What in the World

Why are there protests in New Caledonia?

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s been a lot of unrest in New Caledonia this year and it’s down to a proposed voting reform bill. Buildings have been set on fire, nine peop...

Why do some Hajj pilgrims go to Saudi Arabia without official permits?

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hajj — the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca — took place last week during an extreme heatwave. Officials in Saudi Arabia say that at least 1,301...

Kenya’s Gen Z protests: What are they about?

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Young Kenyans are leading demonstrations against a controversial finance bill, organising via TikTok and X. They are unhappy about proposals to raise ...

Why’s everyone talking about Ozempic and Wegovy?

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hollywood has gone into overdrive trying to guess which celebrities are using weight loss drugs. Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, and Rebel Wils...

Panda express: Why does China send pandas around the world?

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For decades China has used pandas as a way to improve diplomatic relations with other countries. Now, China’s Premier has offered Australia two, to ...

Japa Syndrome: Why are so many young people leaving Nigeria?

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nigeria is Africa’s economic powerhouse - so why are so many young people trying to leave and find opportunities in other countries? It’s become s...

Could nuclear be the answer to our power problems?

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nuclear power counts for just ten percent of the world’s total power supply and only 33 countries currently have nuclear power stations. But those n...

Feel the burn: Why does spicy food hurt so much?

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

South Korea’s Buldak noodles are super spicy - and Denmark’s food regulator has now recalled some types of them, saying they could cause "acute po...

Have you ever been ghosted like Billie Eilish?

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

She may be one of music's biggest stars, but it turns out even Billie Eilish is not immune to being ghosted. The ‘Bad Guy’ singer recently opened ...

Why is pregnancy so dangerous in Nigeria?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Despite the latest data showing fewer women are dying in childbirth globally, maternal mortality remains a huge issue for women across Africa. The Wor...

Why is feminism taboo in South Korea?

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Being a feminist in South Korea is often associated with being a man-hater. And people who are thought to look like feminists - by for example having ...

Why is ‘All Eyes on Papua’ spreading across social media?

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Similar to the viral image "All Eyes on Rafah," the image "All Eyes on Papua" has been spreading across social media. It’s turning attention to Papu...

How Junior Pope’s death got Nollywood looking at its safety record

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In April, a top Nollywood star, Junior Pope, was killed in a boat crash, while being transported from a film set. He starred in more than a hundred Ni...

Help! My phone’s been stolen

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Phone theft is really common - but what happens to your phone after it’s stolen? Nowadays it’s not just about taking the phone to sell on, or stri...

Everest: How dangerous is it really?

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For many, it’s a dream to fly to Nepal and reach the top of the highest peak in the world. But climbing Mount Everest is considered extremely risky ...

Africa and FGM: When will it end?

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Female genital mutilation affects around 230 million women and girls globally, with rates highest in Africa. FGM is considered a human rights violatio...

Why has South Africa fallen out of love with the ANC?

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

South African politics faces a big change for the first time in 30 years, after its election results. The ruling African National Congress party lost ...

Donald Trump guilty verdict: What just happened?

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his historic criminal trial in New York. It is the first time a ...

All Eyes on Rafah: What does it mean?

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The slogan “All Eyes on Rafah” has been trending on social media. One image in particular, of white tents spelling out that phrase, has gone viral...

Is climate change making plane turbulence worse?

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two flights have made the headlines recently after being hit by severe turbulence. Early investigations into a Singapore Airlines flight say that the ...

How the far right is using TikTok in Germany

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In June Europeans will go to the polls to decide the make-up of the next European Parliament. Far-right parties are expected to make significant gains...

Is South Korea stealing Chinese culture?

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

China and South Korea are arguing on social media. This time it’s over K-pop group IVE’s new video for HEYA: some people in China claim that the g...

In hot water: What’s turning the world’s coral white?

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Coral around the world is turning white and even dying as recent record ocean heat takes a devastating toll. It has triggered the fourth “global mas...

Why are Gen Z protesting in Georgia?

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of young people have been out protesting in Georgia. But this isn’t organised by the opposition or a political party - these demonstration...

