What in the World

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

Thousands of people - including politicians, students and journalists - are killed in drug cartel violence in Mexico every year.One of the biggest cartels is Sinaloa. Joaquín "El Chapo” Guzmán led the cartel until he was jailed in 2019. He’s currently serving a life sentence. His wife, Emma Coronel, has been released from a three year jail term after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges. But how involved was she and how did she reach ‘narco queen’ status?Blaire Toedte, a BBC reporter in Miami, tells us about Emma Coronel’s involvement in cartel crime, her ‘buchona’ style, and the impact drug cartel violence has around the world.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart and Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Niger and Gabon are the latest countries in Africa's Sahel to experience military coups. But that’s not the only issue that is facing the area. Beverly Ochieng from BBC Monitoring in Nairobi explains why several countries in the region are among the worst on the Global Terrorism Index from the Institute for Economics & Peace. And we look at which militant groups operate in the region, why France has faced hostility and backlash in a number of countries, and how the Wagner Group — a group of soldiers-for-hire from Russia — are exploiting existing tensions to gain a foothold in the region. We also hear more about a new and cheaper malaria vaccine that can be produced on a massive scale. BBC Health & Science correspondent James Gallagher explains why people are hopeful this might save hundreds of thousands of lives.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

A decades-long territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, over the Nagorno-Karabakh region has flared up. Now nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population living there has fled. The United Nations has sent its first mission to the territory in about 30 years to assess the humanitarian situation. Azerbaijan has been accused of ethnic cleansing - which it denies.Alex Rhodes, from the What in the World team, takes us through the history of the region and runs through what’s been happening in recent weeks.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart and Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

A truckload of rubbish enters the ocean every minute. Boyan Slat is on a mission to remove it. He’s the founder of The Ocean Cleanup, one of the organisations ridding the oceans of plastic. But how does so much rubbish end up in the ocean to begin with? Boyan explains. One solution is to stop the flow from polluted rivers. You may have spotted clean-up videos on TikTok, especially in Bali. We speak to local Giri Winckler who is picking up plastic piece by piece. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Alex Rhodes with Mora Morrison Producer: William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Our phones are powered by teeny tiny semi conductors. Taiwan produces over 60% of them. Huawei recently unveiled a phone with a chip made in mainland China. Chris Miller is an expert on this subject. He tells us why the United States is wary of this move.We know our phones have a chip in them, but what’s it made of? And what else is in our phones? They’re built with metals and materials from some of the poorest countries in the world. They’re also designed to be difficult to recycle, leading to lots of technology waste. The BBC’s Science Correspondent, Victoria Gill, explains why our phones are made this way and what their life cycle is.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

After nearly five months, Hollywood writers have ended their strike, which brought the American film and TV industry to a halt. The Writers Guild of America said in a statement that union leaders ‘voted unanimously’ in favour of a deal - which some writers have called ‘exceptional’. It’ll now be voted on by union members.Some of the main sticking points included payments for reruns (known as residuals), and AI. The BBC’s Vivienne Nunis talks us through the detail. But the actors’ strike continues. The BBC’s Regan Morris is at the picket line in Los Angeles where she’s been speaking to actors, including stunt performer Max Calder and Frances Fisher from the film Titanic. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: William Lee Adams and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

There are loads of videos on TikTok of people calling their 20s the loneliest decade. But are they?We speak to Foyin Ogunrombi (@FoyinOG), a content creator from South Africa, who’s been discussing this topic on her podcast. Dr Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist and author of ‘The Defining Decade’, explains what’s happens in our brains, and why we may feel a little haywire.Plus, Dr Laurie Santos from Yale University, and The Happiness Lab Podcast, gives us tips on how to feel more socially connected.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editors: Simon Peeks

Talks about net zero have been getting heated in the UK. It’s after the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was still confident the country would hit net zero by 2050 — despite announcing changes to scale back some of the government’s key green policies. If you're confused about net zero and how to get on track to meet targets, Alex and Jordan Dunbar can help. Jordan is a presenter on The Climate Question podcast. He spells out the basics and helps assess the progress of the world’s biggest polluters — China, the United States and India. Also, NASA scientist Dr Jason Dworkin talks about the Bennu asteroid. The Osiris-Rex space mission left Earth in 2016; it scraped dust and rock from the asteroid three years ago and yesterday the sample landed in a Utah desert. He explains how it might answer some of the questions about life on this planet. .Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes with Jordan Dunbar Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Simon Peeks

