What in the World

Wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Officials are worried more high winds could make the flames spread even further.At the same time, new data shows that 2024 was the world's hottest year on record. So is climate change making these types of fires worse?Esme Stallard, a BBC Climate and Science journalist, takes us through the conditions that contributed to the fire and why the flames are so hard to contain.We also hear from people in LA about what it’s all been like for them, losing their homes and having to evacuate.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Carbon offsetting is a way to try to balance carbon emissions. It’s when an individual, company or governments invest in projects that try to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, to compensate for their own carbon footprint. Many of the schemes - like planting trees, protecting forests or switching to cleaner fuels - are set up in places like Africa or South America. But how do these schemes work in practice? A paper published in 2024 in the science journal Nature found that few schemes led to a “real emission reductions“. Are they just a distraction or worse - a con? BBC climate and science reporter Esme Stallard answers our questions. And Joshua Gabriel Oluwaseyi, a 24 year old climate activist in Nigeria, gives us his view on the impact carbon offsetting schemes have had in Nigeria - and whether he thinks they are worth doing. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Maria Clara Montoya Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

Tibet was struck by a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday. It’s been reported by Chinese state media that at least 126 people have died, making the quake one of the deadliest in recent years. The epicentre of the earthquake is near the Nepal-Tibet border, some hundred miles away from the holy city of Shigatse. More than 14,000 rescue workers are working to find survivors.Much of what we know about the quake is from Chinese state media, as Tibet, which is considered an autonomous region of China, is highly restricted, and access by foreign media is tightly controlled. Shawn Yuan from the BBC’s Global China Unit, tells us what we know so far about the rescue efforts and why there’s limited information. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Over the last few days the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, has turned his attention to European politics.The billionaire owner of X has been relentlessly tweeting his criticism of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He’s also endorsed the far-right AfD party ahead of next month’s snap elections in Germany. These actions have been criticised by both the French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Musk is known for being outspoken on political issues across the world. He endorsed incoming President Donald Trump during the US election, is close friends with the Prime Minister of Italy and has gotten into public disagreements with political figures in Brazil and Venezuela. We discuss Musk's recent takes with the BBC’s Berlin correspondent Jessica Parker and Maria Clara Montoya from the WITW team takes a look at some of the feuds and friendships Musk has in Latin America.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Josh Jenkins and Maria Clara Montoya Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

A silent asthma epidemic could be affecting millions of people in Africa. It’s estimated almost half of all the asthma sufferers in the world live on the continent, but many face barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Dorcas Wangira, the BBC’s Africa Health Correspondent in Nairobi, Kenya talks us through the growing body of research looking into how asthma is affecting children and teens in Africa. We also hear from Doyin Ogunye, a campaigner for better air quality in Lagos, Nigeria, about the links between asthma and air pollution. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Josh Jenkins, Mora Morrison, Carolyne Kiambo and Maria Clara Montoya Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

Bollywood films are known for their epic love stories, energetic dance numbers and huge stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra. However, the industry - like Hollywood - has faced a slump since the Covid pandemic. But 2024 marked a new trend; the box office success of horror. Shaitaan, for example, earned over $25m worldwide. We speak to film critic and journalist Yasser Usman and Bollywood influencer Aaina Mehta to hear whether they think witches, zombies and evil spirits could pull more people back to the cinema. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

In the middle of the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan, there’s a massive fiery pit officially called the Darvaza Crater - but also known as the “gates of hell”. The fire - which is man made - has been burning for over 50 years. But now satellite images suggest that the brightness of the crater has started to dim. Turkmenistan is trying to finally put out the fire. Alex from the What in the World team tells us all about how the fire started and why it’s taken so long to put it out. We hear from explorer George Kourounis who is (as far as we know) the only person to go down into the pit. And BBC journalist Alistair Coleman gives us some facts about Turkmenistan and its leaders. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Alex Rhodes Editor: Verity Wilde