B-girl Raygun explains breakdancing ahead of the Paris Olympics

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This year’s Olympics will, for the first time, feature breaking – a style of street dance that originated in 1970s New York City. It’s character...

Is AI blurring reality in the Indian elections?

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As India votes in the general election, it is impossible to avoid the wealth of AI-generated content being created - from campaign videos, to personal...

The death of Iran’s president

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, and several other officials, including the foreign minister, have died in a helicopter crash. Mr Raisi was widely ti...

Is the Premier League going to give VAR the red card?

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Premier League may vote to scrap the use of video assistant referees (VAR) from next season. Adam Chowdhury, from the What in the World team, expl...

Electric vehicles: Charging up or powering down?

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The electric car industry is sending mixed signals. On one hand, sales of electric vehicles in Europe overtook diesel vehicles for the first time last...

Why is ChatGPT so flirty?

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Open AI has just revealed the latest version of the AI chatbot ChatGPT. It’s called GPT-4o and is faster, more friendly, and even flirtatious. Tech ...

Is the world experiencing more flooding?

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Several nations have suffered flooding in just the last few months. Brazil, Kenya, Indonesia and China are just some of those that have been hit. Many...

Why was Eurovision so controversial this year?

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest music competition in the world. Countries from all over Europe, and some from outside (we’re looking at y...

Why North Korea’s TikTok hit is so catchy

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve been scrolling on TikTok recently, you might have come across the viral song out of North Korea called ‘Friendly Father’. It’s been ...

Where does our rubbish go?

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We throw tonnes of rubbish away and globally we’re throwing away more than ever. But what happens to it? Well, that depends on where in the world yo...

Drake v Kendrick Lamar: What’s the beef?

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two of the biggest names in hip-hop right now, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, are certainly not friends anymore. Their beef is escalating as they release d...

Can social media apps help you save money?

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Social media platforms, like Instagram and Xiaohongshu, are full of shopping tips to help you spend. But they can also help you save, partly by provid...

Where’s all the sex gone in movies?

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Challengers. Poor Things. Saltburn. Three Hollywood movies released in the last six months which haven't held back on sex. However, the stats tell us ...

Why are so many people in gaming losing their jobs?

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Epic Games. Microsoft. Riot Games; owners of the biggest computer game titles in the world and part of a gaming industry which has been valued at $200...

Why is Zimbabwe launching a new currency?

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Zimbabwe has a brand new currency; it’s called the ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold) and it’s backed by the country’s gold reserves. This is the third time th...

Why are student protests in the US spreading?

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Demonstrations over the war in Gaza have taken place at several universities in the US over the past few weeks. They have spanned from Columbia Univer...

From pangolins to plants: how we’re getting better at protecting nature

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nature conservation is effective at protecting animals and plants - and we’re getting better at it. That’s according to a new major study publishe...

Modest fashion is on the rise

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Modest fashion has been steadily gaining more global recognition over the past decade, with longer hemlines spotted on the runway. It’s now estimate...

What’s causing the blackouts in Sierra Leone?

26 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown and other cities have been suffering blackouts for weeks. It’s disrupted hospitals and daily life for many. Most o...

How will the US TikTok ban affect me?

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden has just signed a law that says TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance has nine months to sell the app or it will be blocked in the US. W...

Nuclear weapons: who has them and how do they work?

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nuclear weapons have been back in public conversation recently - partly due to rising tensions between Iran and Israel. Outside of the news, they have...

Is extreme weather the new normal?

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s been massive flooding in Dubai, with twice the annual amount of rain in a single day. Roads, runways and shopping malls were flooded. Meanwh...

Why I won’t switch to the metaverse as a professional gamer

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The metaverse has been talked about as the next big thing in technology: a virtual world which will become a part of our daily lives (think Ready Play...

South Korea’s shamans are now online

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Korean shamans hold significant cultural importance in Korean society. They are often shown in Korean dramas and films, adorned in shiny and colourful...

Why is India having a live music boom?

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

India’s live music scene is thriving with higher ticket sales and more concerts from international artists. To meet demand, the country is renovatin...

I eat three steaks a day - how does beef affect climate change?

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we chat with someone who just LOVES steak, and eats it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But Eric’s not the only one who loves beef: ...