What do Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, BTS and Olivia Rodrigo’s “world tours“ have in common?…None of them are going to Africa. And only two of them are going to Asia.Many international stars seem to skip huge parts of the world even though fans are desperate for them to come and perform. Why is this?Four BBC reporters join us to paint a picture of pop concerts around the world: Faith Oshoko from Nigeria, Hyunjung Kim from South Korea, Trisha Husada from Indonesia and Giulia Granchi from Brazil.Also, Osikhena Dirisu from The Beat 99.9 FM in Lagos gives us his take on why more artists aren’t performing across Africa.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said his government is investigating "credible" claims that Indian government agents may have been involved in the murder of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.It’s soured the relationship between the two countries. But how much do we really know about the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) - India’s version of the CIA? Rupsha Mukherjee, a senior reporter in Delhi, gives us some answers.(07:40) #JusticeforMohBad has been a top trend following the death of the Afrobeats musician. There have been protests and lots of speculation about the circumstances of his death. It follows a public spat with his record label. Yūsuf Akínpẹ̀lú, a reporter in Lagos, brings us five things you need to know about the story.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Rupsha Mukherjee Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

People seem to be turning to social media influencers for advice on what birth control method to use. Some influencers are suggesting that their followers stop taking hormonal contraception due to rumoured side effects.In Scotland, experts are worried that misinformation online may be contributing to record high abortion rates.Two BBC reporters talk us through attitudes towards hormonal contraception in the areas they report on - Katie McEvinney in Scotland and Dorcas Wangira, our Africa Health Correspondent, in Kenya.Laura Foster from our health team gives us some facts on birth control effectiveness, safety and explains where you can go for advice.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

Palm oil is found in everything from chocolate to shampoo, pizza, toothpaste and deodorant. It’s hugely popular with food and cosmetics companies because it’s odourless, tasteless and colourless, and does not alter the smell, taste or look of products. But palm oil — 85% of which is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia — is also a major driver of deforestation, which threatens the habitat of endangered species like the orangutan. That’s part of the reason scientists around the world have been trying to develop alternatives to palm oil. Esme Stallard, a BBC Climate and Science journalist, explains how some companies are trying to move away from palm oil and how it can be cultivated in a more sustainable way. Astudestra Ajengrastri, a BBC reporter in Jakarta, tells us what steps the Indonesian government has done to regulate the palm oil industry there. And conservation scientist Melvin Gumal, who has worked to protect orangutans since the 1980s, discusses how policies in the Malaysian state of Sarawak have helped protect orangutan habitats. (09:19) Also: Why has Canada warned its LGBTQ citizens about visiting the United States and how does that relate to bans on drag queen events? William from the What in the World team explains. We also hear from Dan Clay, who performs in drag as Carrie Dragshaw. He describes what it was like to lead a Drag Story Hour in Princeton, New Jersey — despite receiving a bomb threat just hours before. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Simon Peeks

A few days ago police in the United Arab Emirates intercepted a huge haul of illegal Captagon pills worth one billion dollars. It’s an addictive party drug that’s sweeping across the Middle East. A BBC investigation has found that most of the world’s supply of the drug is coming from Syria - and the trade has links to the highest levels of the Syrian government, something the Assad regime denies. We speak to Emir Nadir, a BBC journalist, who helped expose the scandal around what’s sometimes called “the poor man’s cocaine”. Plus, the Women’s Tennis Association returns to hosting tournaments in China. Has anything changed since it boycotted the country four years ago following the treatment of top player, Peng Shuai? Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Julia Ross-Roy and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

One year ago Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman from Iran, died in police custody. The country’s “morality police” had detained her for wearing her hijab too loosely. It sparked defiant protests across the country and calls for greater respect for women.Two Iranian reporters — Baran Abbasi from BBC Persian and Kian Sharifi from BBC Monitoring — explain what life is like for young women in Iran a year on and assess whether the protests made a difference.Also: Mimi Swaby, a BBC reporter who has been in Morocco covering last week’s deadly earthquake, tells us three things that have brought her hope from the relief efforts. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Baran Abbasi and Kian Sharifi Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