The Rights of Nature movement wants to give inherent rights to nature - so forests, animals and rivers would have the right to protection. More and more countries are starting to adopt this kind of legislation. Ecuador became the first country in the world to codify Rights of Nature in its constitution in 2008. In New Zealand, legislation has recognised the mountainous region Te Urewera and the Whanganui River as legal persons. In 2022, the Spanish lagoon Mar Menor became the first natural entity to be granted legal status as a person within Europe. BBC Climate and science reporter Georgina Rannard explains how it works and whether the approach is helping to protect the environment. Another part of the movement wants to see nature recognised for the role it plays in music too. The people behind a track called The Song of the Cedars are petitioning Ecuador’s copyright office to recognise Los Cedros forest as a co-creator, given it was composed there.Sounds Right is a global music initiative which encourages artists who use sounds from nature - like rain or animal noises - in their tracks to redirect some of the royalties they collect to help conserve and protect nature. Bill Sellanga, aka Blinky Bill, a musician and DJ based in Nairobi, tells us why he signed up, for his track OH WAH feat. NATURE. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Nathalia Jimenez Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

After its deadliest plane crash in decades, South Korea is looking for answers. 179 people died after a Jeju Air plane flying from Bangkok crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport. Authorities are carrying out an emergency safety inspection of the country's entire airline operation system and investigators are still working to identify all the victims. We speak to Rachel Lee, a BBC journalist based in Seoul, about what we know so far, and what the country’s next steps are. Many of the passengers on board were families, including children returning home after holidays. Across South Korea people are paying their respects and preparing memorials. We hear briefly from Song Jong Hoon, who lost two family members on the flight.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Mimi Swaby Producers: Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Jimmy Carter — the 39th president of the United States — has died at the age of 100. A former peanut farmer in Georgia, he rose to the very top of American politics by portraying himself as an outsider. Once in office, he pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders, became the first U.S. president to take climate change seriously and brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. But his presidency was tarnished by a series of challenges and failures, from high inflation to a botched hostage rescue in Iran.Following his one-term presidency, Carter went on to establish the Carter Center to promote human rights around the world. Among other things, he helped broker a truce in Sudan’s decades-long civil war, and his organisation’s work has helped nearly eradicate the parasitic infection Guinea worm. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work to find peaceful solutions for international conflicts. William Lee Adams, a BBC reporter who grew up in Georgia, discusses Carter’s life, legacy and how he’ll be remembered. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

A campaign on TikTok recently started a fresh conversation about cultural appropriation of food. It started when content creator Yen Bui, who now lives in London, highlighted that a British-owned restaurant chain called Pho had trademarked the name of the Vietnamese national dish a while ago, which limited the rights of other restaurant owners to use the word in their names because they could have faced legal action. Yen Bui tells us why she started the campaign, and why it matters to so many.What is cultural appropriation of food? US-based content creator Kim Pham explains. And the BBC’s Charlotte Edwards talks us through how and why trade marks are used in food in the first place.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Mora Morrison and Hayley Clarke Editor: Verity Wilde

South Africa has the largest population of canned lions in the world - these are lions born in captivity and bred for trophy hunting. People can pay (usually tens of thousands of dollars) to hunt and shoot the animals. Now the government has said it will ban it, but hasn’t said when, or what will happen to the lions. Breeders argue it is better that hunters shoot a captive-bred lion than further endanger the wild populations, but conservationists and animal welfare groups dispute this, saying wild populations of lions are in decline and that the lion farms are creating a market for canned lion hunts and encouraging the hunting of wild lions too.BBC Africa’s Danai Nesta Kupemba explains what canned hunting is and why campaigners want to end the practice. We discuss the ethical considerations and why lion bones are sought after. Stephanie Klarmann, from Blood Lions, which campaigns to bring an end to the commercial captive breeding of lions, tells us why they disagree with it. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Video journalist: Beatrice Guzzardi Editor: Rosanna La Falce

We all disagree on some things. For some people disagreeing is natural and, in some instances, even enjoyable. While for others it’s super uncomfortable, and something they want to avoid at all costs. Social media is alive with angry keyboard warriors at each other’s throats, but it is possible to disagree without hurting someone’s feelings. Bo Seo is an expert at this. He’s a world debate champion, author, and a former coach of the Australian national debating team. He shares the art of having a good debate, and therefore a good conversation. Plus, we speak to Jason Lee, the founder of Jubilee, about why his YouTube and TikTok videos, which bring people together despite their differences, are gaining billions of views. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

Nearly half the world's population had elections this year, but for the first time in at least 20 years, progress for women's representation has slowed. In 60% of countries that voted this year, the number of women in parliament fell. Stephanie Hegarty, the BBC’s population correspondent, discusses some of the countries where fewer women were elected and explains some of the factors behind the drop. She also looks at the regions — from Latin America to Africa — where female politicians made gains. We also hear from Puakena Boreham, a former member of parliament in the Pacific island of Tuvalu, and Indira Kempis, a former member of the Senate in Mexico. They discuss the importance of female representation and the challenges that female politicians face. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden and Maria Clara Montoya Editor: Verity Wilde

Cyclone Chido has wreaked havoc in Mozambique and Mayotte.In Mozambique, 120 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds of thousands more impacted by the storm. It’s further strained a country where protests and civil unrest have been ongoing since disputed elections in October. Mozambique’s constitutional council has confirmed the ruling party won the election. Our reporter, Evelin Uachave, explains what’s behind the protests.But the French territory of Mayotte could be in worse shape - it’s the poorest part of France and already faced major challenges even before the cyclone made landfall. The BBC’s Sara Menai explains why things are so bad.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Adam Chowdhury and Emily Horler Editor: Verity Wilde

BMX Freestyle is one of the events at the 2024 Urban Cycling World Championships which are being held in Abu Dhabi. It features fearless BMX riders jumping, spinning and hurling themselves around the course on a small bike, pulling off mind-blowing tricks that get you gasping. Think acrobatic gymnastics but on a bike.What does it take to become a BMX rider though? Tom Clemens from Germany, who sits 18th in the BMX Freestyle world rankings, tells us how he became a professional BMX rider.Plus, Olympic commentator and professional skateboarder Lucy Adams explains how BMX Freestyle riders compete, and how new ‘action’ sports like BMX are trying to grow their popularity.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Adam Chowdhury, Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Even if you haven’t seen them in person, you might be familiar with images of the Northern Lights - dark skies with moving ribbons of green and purple. But what actually are they? And why do we seem to be seeing more of them in 2024? BBC science presenter Caroline Steele answers loads of questions about the Northern Lights, like why are they different colours and when and where are the best times to see them? We also chat about the Southern Lights and ask why don’t people talk about them as much? And 21 year old photographer Hugo Korhonen from Finland tell us what it’s like to see the Northern Lights in person and how you can take the best photos of them. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Maria Clara Montoya Video Journalist: Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

A law passed earlier this year means TikTok will be banned in the US unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, before 19 January 2025. On Monday US President-elect Donald Trump met the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, and now people are questioning if he will try and stop this ban, and save the app.Rhiannon Williams, a UK-based tech journalist, talks us through how Trump’s relationship to TikTok has changed over the years, including how he utilised it to target young people in the presidential election, and why some people are calling this a clever move politically. Plus Natalie Jimenez, a BBC reporter based in New York, reviews Trump’s TikTok page for us and shares if it’s hot, or a flop. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Since Syria’s civil war began, six million people have left the country and seven million more have been internally displaced. Now Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been overthrown by rebels, many refugees are wondering if they can return to their home. According to the UN, it’s the world’s largest refugee crisis. BBC journalist, Lina Shaikhouni, explains what caused this crisis and we hear from three Syrian refugees in Germany, Lebanon and the UK.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and María Clara Montoya Editor: Verity Wilde

Gukesh Dommaraju — an 18-year-old from India — has become the youngest-ever world chess champion. That’s after beating defending champion Ding Liren, a 32-year-old from China. Dommaraju comes from Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu. Saradha V, a BBC reporter in Chennai, explains how the city became India’s chess capital and how schools there are producing an impressive generation of young players.Plus: Giovanni Sala, a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Liverpool, explains how the Internet is helping chess players master the game more quickly than players did decades ago. He also describes the benefits that chess has for young people.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden, Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde

Game of Thrones. Twilight. Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf is an animal that appears more than most creatures across popular culture. They’re known for being fierce, dangerous and scary. Is this what they are like in real life though? Abby Keller, who works at the International Wolf Centre in the US, tells us everything we need to know about wolves.For 45 years in Europe, grey wolves were under the second highest level of protection in European Union laws. This is called Annex Two and offered ‘strict protection’. This month though, EU conservation officials voted to downgrade them to Annex Three. It means they have gone from ‘strictly protected’ to just ‘protected’. From March next year, each EU nation will be able to set a yearly figure of how many wolves can legally be killed in their country.The BBC’s Emilia Jansson explains the decision and what it means for the wolf population of the EU.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

The reasons women donate their eggs vary significantly. Some people say they feel a sense of pride knowing they may help other women conceive children. Others say they want to earn a bit of extra cash, since many clinics are willing to pay donors for their eggs. Charlotte Edwards, BBC Business reporter, explains how the process of egg donation works — and how it differs by country. Plus: Elaine Chong, an egg donor in the United Kingdom and BBC journalist, discusses how she wanted to help other women of Chinese descent expand their families. And Ebimoboere Ibinabo Dan-Asisahin, an egg donor in Nigeria, discusses the process and physical side effects she experienced.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Video Journalist: Tim Hodges Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

There’s nothing quite like going to see a new film in the cinema; the big screen, surround sound, buckets of popcorn and collective gasps from the audience. But the film industry has experienced a number of setbacks in recent years, including the pandemic, competition from streaming, and Hollywood strikes.Annabel Rackham, a BBC culture reporter, talks us though whether cinema in the United States, and elsewhere, is bouncing back, and how mega hits like Wicked and Gladiator 2 are helping. We also speak to Mr C, a film critic from Nigeria who now lives in the UK, about how cinema is faring in Nigeria. And Adam Chowdhury from the What in the World team quizzes Hannah on some (pretty surprising) film-related Guinness World Records. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Adam Chowdhury and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

Brazil is known for it's top-tier football and stars like Vinicius Junior or Neymar. The enthusiasm for football has now a new layer, with millions of people turning to online betting when watching their national game. Brazil is now considered the third-biggest market globally for sports betting, and authorities are trying to tackle this issue as lots of people are struggling with debt and gambling addictions, as we hear from Ian Alves, a BBC journalist in Sao Paulo.And Reece Bush-Evans, member of the Gambling Research Group in the UK explains why gambling can be so addictive.If you’ve been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode please contact support organisations in your own country. Or, if you live in the UK, please check out bbc.co.uk/actionline. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Josh Jenkins, Maria Clara Montoya and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

The world was stunned over the weekend as rebel forces in Syria captured the capital of Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee and ending the final chapter of his violent regime. Assad is reported to have fled to Russia whilst opposition forces now loot his empty palace and people celebrate on the streets.But who are the Syrian rebels who toppled Assad’s rule? And why has it happened now after decades of the Assad family in charge.Five BBC experts - Frank Gardner, Lyse Doucet, Lina Sinjab, Mina Al-Lami and Barry Marston - take us through the story.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Emilia Jansson Editor: Verity WildeThis audio was updated after publication and a name correction was made on the 17th December.