How big could women’s basketball get?

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Women’s basketball is more popular than ever. Ratings for the WNBA are growing and the professional league has plans to increase its number of teams...

Why has Iran attacked Israel?

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Iran has carried out direct strikes on Israel for the first time. It’s believed to be a retaliation for a deadly strike on its consulate in the Syri...

What's P-pop and could it rival K-pop?

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

P-pop, or Pinoy pop, is a growing genre of music in the Philippines. It stems from OPM (Original Pilipino Music). You may be more familiar with K-pop,...

Why isn’t enough aid getting into Gaza?

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Famine is imminent in northern Gaza, according to the United Nations. There is some aid going into Gaza, but it’s severely limited and aid workers f...

Is Botswana really going to send Germany 20,000 elephants?

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to elephant conservation, Botswana is the world leader. It is now home to more than 130,000 elephants — or around a third of the worl...

How much can scientists learn from eclipses?

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday, millions of people across Mexico, the US and Canada saw a total solar eclipse. That’s when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, ...

Is conscription making a comeback in Europe?

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Over the last few decades, most countries in Europe have abolished compulsory military service. But following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the deba...

How can you fix racism in Spanish football?

05 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Vinícius Júnior is one of the top footballers in the world but recently he broke down in tears when asked about the racist abuse he’s suffered fro...

Elon Musk put a chip in my brain

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the future. There are some people who already live with an implant inside their head. Noland Arbaugh is one of them - he’s paralysed but ...

Who is Senegal’s new President Bassirou Diomaye Faye?

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Senegal's democracy was put at risk earlier this year when former president, Macky Sall, tried to hold onto power by delaying elections and putting po...

The unstoppable rise of Temu

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You may have started seeing adverts on your social media feed for a website called Temu. Its motto is “shop like a billionaire” and it sells… we...

Why are chocolate and coffee getting more expensive?

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The cost of cocoa - the key ingredient for making chocolate - has reached an all-time high. In fact, the price has roughly doubled over the past year....

Marina Summers: What’s life like for a Filipina drag queen?

30 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Marina Summers is one of the top drag queens in the Philippines and she was one of the finalists on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World. Her drag emb...

Can Beyoncé’s new album Cowboy Carter boost black country artists?

29 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Beyoncé has released her highly anticipated new album, Cowboy Carter. It is a deep dive into the country-western genre. Some critics have questioned ...

Are flying cars finally taking off?

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Flying cars are something that’s straight out of sci-fi films and novels. But despite predictions in the past that we’d all be driving/flying one ...

Are sanctions on Russia actually hurting its economy?

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

More than two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western countries have ramped up their attempts to stifle Russia’s economy usin...

The secrets of the underwater cables carrying your internet

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

All of these African countries have suffered major internet disruption this month: Ivory Coast, Liberia, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia,...

Havana syndrome: What’s causing it?

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Havana Syndrome has confused scientists ever since it first emerged in Cuba in 2016. The mystery illness mostly affects American officials working in ...

Personalised ads - would you pay to opt out?

22 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cookies are a way for organisations to collect data from people who visit their site or app. You might see banners popping up on sites you visit askin...

Are Boeing’s planes in trouble?

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Plane manufacturing giant Boeing has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Videos of a dramatic door blowout onboard an Alaskan Airline...

How dangerous are chemical hair straighteners and relaxers?

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some women with afro and curly textured hair use chemicals to straighten their hair. But using these products can lead to burns and skin irritation. A...

Idris Elba’s plan to build a brand new city on an African island

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Idris Elba, one of the actors rumoured to be the next James Bond, is leading a project to turn an island in Sierra Leone into an eco-city. The new pla...

What’s the future of renewable energy in the Philippines?

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Philippines is one of the most at risk countries in the world from the effects of climate change. At the same time, it has some of the most expens...

Why are footballers lying about their age?

15 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In Cameroon, 62 football players have been suspended from the domestic league for double identification or age fraud. One of them is 17 year old Wilfr...

Why are trans people being murdered in Mexico?

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At least six trans people have been killed in Mexico since the beginning of the year. Human rights groups say that Mexico is the second most dangerous...

How are people in Gaza observing Ramadan?

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan. It's a month of fasting, reflection, community and family time. But this year it fee...

Kate Middleton photo: What went wrong?

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An online storm has engulfed Kate Middleton. Rumour and speculation have swirled ever since she underwent planned abdominal surgery at the start of th...

Can ticket touts be beaten?

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

These days tickets for big music tours and sports events can sell out in a matter of seconds. And not everyone who buys a ticket is planning on going....

Do we still care about award shows like the Oscars anymore?

08 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

By the end of March, the Academy Awards and the Grammys will have finished, with hours of dedicate coverage, posts and memes galore. But viewing figur...

Why don’t South Koreans want to have kids?

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

South Korea has had the world’s lowest birth rate for several years. And recent figures show that it has dropping even further.Yuna Ku, a reporter i...

Can Senegal’s democracy hang on?

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Senegal has a reputation as being a beacon of stability in West Africa. Even (whisper it) a bit boring when it comes to politics - but in the last few...

Is it worth becoming a doctor in Kenya?

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Doctors in Kenya have been on the streets protesting against the state of healthcare in the country. They’re angry about a shortage of staff in hosp...

Why is Kenya sending troops to Haiti?

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Haiti is battling a wave of gang violence. On Sunday armed gangs stormed a major prison in the capital Port-au-Prince. At least 12 people were killed ...

What’s happening to music on TikTok?

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve made a TikTok recently, you might not have been able to add your favourite artist’s music. That’s because Universal, a massive record ...

Were Indian men tricked into fighting on the frontline for Russia?

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shaikh Mohammad Sarfaraz, a young Indian man from Kolkata, thought he’d landed a great job in another country; the pay was good and he believed he’...

Why Tanzania’s Singeli music is getting hearts racing

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Singeli is a style of electronic dance music that developed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in the mid-2000s. The genre fuses incredibly rapid beats, with...

How to save a dying language

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are more than 7000 languages spoken around the world. However, nearly 40 percent of them are considered endangered and are at risk of dying out ...

Do hair policies lead to discrimination?

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Darryl George, an 18-year-old student, has been in in-school suspension since August for refusing to cut his dreadlocks. They violate his school’s d...

Who owns the Moon?

23 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

American company Intuitive Machines has successfully landed its Odysseus robot near the lunar south pole. The US space agency Nasa had purchased room ...

Why are farmers in India protesting?

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Farmers in India are protesting in the country once again, wanting assured prices for their crops. There have already been four rounds of talks with t...

The bandit kidnap crisis in Nigeria

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nigeria is struggling with a kidnapping epidemic. Every year hundreds of people are abducted and held for ransom. The kidnap crisis hit the headlines ...

Why is Thailand making cannabis illegal again? (And what's Coldplay got to do with it?)

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thailand became the first Asian country to make cannabis legal back in June 2022. They are one of the very few nations in the world to let people use ...

Who is left to oppose Putin now?

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Alexei Navalny, the most prominent critic of Russia’s government, has died in a Russian prison, just months after he was placed in a high security c...

How can you make award shows like the Oscars more diverse?

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s awards season. We’re talking Grammy’s, Golden Globes, Emmy’s and the Oscars. But, as usual, there’s been controversy about how diverse ...

What’s it like inside El Salvador’s mega-jail?

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rival gangs in El Salvador used to rule the streets. It was one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with a really high murder rate. But now ...

Why can't young people in South Africa find work?

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

South Africa has the most industrialised and diverse economy in Africa. Yet it faces a major youth unemployment crisis with around four in ten young p...

Does chess have a sexism problem?

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Netflix’s award-winning series ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ brought to light some of the sexist attitudes people have towards women competing in chess...

How do you track down stolen art?

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re stepping into the world of art theft. According to the CIA it’s one of the top criminal enterprises in the world. A case was...

What’s being done to protect athletes from brain injuries?

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

American Football, Rugby, MMA, UFC. All these adrenaline-filled sports bring in millions of viewers each year, and athletes put their bodies and brain...

What’s happening with migration across the US-Mexico border?

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds of thousands of people are illegally crossing the border from Mexico into the US every month right now. Some of them try to get across the So...