Devastating flooding has washed away entire neighbourhoods, killing tens of thousands of people in Libya. In this episode, BBC Monitoring’s Amira Fathalla explains how the country’s history and unique political situation has made everything far more complicated. And Esme Stallard, a BBC climate reporter, examines the role climate change could have played in the storm’s severity. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Amira Fathalla Producers: Emily Horler, Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

The professional wrestling company WWE and the Mixed Martial Arts company UFC have merged in a giant deal that has created a new organisation called TKO Holdings. The WWE and UFC are quite different and fans of the brands aren’t sure what this deal will mean for them or the future of the sports.Alex from the What in the World team explains the differences between the UFC, which is a real combat sport, and the WWE, which is a scripted form of entertainment. BBC business journalist Tom Gerken explains the incentives behind the merger, and BBC Sport reporter Paul Battison assesses whether the scripted and non-scripted formats will appeal to existing fans.We also hear from Nicole Vaziri, the daughter of WWE wrestler The Iron Sheik. She tells us what it was like growing up with the former heavyweight world champion and explains how different he was from the villainous character he portrayed in the ring.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Alex Rhodes Producers: Benita Barden and William Lee Adams Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

The new ruling legalises abortion across all 32 states. Mexico's Supreme Court said the denial of the possibility of a termination violated the human rights of women.BBC Mundo's Beatriz de la Pava talks us through what abortion laws are like across Latin America and explains how this rule-change might need a cultural shift for it to have significant impact.Also, the BBC's Mimi Swaby is with aid crews in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains - the area most affected by Friday's earthquake. She explains why the government hasn't accepted aid from all countries that have offered it.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: William Lee Adams with Beatriz de la Pava Producers: Alex Rhodes and Emily Horler Editor: Simon Peeks

Rescue efforts are continuing in Morocco following a deadly earthquake. The worst affected areas are remote villages in the Atlas Mountains. Aid workers are struggling to reach survivors due to its poor infrastructure, rubble and boulders. Mimi Swaby, a BBC reporter, tells us about the ongoing rescue and relief efforts. Also on the pod - is 2023 India’s year of wins? They’ve just hosted the G20 summit and had a successful moon landing in August. BBC India correspondent Zubair Ahmed explains how the country prepared to host some of the world’s most powerful leaders. Finally, Maria Clara Montoya tells us how Spain is reacting to the resignation of Luis Rubiales as president of the Spanish football federation in the wake of the Se Acabo movement.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Benita Barden Producers: William Lee Adams Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

The number of climate cases being brought to court has doubled over the last five years (Source: UNEP). There are now over 2,000 cases being brought against states, governments and companies. Over 30 of these have been brought by and on behalf of people under 25. Are these an effective way to force governments and companies to reduce their emissions? BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard joins Hannah to answer our questions. Six young people from Portugal are bringing 32 countries to trial at a hearing before the European Court of Human Rights. One of them, Andre, 15, tells us why. And what’s it like to win? We hear from one of the people at the centre of the Montana case in the US, Rikki Held, which made headlines in August. Plus - the BBC’s Waihiga Mwaura in Nairobi gives us an update from the first Africa Climate Summit. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Georgina Rannard Producers: Mora Morrison and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