K-pop girl group NewJeans announced they were leaving their record label during an emergency press conference last week. This follows months of public disagreements between the label, the band, and fans. But the group is tied into a contract until 2029. So, what happens now?Our reporter, Fan Wang, breaks it all down and the BBC’s Music Correspondent, Mark Savage, helps us with the question on everyone’s lips… if they do leave their agency do they get to keep their music and their name?We also talk about Riize. One of its members has recently left the band after fan backlash. We take a look at how much power K-pop fans have over their idols with Julie Yoonnyung Lee, our resident K-pop expert.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Emily Horler and Emilia Jansson Editor: Verity Wilde

Phones have become an essential part of most people’s everyday lives, and debates about them in schools - as well as teenagers’ access to social media - are internationally hot topics.BBC journalist Hayley Clarke joins us in the studio to talk through different approaches to social media and phone bans in schools around the world. We also hear from students in France and the US about how they would feel about potential bans.Hannah Ritchie, a BBC journalist, explains the situation in Australia, where the government says it will introduce "world-leading" legislation to ban children under 16 from social media.Plus we hear from two professors on opposing sides of the debate, and ask what is the scientific evidence that shows phones and social media are bad for us? Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Hayley Clarke and Emilia Jansson Video journalist: Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

South Korea's president Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the country on Tuesday night when, out of the blue, he declared martial law in the country. It’s the first time such an order has been passed there in nearly 50 years. Yoon cited "anti-state forces" and the threat from North Korea. But it soon became clear that the move may have been politically motivated. Within hours thousands of people gathered in protest, and opposition lawmakers rushed to remove the measure. Julie Yoonnyung Lee, a BBC World Service reporter, talks us why the announcement was so shocking - and how it could impact South Korea’s democracy. Plus, Emilia Jansson from the What in the World team shares which other countries have used martial law, and why. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Emilia Jansson Editor: Verity Wilde

For the past few nights, thousands of Georgians have been out protesting the government in Tbilisi. It’s because the ruling party, Georgian Dream, says it’s pausing negotiations to join the European Union until 2028. Many Georgians see the move as a betrayal of achieving the long-standing ambition of joining the EU, and some fear the country is inching closer to Russia’s influence.The BBC’s Rayhan Demytrie takes us through the political situation in the country and explains why many Georgians are unhappy. We also hear from two women, Nutsa and Nini, about why they’ve decided to join this round of protests.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Rage bait is social media content that's designed to elicit anger and frustration. Those feelings can encourage people to engage with the content, often by replying. It’s a process that helps content creators earn a lot of money. BBC reporter Megan Lawton discusses the reasons that social media users engage with this type of content and offers tips to identify it. And BBC tech reporter Tom Gerken explains how our online behaviour dictates what social media posts appear in our feeds. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Hayley Clarke, Emilia Jansson Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

The world’s most expensive banana has been sold at an auction for more than $6 million. It’s Maurizio Cattelan's 2019 work Comedian and it’s literally just a banana duct-taped to a wall.The new owner bought the right to display the installation along with a guide on how to replace the fruit (it doesn’t stay fresh for long!).But what makes it art? And why would someone eat a multi-million dollar banana? BBC arts reporter Yasmin Rufo takes us through the story and helps us decide if us taping a banana to a wall in our studio counts as art. We also hear from two people in the art world - artist Maddie Exton and critic Hakim Bishara - for their thoughts on this infamous banana. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Hayley Clarke, Benita Barden and Mora Morrison. Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Intra-continental travel is huge, and borderless agreements between countries make trips easier. For instance, Europe has the Schengen Zone and South East Asia has ASEAN. But for Africa, it’s still a work in progress. The UN tourism boss Natalya Bayona says she wants to make borderless travel for tourism in Africa a reality within ten years. Daniel Dadzie, from the BBC Focus on Africa podcast, explains the benefits it could bring and why it could be difficult to achieve. And Zubaida Abdel-Rahman, a Ghanaian travel blogger, tells us about her experiences.In January 2024, the Kenyan government introduced a new system called Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). It doesn’t require African nationals to obtain visas to enter the country for tourism and business travel. We hear from BBC reporter in Nairobi, Jewel Kiriungi, about how it works. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Benita Barden Video Journalist: Beatrice Guzzardi Editor: Verity Wilde

There has been intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah for over a year. More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, over a million people displaced, and many homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes. Israel says 60,000 of its citizens will now be able to go back to their communities along its northern border, safe from Hezbollah rocket fire from Hezbollah.In this episode, we speak to Carine Torbey, our BBC correspondent in Beirut, who explains the basics on Hezbollah, why it has been fighting Israel and what this ceasefire means.We hear from other BBC correspondents on the ground in the region to get a sense of how the ceasefire deal is being received. And Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s International Editor explains what might happen to Hezbollah now - and whether a ceasefire in Gaza could be next. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Hayley Clarke Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

The town of Van Vieng in Laos is a popular stop for backpackers traveling through Southeast Asia. But after six tourists died earlier this month following suspected methanol poisoning, many tourists are re-thinking their itineraries and how they drink. We hear from some of them. Also: William from the What in the World team tells us about the victims in Laos and looks at alcohol poisoning around the world. And BBC Digital Health Editor Michelle Roberts explains how methanol affects the body and what symptoms people my experience after consuming it. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

The annual United Nations climate change conference ended on Sunday but not everybody was happy. This year, the main focus was on getting richer countries, who have contributed more to climate change, to pay poorer, developing countries so that they can better deal with the impacts of climate change.COP29 was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the talks were meant to end on Friday. The negotiations ran over into the weekend and a deal for $300 billion was finally agreed on Sunday at 3am.However, the African Group of Negotiators described the final pledge as "too little, too late" and India said that “the amount that is proposed to be mobilised is abysmally poor. It's a paltry sum.”BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard was in Baku and takes us through the final deal. Georgina also speaks with two climate activists who were campaigning at COP29.Plus, Jordan Dunbar from the BBC’s Climate Question podcast gives us three success stories of how climate change is being tackled around the world.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

According to a major government survey, more than 70% of young people in Malaysia are in debt. Officials say shopping addiction is the number one reason why. Social media feeds that addiction by promoting “flex culture” — the desire to flash your wealth in person and online. Leeloo Larcombe, a fashion and lifestyle influencer, tells us about Malaysia’s shopping culture and her complicated relationship with it. Bryan Chen, the co-founder of Malaysia's biggest streetwear convention, Sneaker-LAH, explains how his shoe addiction has at times left him in debt. The rise of buy now, pay later (BNPL) schemes also encourages people to live beyond their means. Doris Lieu, an economist at the IDEAS Malaysia think tank, explains how these schemes grew in popularity during the pandemic and why young people are attracted to them. Finally, Pete Yong, the financial literacy expert behind the popular Mr Money TV YouTube channel, offers some practical tips to help people pull themselves out of debt.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Thailand has become the first country in South East Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. The new law means that LGBTQ+ couples will have the same legal rights as other couples when it comes to adoption, inheritance and medical decisions. It’s taken activists years of campaigning to get to this point, and in September 2024 Thailand's king signed it into law. It will come into force in January 2025. BBC Thai journalist Panisa Aemocha, in Bangkok, explains the same-sex marriage legalisation in Thailand and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ in the country. This includes how Thailand has embraced boy love (BL) and girl love (GL) TV series - which show same-sex couples. We also hear from Best Chitsanupong Nithiwana, an activist who co-founded the Young Pride Club in Chiang Mai, who tells us what this new law means for same-sex couples in Thailand. And we ask, could other nearby countries do the same?Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Video producer: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

A video of an Iranian student in her underwear at a university campus in Tehran has gone global. It shows Ahoo Daryaei walking around grey concrete buildings in a purple bra and knickers before being forcibly detained. Authorities were quick to claim that she was suffering from poor mental health, but many have seen it as an act of defiance against the hijab.Faranak Amidi, a BBC journalist and presenter, tells us what life is like for women in Iran right now, and how they are bravely fighting for more rights. Azam Jangravi, an Iranian activist who now lives in Canada, shares her experience of being being arrested following her protest in 2018. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and William Lee Adams Editor: Verity Wilde

You might have seen the viral video of 22-year-old MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke doing the haka in the middle of New Zealand’s parliament last Thursday. It was a protest aimed at disrupting the debate in parliament about a bill which, if it became law (which is unlikely), would transform the way the indigenous Māori population are treated by changing the nation’s 184-year-old treaty.Then, on Tuesday, a nine-day march to New Zealand’s parliament building in the capital city Wellington came to an end, with over 40,000 people from different backgrounds voicing their opposition to the proposed new bill. BBC reporter Katy Watson was at the protests and describes what it was like.So what is life like for Māori people? The BBC’s Kathryn Armstrong takes us through the background and history of New Zealand’s Treaty of Waitangi. Plus, the BBC’s Vandhna Bhan breaks down the details of the proposed new bill.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison, Hayley Clarke and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

Elon Musk — the world’s richest man — has built several companies, including PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX. He’s also built a close relationship with Donald Trump, president-elect of the United States. America’s next leader has appointed Musk to run the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which is meant to slash government waste. Nathalie Jimenez, a BBC reporter in New York, explains how Musk built his business empire and why he may have aligned with the Trump administration. She also discusses Musk’s personality traits and how they influence how he leads.And Lily Jamali, the BBC’s North America Technology Correspondent, explains the ways Musk does and does not reflect “tech bro” stereotypes.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde

Can you imagine sitting all of the most important exams of your life on one day? That’s the reality for Korean students, whose university-entrance exam, the Suneung, sees students sit an eight-hour marathon of exams, all on one day. Juna Moon, our reporter in Seoul, tells us why a record number of students are resitting the brutal exam this year. Plus Koh Ewe, a BBC journalist in Singapore, tells us which K-pop earworm students are trying to avoid to stop it from distracting them.Julie Yoonnyung Lee, a BBC reporter from Seoul now in London, joins us in the studio, to give us her own experience of the exam, and the years of late nights and ‘cram schools’ preparing for it. We also discuss the mental health challenges that can come with such high academic pressure.Plus we hear from our China media analyst Kerry Allen, who explains the Gaokao, China’s university entrance exam, which might be even harder.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Hayley Clarke Editor: Verity Wilde

CBD products are everywhere. You can get the cannabis extract in oils, vapes, skincare products, even gummy bears, coffee and fizzy drinks. Videos recommending it are all over TikTok, and it’s so popular Kim Kardashian even had a CBD-themed baby shower.Fans and influencers say it can help improve your mood, help you sleep, get rid of anxiety and chronic pain. But are these claims true? BBC reporter Annabel Rackham explains what CBD is, where it’s legal and whether it can be addictive or have side effects. We hear from two people who take CBD. And Harry Sumnall, Professor in substance use at the Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, explains what we know from scientific studies on the health effects of CBD. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Hayley Clarke and Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

Disputes over the South China Sea are back in the news, with China and the Philippines both marking out areas they say are theirs. China has previously been accused of hitting Philippine boats with water cannon and both sides say the other have rammed boats into each other. Benny Lu from the BBC’s Chinese service in Hong Kong takes us through the background of it all and explains how the US’s relationship with China fits into it, especially with Donald Trump’s re-election. It’s not just China and the Philippines arguing over this area. BBC Vietnamese reporter Thuong Le explains Vietnam’s involvement in the ongoing disputes, which even led to the Barbie movie being banned in Vietnam last summer.Plus, we hear from people we spoke to in Manila when What in the World visited the Philippines, on why they feel strongly about the issue.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Hayley Clarke and William Lee Adams Editor: Verity Wilde

Hundreds of sex tapes featuring Baltazar Ebang Engonga, the nephew of Equatorial Guinea’s president, have flooded social media. Many of the women seen in the tapes are the wives and relatives of people close to the centre of power.The scandal has shone an unflattering spotlight on the central African country, which is sometimes called “The North Korea of Africa”. Its President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been in power for more than four decades and controls the majority of the country’s radio and television outlets, which are heavily censored. Following the sex tape leak, “Equatorial Guinea” was the top trending term in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa - even surpassing interest in the US election at times.BBC Monitoring journalist Ines Silva gives explains how the scandal unfolded. And activist and human rights advocate Nsang Christia Esimi Cruz discusses how the government could use the controversy to crack down on social media use in the country.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

The World Health Organisation now officially recognises gaming disorder as a mental health condition - when someone’s gaming behaviour becomes so severe that it takes precedence over other interests.Symptoms include losing control over the amount of time playing, prioritising gaming over other interests and responsibilities and continuing to game despite negative consequences.But how do you know when you’re addicted to gaming? And how can you overcome it?The Director of the National Centre for Gaming Disorders in the UK, Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones joins us to explain more about gaming disorder and how she helps patients overcome it, and two gamers in recovery share how much better they feel after getting help.Kerry Allen, our China Media Analyst, also takes us through how China is dealing with under 18s gaming.If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this episode please contact support organisations in your own country. Or, if you live in the UK, please check out bbc.co.uk/actionlineInstagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Kevyah Cardoso, Emily Horler and Hayley Clarke Editor: Verity Wilde

According to the United Nations, Africa’s urban population is projected to triple by 2050, with over 60% of 2.5 billion people living in cities. This rapid urbanisation and population growth is driving demand for properties across the continent. Nigerian and Ghanaian cities are some of the fastest-growing globally, but with inflation and the rising cost of living, prices are going up and people are finding it harder to save - making property and land acquisition a real challenge. BBC journalist Stefania Okereke discusses the pressures on young people when it comes to purchasing real estate in Nigeria and Ghana. Ebube Okafor in Nigeria tells us about the hurdles to owning and buying land in Nigeria. Yaa Ofori-Ansah, a Ghanaian based in the UK shares her experience of preparing for a move back to Ghana. And Victoria Agyekum, co-founder of the Ghana Property and Lifestyle Expo, offers advice for anyone considering this journey.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Stefania Okereke Editor: Verity Wilde

$20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. That’s how much a Russian court has fined Google for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube. That’s two undecillion roubles - and far greater than the world’s total GDP, which is estimated by the International Monetary Fund to be $110 trillion.Jen Monaghan, from BBC Monitoring, talks us through why Google has been hit with such a massive fine, and how it’s impossible to pay. And the BBC’s Anastasia Golubeva shares how the internet and social media apps - including YouTube - are restricted in Russia, and the impact this has on young people there. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Hayley Clarke and Benita Barden Editor: Emily Horler

Donald Trump will return to the White House in January 2025, after defeating Democrat rival Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential elections. The win comes just four years after he lost re-election to Joe Biden — and just weeks before his sentencing in his New York criminal trial. We explain the factors behind his historic win and hear from political analysts about how issues like the economy and immigration influenced voters in the crucial swing states that decided the election.One of Trump’s campaign promises was to quickly end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and to prioritise America’s interest above all others. We hear from the BBC’s International Correspondent Lyse Doucet and the BBC’s China correspondent Laura Bicker about how international leaders are reacting to the win and what it means for their them. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde

Floods have swept through Valencia on Spain’s eastern coast, causing death and destruction in their wake. It’s the worst flooding in Europe this century. More than 200 people have died and many are still missing - it is the country’s deadliest natural disaster in recent memory. There is widespread anger over the government’s response, and when Spain’s king and queen visited the town of Paiporta, they were met with protesters and even had mud thrown at them.We speak to BBC journalist Iqra Farooq, who has just been to the area. She tells us about the devastating scenes she saw, and the anger people are feeling. The BBC’s Mimi Swaby has been speaking to the mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, who told her she was shocked by the violence, but that she understood "the frustration and desperation of the people".And we speak to Stav Danaos from BBC Weather, who explains the Dana phenomenon that caused the flooding and how climate change made it worse.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler and Hayley Clarke Editor: Verity Wilde

COP 16 — the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity — recently concluded in Colombia. One of the major issues was "biopiracy". That’s when companies take out patents to own the rights to living organisms, like plants — despite the fact many local and indigenous communities may have been using these plants and other biological material for centuries. BBC science and climate reporter Georgina Rannard explains the idea of biopiracy and why it’s so high stakes for both businesses and the communities that nurture traditional knowledge. And Nataly Canales, an evolutionary biologist, discusses how the issue of bio-piracy relates to the autonomy of her community — the Amazonian Quechua of Peru.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde