What in the World

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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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

Pope Francis is not your standard pope. He’s talks about climate change, he has a more liberal stance on divorce and he’s even weighed in on hot-button political topics like migration. But it’s his softer stance on LGBTQ+ issues that has proved to be one of the most controversial parts of his papacy, even within the top levels of the Vatican. The BBC’s Sofia Bettiza and Reha Kansara give us some background on the man himself. And we take the pod to Church to chat about the Pope’s legacy with LGBTQ+ Catholics. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Benita Barden, Adam Chowdhury, and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Grammy award-winning rapper Young Thug is currently on trial for gang-related charges in Atlanta, US. Prosecutors claim that the rap label he founded, Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records, is a front for an organised crime syndicate responsible for ‘75-80% of violent crime’ in the city.His lyrics have been used as part of the evidence against him. But some argue that this raises concerns about freedom of artistic expression and racism.Benita from the What in the World team explains how Young Thug rose to fame and legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff - who went viral recently as ‘Meghann Thee Reporter’ - explains what we’ve heard from the trial so far. She also discusses how the new RAP (Restoring Artistic Protection) Act could restrict how lyrics are used in court in future cases.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Chelsea Coates, Maria Clara Montoya and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

We’re back at COP28, discussing ways to help you cope with climate anxiety. The ever present threat of climate change can feel overwhelming and can have a negative impact on your mental health - it’s called climate-anxiety (some people call it eco-anxiety). So how can you deal with these feelings? BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard sat down with three activists at COP28; Baliqees Salaudeen from Nigeria, Ana Gabriela Mejía Silva from Ecuador and Saad Uakkas from Morocco, to discuss their strategies. We also chat about flaring with BBC filmmaker Owen Pinnell, who’s made two BBC documentaries about it. What is it, what are the health effects if you live near to where it takes place and how easy is it for countries and companies to stop doing it?Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Georgina Rannard Producers: Mora Morrison, Julia Ross-Roy and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity WildeThis podcast has been updated

Tanzania is coping with the aftermath of severe floods and landslides, which killed dozens of people in the northern Hanang region.Shem Otieno, a BBC reporter in Nairobi, explains how rescue workers and the Tanzanian government are responding. We also hear from hydrology expert Wouter Buytaert, who explains how droughts can make landslides more likely. Three survivors also recount their experiences.Also: the BBC’s Maria Clara Montoya tells us about Daddy Yankee’s retirement.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Maria Clara Montoya, Luis Felipe Molina Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Essequibo is part of Guyana in South America - it’s got lots of oil and dense rainforests. But last Sunday, Venezuela voted to claim it in a referendum. There’s been a dispute over the region for a really long time but it’s bubbled up more recently when oil was discovered in Essequibo's offshore waters.Rachelle Krygier, a BBC reporter from Venezuela, gives us the history behind this land dispute and also explains how the referendum campaign played out on TikTok. Anselm Gibbs, a journalist with the BBC based in Trinidad and Tobago, tells us how people living in Essequibo are reacting to the referendum result.Also in this episode, our video games expert, Andrew Rogers, takes us through the new Grand Theft Auto trailer and what gamers can expect from the latest instalment when it’s released in 2025.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Chelsea Coates and Luis Felipe Molina Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Russia’s Supreme Court has banned the “international LGBT movement" and declared it an “extremist organisation.” The ruling does not criminalise being gay. However, it will make the work of all LGBTQ+ organizations, as well as any related political activity, difficult. Sergei Goryashko from the BBC’s Russian service explains the reasons behind the Supreme Court ruling. We also get reactions from three LGBTQ Russians. Finally we hear from Ksenia Kuleshova, a documentary photographer who has been working with and observing the queer community in Russia for several years. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

41 men were working underground in a tunnel in India when a nearby landslide caused part of it to cave in, trapping them inside. They were rescued after 17 days. BBC South Asia Correspondent Samira Hussain explains why it took so long - and what questions the authorities are facing in the aftermath.Chelsea Coates from the What in the World team describes what being trapped underground for ages can do to your mental and physical health. And Maimuna Jabbie from The Gambia and co-lead of The Great Green Wall is one of the young delegates at COP28. The Great Green Wall aims to create an 8000km ‘wall of trees’ spanning the entire width of the African Continent. Maimuna tells us about the initiative and what she’s hoping to achieve at the climate summit.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Chelsea Coates and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