The German politician Hubert Aiwanger has admitted to carrying an anti-Jewish pamphlet that mocked the Holocaust when he was a schoolboy. But despite Germany’s tough laws against antisemitism and glorifying Nazism, he’s been allowed to keep his job as deputy premier of Bavaria, the biggest state in the country. Now some worry Germany’s stance against antisemitism is weakening.BBC reporter Kristina Volk, who grew up in Bavaria, explains the scandal, how hate speech laws apply online, and how the Holocaust is taught in schools. Also: Surbhi Kaul, a journalist in the BBC Delhi bureau, talks to Alex about why people are discussing whether India could be renamed Bharat. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams with Kristina Volk Producers: Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Tens of thousands of teachers in South Korea have been striking to demand better protection. They say they are so scared of being called child abusers at work, they feel they can't discipline their students. The protests happened after the suicide of a young teacher. It later came out she had been dealing with severe complaints from parents. The BBC's Yuna Ku explains what it's like to be a teacher in a high-pressure society, like South Korea.Also, the Burning Man festival in the US has been struggling with mud and also swirling fake rumours. We debunk the claims.If you have been affected by the issues raised in this episode, help and support can be found at this https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/ If you live in South Korea, you can visit https://www.129.go.kr/1393/ for help, or call LifeLine on 1588-9191 or the Suicide Prevention Hotline on 1577-0199.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison, and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales, the head of the Spanish national football federation, kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent. But now the uproar has gone beyond football. Women across the country are sharing experiences of harassment in their workplace and other spaces under one hashtag: #SeAcabo, which means “it’s over”. In this episode we hear from some of those women. The BBC’s Maria Clara Montoya helps us understand why so many have had enough and discusses whether this could prompt a change in Spanish society. This episode contains discussion about sexual assault and harassment. Details of organisations offering information and support with these issues are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Maria Clara Montoya Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Bali has a problem with badly behaved tourists. Influencers have been caught posing naked on top of sacred mountains, driving recklessly and interrupting religious ceremonies. More than 200 tourists have been kicked out of the Indonesian island this year alone. But local officials are hitting back. They’ve started a hotline for people to tell on misbehaving tourists and, when things get bad, are even deporting them. Niluh Djelantik was born and raised in Bali and has been helping snitch on those who break the rules. She tells us about her social media campaigns, and her hopes for the future. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison and Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

For some countries in Africa ruling is very much a family business. Ali Bongo was president of Gabon for 14 years. But that’s nothing compared to his father, who ruled for 41 years. And Mr Bongo will not go on to beat his dad’s record. He’s the latest African leader to be deposed in a coup. There have now been eight in Central and West African states in the last three years. With growing discontent for the traditional, elite families that have dominated many countries for decades we’re asking if Africa’s “nepo baby” leaders are getting nervous. Plus how do these coups happen and how do people pull them off? We speak to Professor Rory Cormac from the University of Nottingham about the plotters who risk it all for power. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Beverly Ochieng Producers: Alex Rhodes and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

North Korea has carried out a record number of weapons tests this year. At the end of August it said it fired two short-range tactical ballistic missiles to simulate what a nuclear attack on South Korea would be like. We hear about missile tests from there regularly but what do we actually know about the country itself?It’s super secretive and it’s really difficult to actually know what’s going on. Hyunjung Kim from BBC Korean and our Seoul Correspondent Jean Mackenzie help us get to grips with what’s going on inside North Korea. We’ll also debunk some common myths.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden, and Filiz Gurer Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Poor air quality is now one of the greatest threats to human health. That’s according to a study from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute. Researchers say air pollution cuts life expectancy by five years in South Asia, the worst affected region.Two BBC reporters — Jaidaa Taha in Cairo and Trisha Husada in Jakarta — tell us what it’s like living in cities coping with high levels of pollution. And from Delhi our South Asia correspondent, Samira Hussain, discusses the startling impact pollution can have on health outcomes. We also hear from Glory Dolphin Hammes — the CEO of IQAir, a tech company that monitors air quality in real time around the world. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Mora Morrison, Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Ecuador used to have one of the lowest annual murder rates in Latin America. But this year there’s been 3500 murders so far and in the midst presidential elections one of the candidates - Fernando Villavicencio - was shot and killed after a campaign event.Hannah is joined by Ana Maria Roura, a BBC Mundo reporter who was born in Ecuador, to get an explanation on what led to the country’s increasing violence. And what’s being done to stop it?Also, the BBC’s Ece Goksedef tells us about the French government’s decision to ban the abaya in state schools, and explains how it links to the country’s history of secularism. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden, Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

From the U.S. to Australia, reality TV show contestants have been discussing their mental health. The same is true for Big Brother Naija, which is currently airing its eighth season – a special All-Stars edition. The Nigerian programme -- one of the biggest reality shows in Africa – often reflects public debates around important issues like women’s rights and mental health. BBC Pidgin journalist and self-described “BB Naija stan” Faith Oshoko joins us from Lagos to explain why the show is so popular across the continent. We also hear from Season 6 contestant Ololade Gbolahan — better known as Mr. KayVee — who walked out of the show after experiencing what he describes as a “mental breakdown.”Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: William Lee Adams with Faith Oshoko Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Japan has started to release more than a million tonnes of treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The United Nations nuclear watchdog says it’s safe - but what actually is in the water? And why has there been so much criticism?Hannah is joined by Navin Singh Khadka, a BBC World Service environment correspondent and Tessa Wong, a BBC reporter in Singapore to get the answers.Our health correspondent James Gallagher also explains what exposure to radiation does to our bodies and health - and assesses how dangerous this waste water is.Also in the episode - Coldplay, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are famous for their huge international tours, but what environmental impact do concerts and festivals have? Jordan Dunbar tells us a bit about what he found out in his episode of The Climate Question podcast. Spoiler alert - it’s the fans, not the private jets. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Benita Barden, Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

A plane has crashed in Russia - and everyone on it is said to have died. The Russian authorities say Yevgeny Prigozhin was amongst them. Lots of people are asking; Was the plane crash an accident? How come it was all caught on camera? And is Mr Prigozhin really dead? In this episode Hannah is joined by Beverly Ochieng and Howard Gethin, both from BBC Monitoring, to explain who Prigozhin is, what the Wagner group does and what we know about the crash. We answer your questions - including one from the BBC’s Ashley Lime in Nairobi - on what will happen to Wagner forces in Africa? Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Filiz Gurer Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi OkwirAudio for this episode was update on 24 August 2023

India's Chandrayaan-3 is the first mission to land near the south pole. One of its main goals is to hunt for water ice. Scientists believe the deep craters on the dark side of the moon may hold frozen water as they’re permanently in shadow.India's success comes just after Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed trying the same thing.Ashley Christine explains maths, science and philosophy on TikTok - she talks us through what we know about water on the moon. Our reporter in Delhi, Geeta Pandey, has been following the mission from India. And Harriet Bradshaw, our science reporter, ponders what life might be like if we lived on the moon.Also, Indian chess fans tell us how excited they are about the World Cup final, where Pragg is going head-to-head with Magnus Carlsen.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Alex Rhodes Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Somalia’s government has banned TikTok, Telegram, and online betting website 1XBet.It says it’s to ‘limit terrorists and immoral groups spreading constant horrific images and misinformation to the public’. Lots of users rely on TikTok for income, entertainment, and to stay informed. Many have been posting their shock online using the hashtag #tiktokban. So, in this episode we’re asking: Why is Somalia banning these apps? And why are some TikTokers threatening to take to the streets?BBC Somali’s Fardowsa Hanshi has spoken to the country’s communications minister and prominent TikTokers in Somalia - including Abdisalam Abukar who has 1.5 million followers. Fardowsa joins us from Nairobi to explain.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

Two reporters help us to reflect on the legacy of this women’s football World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Sergi Forcada Freixas watched the game in Madrid in a fan zone and Katie Falkingham watched it in Manchester. She also breaks down some of the key facts of the history of women’s football and who she thinks are the biggest legends of all time.And the BBC’s Nadine Yousif takes us through the impact of Meta’s news ban on people trying to evacuate the Canadian wildfires.Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Skinny shaming can be just as harmful as fat shaming.We recently covered fat shaming on this podcast following allegations against Lizzo. Body image is a hot topic on social media and some celebs, like Ariane Grande, have been hitting back when people comment on their bodies. BBC reporter Ashley Lime wanted to look into skinny shaming in Kenya. Ashley talks about her experience of people commenting on her size. We also hear how skinny shaming impacts men, like 27-year-old Solomon Buchi from Nigeria. And we learn about the mental health effects of skinny shaming from Ugandan psychologist Leona Buhenzire. Plus, why has news disappeared from Instagram in Canada? The BBC’s Nadine Yousif explains. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Ashley Lime Producers: Mora Morrison, Adam Chowdhury and Julia Ross-Roy Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Parts of Hawaii have been devastated and Canada is having its worst wildfire season on record. Are wildfires getting worse? Are they happening more frequently? BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard explains. Thomas Grübler, founder of Orora Tech, explains how they use AI to detect wildfires more quickly, to prevent them spreading. With speculation on Tiktok that lasers started the wildfires in Hawaii, BBC climate disinformation reporter Merlyn Thomas does some fact-checking. Plus, Jacqui Wakefield looks into a curious story about blond twitter bots fan-girling the United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks