on the International Space Station due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The discussion covers the reasons behind the extended stay, daily life in space, the impact on their health, and the challenges of readjusting to life back on Earth. The episode also addresses whether the astronauts were truly stranded and what measures were in place to ensure their safety.
On Sunday night, hundreds of people gathered at Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia to watch the popular hip-hop duo DNK perform. It ended in tragedy. A fire ripped through the venue killing 59 people and leaving more than 150 others injured. Reports say the fire was caused by sparks from pyrotechnic devices that hit the ceiling, which was made of highly flammable material. The incident has raised questions about how the venue was able to operate with inadequate safety measures, and if co...
This episode of What in the World explores the concerning trend of increasing youth radicalization and involvement in terrorist activities, particularly in Europe. It features insights from Thomas Morgan, author of the Global Terrorism Index, on the factors driving this trend, including online exposure and social unrest. The episode also includes an interview with Julian, a counselor working with radicalized teenagers, discussing methods to change attitudes and behaviors.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has agreed to pay $3.5 billion to buy the gaming division of Niantic, the Pokémon Go publisher. It’s the latest in a string of entertainment and gaming investments by the PIF. BBC tech reporter Tom Gerken tells us why the Saudi government is spending billions on gaming and what the Kingdom stands to gain from it. Plus: BBC Arabic’s Abdirahim Saaed explains where the PIF gets its money and why the gaming scene is so big in Saudi Arabia right now. Instagram: ...
An estimated 700 million people visit zoos every year. Some people see these facilities as a great way to teach people about nature and to save species from extinction. Others think they’re cruel and unnecessary. It’s a heated debate. And now, as more and more people are watching animal rescue videos on Instagram and TikTok, it feels like the debate is hotter than ever. William Lee Adams from the What in the Word team talks us through the history of zoos, including how England's Queen Charlotte ...
In November, fifteen people were killed at the Novi Sad railway station in Serbia when a concrete canopy collapsed. Students in the country have been protesting ever since, claiming that government corruption contributed to the tragedy. The protests have brought the country to a standstill, and on Monday students occupied the public TV station RTS. Slobodan Maričić from BBC Serbian tells us about the student protests, what he’s seen when out reporting and the criticism faced by President Aleksan...
Two weeks ago $1.5 billion vanished from a cryptocurrency platform - it’s thought to be the biggest crypto heist ever. They had fallen into the hands of some infamous hackers - the Lazarus Group. These hackers have alleged ties to the North Korean government and have managed to steal huge amounts of money from other crypto platforms before. The BBC’s Cyber Correspondent, Joe Tidy, takes us through all the details and explains why North Korean hackers are so untouchable. Instagram: @bbcwhatinthew...
Plastic pollution has been highlighted as an environmental issue for several years. But experts are now researching whether it poses a potential danger to our health. Microplastics specifically are found in our bodies - even in our brains. The BBC health reporter Smitha Mundasad explains to us what they are and whether we should be worried. And 25-year-old microplastics researcher and influencer Dana Zhaxylykova shares her top tips on how to avoid plastics. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: w...