It’s that time of year again where world leaders, business execs and loads of lobbyists and activists gather for a few weeks to try to make concrete plans to reduce emissions globally and compensate countries worst affected by climate change - it’s COP28 and hopes are high. This year it’s taking place in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, one of the biggest oil producers in the world. And the President of COP is the head of the country’s state oil company. BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard is at COP28 - she explains what it is and what’s going to be discussed. We hear from two young activists; Yabtsega Getachew from Ethiopia and Shreya KC from Nepal.Marco Silva, a BBC climate disinformation reporter debunks some myths about climate change you might have seen on your social feeds. Also: As Virgin flies the first big passenger plane using 100% alternative fuels across the Atlantic, we ask BBC Transport Correspondent Katy Austin how big a deal is this? And how green are these alternative fuels?Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Maria Clara Montoya and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

How often do you discover new music on TikTok? Chances are, quite a lot. That’s because TikTok is becoming a go-to app for finding and remixing music. Veneno is an example of this. It’s a song from the 1980s by Ronaldo Silva, which was sampled by Mari Merenda and Sophia Ardessore on TikTok, and then remixed by pop duo Sofi Tukker in Florida. We speak to Sofi Tukker (Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern) about why they fell in love with this song, and why they chose to release it. We’re also joined by the BBC’s Maia Beth, music commentator Derrick Gee, and Nigerian rapper Reggie Rankin’ who explain the pros and cons of the app.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

P Diddy, Russell Brand, Jamie Foxx. Those are just three of the male celebrities who’ve been hit with sexual assault lawsuits in recent weeks. All three deny the claims. Those lawsuits were all filed because of a New York law with a one-year time limit, called the Adult Survivors Act. It’s led to a huge rise in accusations.Plus, BBC investigative reporter Rianna Croxford explains how the people she spoke to for her recent investigation into Abercrombie and Fitch have been using this law to take the fashion company to court.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Benita Barden and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

By Monday morning, more than fifty hostages held in Gaza had been released as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas. The deal, which includes a four-day pause in fighting, came seven weeks after the 7 October attacks on Israel. In exchange, more than a hundred Palestinian women and teenagers have been released from Israeli jails.In this episode, the BBC’s Shaina Oppenheimer in Jerusalem and Jaidaa Taha in Cairo talk us through the detail. We also hear from Tossapol Chaisamritpol, a BBC reporter in Bangkok, who has been speaking to relatives of Thai hostages who have also been released. Plus, Frances Mao explains why New Zealand’s new government has made a U-turn on the country’s pioneering smoking ban.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Cement is said to be responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. In the search for an alternative, more sustainable construction material, building companies in Ghana and other African countries are reviving an ancient technique called ‘rammed earth’. Daniel Dadzie, a BBC reporter from Ghana, explains how you make it and why it’s seen as a greener option. Architect and academic Kuukuwa Manful explains the history of rammed earth and how European colonial authorities discouraged indigenous African building styles. Also: Fardowsa Osman, a BBC Somali reporter, describes the effect of the floods in Somalia and BBC Meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker explains the two weather patterns that contributed to the devastation. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

There’s been serious drama in Silicon Valley this week. On Friday the board of OpenAI, the multi-billion-dollar company behind ChatGPT, fired its CEO Sam Altman. By Wednesday he was back in the job. But this isn’t just an internal dispute for tech journalists. It’s about the future of artificial intelligence; whether it should be used for profit and whether it should be constrained. BBC tech reporter Shiona McCallum explains who Sam Altman is and how his most famous product, ChatGPT, works. Alex Rhodes breaks down a few of the most important AI terms being used at the moment. And to hear how other people away from Silicon Valley are using AI in their work, Valeria Diaz Romero from Bolivia talks about how her company uses it. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Maria Clara Montoya, Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Brazil has recorded its hottest ever temperature - 44.8C (112.6F) - as parts of the country endure a stifling heatwave.You may have seen the video of Taylor Swift struggling to catch her breath while performing in Rio de Janeiro. She pushed back a performance on Saturday after it emerged a fan had died after going into cardiac arrest at the stadium. Climate change and El Niño are both impacting this heatwave. But what is El Niño? We explain.And Dr Sooj (@doctorsooj on Tik Tok) offers advice about how to spot, and prevent, heat stroke. Plus, North Korea has revealed that its put its first spy satellite into orbit. Surbhi Kaul from BBC Monitoring tells us more. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Mora Morrison, Benita Barden and Luis Felipe Molina Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Argentina has elected far-right outsider Javier Milei as its new president.He’s a pretty unconventional politician - from tantric sex to cloning dogs. But, how did he win and what could this mean for the Latin American country? The BBC’s Maria Clara Montoya explains.TikTok played an important role in his campaign. So, we also hear from Den Borg, an Argentinian marketing specialist, about how the app was utilised. Plus, we have reaction from two young voters in Argentina. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes with Maria Clara Montoya Producers: Mora Morrison and Luis Felipe Molina Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s fifty times more powerful than heroin. It’s also the biggest killer of 18-45 year olds in the United States.The death toll is so high that the sons of imprisoned drug lord El Chapo have said they aren’t going to sell it anymore - although experts say that’s probably just a publicity stunt. Dr Smitha Mundasad from the BBC’s Health team explains why fentanyl is so fatal. The BBC’s Nadine Yousif in Canada talks about the fentanyl crisis’ ‘fourth wave’, which is affecting every community in the North America - including San Francisco, where activist Darren Stallcup is based.Also in this episode, we talk about Argentina’s election results with the BBC’s Mimi Swaby.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Alex Rhodes Producers: Alex Rhodes and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Al-Shifa hospital has become a focal point of the Israel-Gaza war in the last few days. On Wednesday morning, Israeli tanks and troops entered the complex. Israel has claimed Hamas has a command centre under the hospital in a network of tunnels. Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organisation by many Western governments, including the US, has denied this. The BBC’s bureau chief in Jerusalem, Jo Floto, describes the hospital and its importance. This war is also, in a lesser way, playing out online. Two BBC journalists; Shaina Oppenheimer and Hesham Shawish, who monitor social media across the Middle East, describe the different kinds of posts people in Israel and in Arab nations might be seeing in their feeds. And we discuss what tools social media companies use to try to combat controversial content on their platforms, with BBC global disinformation reporter Jack Goodman.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Maria Clara Montoya, Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

The Miss Universe pageant takes place on 18th November in El Salvador. Organisers have introduced new rules to make the contest more inclusive. Married women and mothers can compete for the first time. And the age rule has been abolished, allowing people over 28 to participate. This year’s line-up includes two married mothers, two transgender women and a plus-sized queen. We hear from the pageant’s new owner, Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, as well as current candidates Miss Colombia (Camila Avella), Miss Nepal (Jane Garrett), and Miss Netherlands (Rikkie Kollé).Despite its efforts to promote inclusivity, Miss Universe still faces criticism for being anti-feminist. Author Jessa Crispin explains.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart and William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

A BBC investigation has found that people smugglers in Pakistan are using social media sites to advertise their services, despite a government crackdown on their operations. Reha Kansara from BBC Trending joins us to explain what she discovered.Plus: TikTok is being banned in Nepal. A food influencer tells us how he feels about the ban.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Reha Kansara Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

The world of cryptocurrency can be confusing. There’s no tangible money and no clunky coins. Instead we hear about things like Ethereum, Bitcoin and Dogecoin. Crypto has been in the spotlight this month after Sam Bankman-Fried (the ‘Crypto King’) was found guilty of fraud and money laundering. But there are many people who believe crypto could be transformative, especially for young people and failing states. Michael Kimani, a tech entrepreneur from Kenya, explains. And Erin Delmore, the BBC’s North American business correspondent, takes us back to basics. Plus, what happens to animals when people evacuate from a potential volcanic eruption? We hear from Sigrún Eggertsdóttir who’s been forced to move sheep, hens and a cat in Iceland. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Mora Morrison and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Gang members and victims of sex trafficking are often tattooed against their will. For those who escape, their tattoos become permanent reminders of the pain and suffering they endured. The Radiance Clinic in Boston removes tattoos from survivors for free. Dr. Shadi Kourosh, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard, tells us how this can help people cope with trauma. We also hear from nurse practitioner Rachel Niemiec who advocates for fellow trafficking survivors. Plus: Why has Kenya’s government given people a holiday to plant trees? Beverly Ochieng, a BBC reporter in Nairobi, explains. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

There’s so much stuff online about masculinity; guys telling you how to get buff, what to eat and how to talk to women. Sometimes a particular type of masculinity, known as toxic masculinity, seems dominant on some platforms. That’s where traits like being tough and not showing emotion are emphasised. With more awareness of this kind of content, young men are being warned off it. They’re increasingly told what not to do and who they shouldn’t be listening to. But that’s not much of a guide.In this episode the BBC’s Andrew Ochieng and Kai Kim describe their experiences of growing up in Kenya and South Korea and how masculinity is portrayed there.Nigerian commentator and life coach Solomon Buchi gives his view on what 'healthy masculinity' looks like. And we tell you about two different schemes in Guatemala (SerNiño) and India (Coaching Boys Into Men), working with boys and men to help them challenge harmful masculinity.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Mora Morrison and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Ever since ‘Iron Man’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ impressed audiences in 2008, superhero movies have been a major player in the film industry.Marvel have been at the core of this wave, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe raking in billions of dollars at the box office. Characters like Iron Man, Captain America and Thor have become household names during the 2010s as the studio produced hit after hit after hit.In recent years though, Marvel have suffered a relative downturn in success. Their projects aren’t always getting rave reviews and their latest movie, ‘The Marvels’ starring Brie Larson, is predicted to have a disappointing opening weekend at the box office.Hannah and Adam speak to Digital Spy writer Janet Leigh about the creative side of Marvel, and box office analyst Tom Lashley weighs in on what the numbers are telling us about the MCU.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Adam Chowdhury Producers: Alex Rhodes and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Delhi is often described as the most polluted city in the world. Right now the air quality is so bad the government has ordered all primary schools to shut until 10th November. We want to focus on what’s being done to improve things. Kamala Thiagarajan, a climate and science reporter from India, explains. We also hear about what’s working to improve air quality in Accra, Ghana. And the BBC’s Divya Arya tells us how women who were attacked in Manipur are coping six months on.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Daniel Dadzie Producers: William Lee Adams and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Nearly two years later, fighting is still going on. Lives are being lost and shattered.The UN Refugee Agency says more than 6.2 million people have crossed into neighbouring countries and around 5.1 million people are internally displaced.Jenny Hill is a BBC Correspondent in Ukraine. She takes us through what life is like in two places there: Odesa is on the coast; Avdiivka continues to see fierce battles.And BBC Monitoring's Vitaly Shevchenko is from Ukraine. He speaks to friends there every day. What do they tell him?Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editors: Simon Peeks

Asexuality – broadly defined as not experiencing sexual attraction — has been called “the invisible orientation”. Asexual people say they’re often misunderstood and that many people doubt that they can really be asexual. But awareness is growing thanks to online resources, social media and global campaigns like Asexual Awareness Week, which recently came to a close.Sex is considered a central part of the human experience. So what’s it like not to have sexual desire? Two women who identify as asexual explain their experiences: Priyanka Chakrabarty, a lawyer and writer in India, and Yasmin Benoit, a model and writer in the U.K.Plus, Colombia’s “cocaine hippos”: What are they, how did they go wild and why are they now being culled? The BBC’s Peter Goffin explains.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Online multiplayer can be a toxic environment, especially for female players and people of colour. There are criticisms that not enough is being done by the gaming companies to address the abuse that some people face on a daily basis. Now the developer behind Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft, has brought out a “Good Game Playbook” to send to some of its players reported for harassment. But will people read it? We speak to two BBC reporters; Andrew Rogers, who’s been speaking to the gaming companies, and Laura Cress who describes her experiences of toxicity in gaming. Also, as the BBC World Service launches an emergency lifeline radio service for people in Gaza, Hannah speaks to one of the team behind it.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart and Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

The Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum has just set a new marathon world record. He did it wearing “super-shoes”. Sports brands are racing to design new trainers which are lighter and have clever geometry to propel runners forward. Bobbie Jackson from BBC Sport and Celestine Karoney from BBC Sport Africa discuss whether they really make a difference - and is it fair if some athletes wear them? And in the week of Halloween and Day of the Dead, Mathias Clasen, Co-Director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, answers our question; “Why do some people love scaring themselves?”Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Canada has banned the all-in-one Chinese social media app, WeChat, on government devices. Even though TikTok has received loads of attention for potential security risks, many security experts think that WeChat is riskier. James Clayton, our North America Tech Reporter, explains. And Kerry Allen, our China Media Analyst, takes us through how tightly controlled social media is in China itself. There’s even secret emoji code to avoid censorship.(10:45) Also, what was Gaza like before this latest escalation with Israel? The BBC’s James Reynolds was previously a correspondent in Jerusalem and spent a lot of time in Gaza. He paints us a picture of what it was like when he was there.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

The United Nations says that the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing one of the world’s biggest displacement and humanitarian crises. Around 6.9 million people have fled their homes to escape violence caused by more than 250 rebel groups operating across the country. Emery Makumeno, a reporter in Kinshasa, explains the origins of the 30-year conflict and motivations of several rebel groups. And Byobe Malenga, a journalist with BBC Swahili, describes the difficult conditions he saw recently when visiting camps for displaced people in the Kivu region.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Nigeria’s currency has seen a big drop in value over the last few months. The BBC’s West Africa correspondent, Mayeni Jones, helps us find out why. We also take a wider look at currency in general with our North America Business Correspondent, Erin Delmore. Why do some countries see such big fluctuations? And how on earth do you manage a currency successfully? Hannah gets tested to see if she could make it as the head of a country’s bank.Plus Liverpool footballer Luis Diaz’s parents were abducted at the weekend. The BBC’s Mimi Swaby talks about Columbia’s kidnapping problem. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Across the Caribbean, governments are demanding that former colonial powers, like the U.K., France and The Netherlands, pay reparations for their involvement in slavery. Anselm Gibbs, a BBC reporter in Trinidad and Tobago, explains what forms reparations can take and describes the specific demands that Caribbean nations have put forward. We also hear from Akeem Chandler-Prescod, a member of the Barbados National Task Force on Reparations and his country’s Poet of The Year. He describes how the legacy of slavery still impacts people in Barbados centuries later and how the racial justice movement in the United States has inspired many Bajans to join the reparations movement. Many European governments have refused to pay reparations. However, some individual families with historic links to slavery have decided to make payments. Laura Trevelyan, a former BBC reporter, explains why her family donated £100,000 ($120,000) to establish a community fund for economic development on the impoverished island of Grenada. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Chelsea Coates and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Bill Gates, the tech billionaire turned philanthropist, invests huge amounts of money in the climate crisis - and he’s pretty optimistic about how we can avoid the worst impacts. But why? Graihagh Jackson, from The Climate Question, helps unpack some potential solutions. We also hear from Nissa Bek, a climate activist and the founder of Project Mulan in Libya, about ways to get involved - from art to architecture. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes with Graihagh Jackson Producer: Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

The World Health Organization has warned that mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever are spreading to new regions. One reason is that warmer temperatures are allowing disease-carrying mosquitos to push into new areas. And wetter monsoons are giving them more time to reproduce in countries like India. According to the WHO, the number of reported cases around the world has jumped from around 500,000 in the year 2000, to 4.2 million in 2022. It’s now found in around 130 countries. So what is dengue fever? And should we be worried about it? The BBC’s global health correspondent Tulip Mazumdar gives us an overview of the symptoms and discusses what treatments are available. Zain Hasan, a doctor in Los Angeles, explains just how painful the symptoms can be in severe cases. Makuochi Okafor, a reporter at the BBC’s Lagos bureau, looks at how officials are responding to an outbreak in Burkina Faso. And Pramila Krishnan, a reporter from BBC Tamil, tells us how India is coping with dengue through a technique called fogging. She also describes efforts by Indian scientists to develop a vaccine. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

China is pouring billions of dollars into other countries’ infrastructure projects - some of which have been hugely successful. In this episode we’re asking why and also take a look into some of the plans that haven’t quite panned out. Nikhil Inamdar tells us about a Sri Lankan airport with no travellers and Anne Soy takes us onboard Kenya’s “railway to nowhere”.Plus we here from Celestine Karoney about the hopes and dreams for the brand new African Football League. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Researcher: Dan Eboka Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Why would a government build an entirely new capital city? Soe Win Than, editor of the BBC Burmese service, explains why Myanmar did exactly that, starting construction of its capital city Nay Pyi Taw in 2002 and completing it ten years later. He also tells us about the extreme secrecy that went into its planning and explains why so few people wanted to move there. Astudestra Ajengrastri, a reporter with BBC Indonesia, discusses Nusantara, which is scheduled to replace Jakarta as Indonesia’s capital in 2024. The government has promised it will be a city of the future that protects green spaces and reduces its environmental impact, but not everyone is convinced. Saudi Arabia isn’t building a new capital city, but it has ambitious plans for an eco-city. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is spear-headng The Line, a development with no roads and no cars. It will stretch for 170 kilometres across a desert in the northwest of the country. Amira Fathalla from BBC Monitoring tells us how the development is coming along two years after plans were first released. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Taylor Swift’s Eras tour is set to become the biggest tour of all time. From tickets to merch, fans are showing up for Tay Tay and spending the big bucks. Her tours have boosted local economies across the United States and will continue to sell out around the world. Even her relationship with Travis Kelce has helped American Football (NFL) reach a new audience. You may have heard about this ‘Taylor Swift effect’ or Swiftonomics. Erin Delmore, the BBC’s North America Business Correspondent, crunches the numbers for us. We also hear from fans who were at the Eras tour film premiere in Los Angeles. And did you know you can study Taylor Swift at university? Dr Elly McCausland from Ghent University in Belgium tells us more.Spoiler alert: there aren’t any Taylor songs in here - that’s because we sadly don’t have the rights. Sorry!Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

An explosion at a crowded hospital in Gaza City has killed hundreds of people, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel says the number is much lower. Hamas blames Israel, but Israel says it wasn’t them and points the finger at another group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. They also say it wasn’t them. Shayan Sardarizadeh, from the BBC Disinformation team, tells us how he has been investigating what happened at Al-Ahli hospital, and whether we can say who was behind it (03:26). We also answer some of the main questions people have been searching for online, like what are Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with Hesham Shawish, who covers the Middle East for BBC Monitoring (07:25). And we hear from two 18 year olds, in Israel and Gaza (11:57). Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Maria Clara Montoya and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Botox, tummy tucks, Brazilian butt lifts. You may have seen the posts - and adverts - on your socials.Cosmetic surgery is on the rise globally. Last year there were 33.8 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures done worldwide. That’s according to a recent report from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). We chat to Giulia Granchi, our reporter from Brazil, and Hyunjung Kim, in South Korea to find out which procedures are popular where they live. We also hear from Los Angeles-based writer Iris Kim and learn about her complicated relationship to double eyelid surgery.And we check in with Dr Anthony Youn (@doctoryuon on Tik Tok) to ask him about how social media and celeb culture is changing what people ask to get done.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

India’s Supreme Court has rejected a petition seeking to legalise same-sex marriage. Petitioners sought the same rights as heterosexual couples — including the right to adopt children and open joint bank accounts. The petitioners said not being able to marry violates their constitutional rights and makes them "second-class citizens.” The government and religious leaders strongly opposed same-sex unions, saying they are against Indian culture.Umang Poddar, a reporter in the BBC Delhi Bureau, explains the Supreme Court’s ruling and shares some early reactions to the verdict. He also explains how the decision could impact the lives of LBGTQ+ people in the country. (09:50) In music news, British band The 1975 are due to play a series of “carbon-removed” shows next year to counter the environmental impact of touring. Bonnie McLaren from BBC Newsbeat explains how concerts contribute to carbon emissions and tells us how the removal process works. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Umang Poddar Producers: Alex Rhodes, Benita Barden, William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Amid a year of heatwaves and wildfires you might have missed that winter sea-ice surrounding Antarctica is at a record low. The BBC’s Georgina Rannard explains why. And we speak to Dr Robbie Mallett who’s in the Antarctic. He talks us through why it’s so important - and underreported. Plus, Tiffanie Turnbull gives us an update on how Australians are feeling after the country voted against a plan to give greater political rights to Indigenous people. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Georgina Rannard Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde

A special vote is taking place in Australia this weekend asking people whether Australia's constitution should be changed. The referendum seeks to create a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, which would allow Australia’s Indigenous communities to advise the government on issues that impact their lives. Tiffanie Turnbull, a BBC reporter based in Sydney, explains how the referendum came about, why people are campaigning for and against it, and how it has stoked racism and tension. (09:40) In gaming news, Microsoft has been cleared to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. That's after the U.K.'s competition regulator blocked the original $69bn bid back in April. Alex from the What in the World team explains what it all means.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: William Lee Adams with Tiffanie Turnbull Producers: Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. But it’s also the most dangerous to be an environment activist. A report from Global Witness, a non-governmental organisation, says Colombia has the highest number of murders of green activists anywhere in the world.The BBC’s Maria Clara Montoya has spoken to two young climate defenders - why are they at risk and what is being done to protect them?(09:20) Also, scientists in the US are analysing dust collected from the Bennu asteroid - one of the most dangerous rocks in the solar system. Our Science Editor, Rebecca Morelle, takes us through what experts have learnt so far.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Maria Clara Montoya Producers: Emily Horler, William Lee Adams, and Benita Barden Editors: Simon Peeks and Verity Wilde

It starts with downloading an app but pretty soon some scammers are going through your data, messaging your contacts, threatening you with violence and destroying your life. Poonam Agarwal from the BBC Eye Investigation team tells us about the blackmailers and the string of at least sixty suicides they’re connected to. Plus: How do young women in Afghanistan get an education when they’re banned from going to secondary school by the Taliban? We hear about Dars, the BBC programme that offers lessons online and through TV and radio. Mariam Aman, one of the show’s producers, and Shazia Haya, a Pashto-language co-host, tell us more.If you’ve been affected by issues discussed in this episode, details of organisations offering information and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

China is in the middle of a housing market crisis. Two of its top property developers, Evergrande and Country Garden, are struggling to pay back debt or fulfil their promises to build properties they have already sold to millions of people.Fan Wang, a BBC reporter in Singapore, tells us about societal pressures young people face to be home owners in China. Chen Yen, a journalist at BBC’s Chinese service in Hong Kong, takes us through the details of the housing market. And as China is the world's second-largest economy, what kind of damage could a collapse of its property market cause? Nick Marsh, our Asia Business Correspondent explains how concerned we should be.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Over the weekend, partygoers at a festival in Israel’s Negev desert were attacked by gunmen, with hundreds killed and taken hostage. At the same time, rockets hit cities across Israel and people barricaded themselves into their homes for safety.The attacks were carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. They bulldozed the separation barrier between Israel and Gaza and targeted Israel from all angles. In response, Israel has launched a wave of air strikes on Gaza and says the country is at war. Israelis are comparing the scale of these events to the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Survivors in Israel and Gaza talk about what they saw and how they’ve been affected. We also break down the region’s complicated politics and geography, with the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen explaining what this means for Israel and Gaza, and Security Correspondent Frank Gardner asking: how did Israel not see this coming? And what happens next, with so many people taken hostage?Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

It’s nearly three decades since the drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. Now Duane ‘Keefe D’ Davis has been arrested and charged as a suspect. Police say they now have enough evidence after Keefe D wrote a memoir detailing his involvement in the act. Sam Granville, a BBC producer in the Los Angeles bureau takes us back to September 1996 to explain what happened that night. She tells us who Keefe D is, and describes the links he had to Tupac.Journalist Nicolas Tyrell-Scott also talks us through 2Pac’s legacy and impact not only in hip-hop but in Hollywood and culture.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Benita Barden and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Thousands of people have been out on the streets of Ghana and organising protests online, using #OccupyJulorbiHouse. In 2019 - just four years ago - Ghana had the fastest growing economy in Africa. But now it’s in crisis, with high inflation and huge debts. Daniel Dadzie explains what in the world is going on with protests in Ghana? And from Jakarta, the BBC’s Astudestra Ajengrastri tells us about her trip to Rempang island, where the Indonesian government is planning a huge development called Eco City. It’ll involve a Chinese glass factory and the eviction of 7,500 residents. How Eco is it? Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks