What in the World
Episodes
Why did it take so long to rescue the Indian tunnel workers?
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 aft...
The controversial climate summit held in an oil state: What is COP28?
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How TikTok is changing the music industry ft. Sofi Tukker
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 musi...
Why are so many historic celebrity sexual assault cases being filed now?
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Israel-Gaza: The hostage and prisoner release explained
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Rammed earth: What is it and can it help tackle climate change?
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cement is said to be responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. In the search for an alternative, more sustainable construction material, building...
OpenAI: What’s going on and what does it mean for the future of AI?
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 CE...
Brazil heatwave: What’s it got to do with El Niño?
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How a chainsaw wielding TV star became Argentina’s president
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Argentina has elected far-right outsider Javier Milei as its new president.He’s a pretty unconventional politician - from tantric sex to cloning dog...
Fentanyl: Why is it killing so many young Americans?
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Gaza: Why is Al-Shifa hospital so important to both sides?
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 com...
Miss Universe: Can beauty pageants ever be inclusive?
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Miss Universe pageant takes place on 18th November in El Salvador. Organisers have introduced new rules to make the contest more inclusive. Marrie...
How people smugglers are using social media in Pakistan
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A BBC investigation has found that people smugglers in Pakistan are using social media sites to advertise their services, despite a government crackdo...
Cryptocurrency Explained
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How removing tattoos can help people cope with trauma
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gang members and victims of sex trafficking are often tattooed against their will. For those who escape, their tattoos become permanent reminders of t...
Is there a right way to be masculine?
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Marvel mishaps: Are we sick of superheroes?
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since ‘Iron Man’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ impressed audiences in 2008, superhero movies have been a major player in the film industry.Marvel...
Delhi smog: How India is tackling air pollution
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ukraine: Life in a warzone
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 shat...
Asexuality: Is it the 'invisible' sexual orientation?
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Asexuality – broadly defined as not experiencing sexual attraction — has been called “the invisible orientation”. Asexual people say they’re...
How do you tackle toxic behaviour in gaming?
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Online multiplayer can be a toxic environment, especially for female players and people of colour. There are criticisms that not enough is being done ...
Are "super-shoes" giving some runners an unfair advantage?
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The secret life of Chinese social media apps
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Canada has banned the all-in-one Chinese social media app, WeChat, on government devices. Even though TikTok has received loads of attention for poten...
What’s behind the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
More money, more problems: How do currencies work?
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why are some Caribbean nations demanding slavery reparations?
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Across the Caribbean, governments are demanding that former colonial powers, like the U.K., France and The Netherlands, pay reparations for their invo...
Reasons to be climate cheerful, with Bill Gates
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Gates, the tech billionaire turned philanthropist, invests huge amounts of money in the climate crisis - and he’s pretty optimistic about how w...
Dengue fever: What is it and why is it spreading?
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The World Health Organization has warned that mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever are spreading to new regions. One reason is that warmer temper...
An empty airport, a railway to nowhere and China’s trillion-dollar plan
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China is pouring billions of dollars into other countries’ infrastructure projects - some of which have been hugely successful. In this episode we’...
Why governments are building huge cities from scratch
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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, sta...
Is Taylor Swift bringing in a new Era of economics?
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Israel-Gaza: What do we know about the hospital blast?
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An explosion at a crowded hospital in Gaza City has killed hundreds of people, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel says the number is mu...
Beauty standards: How far will people go to achieve them?
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 y...
India’s Supreme Court rejects petition for same-sex marriage - what’s next?
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
India’s Supreme Court has rejected a petition seeking to legalise same-sex marriage. Petitioners sought the same rights as heterosexual couples — ...
The Antarctic: The ‘untold’ climate story of the season
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 Ranna...
Will Australia’s referendum give Indigenous people a Voice?
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A special vote is taking place in Australia this weekend asking people whether Australia's constitution should be changed. The referendum seeks to cre...
Why is it dangerous to be a climate activist in Colombia?
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How a deadly scam is costing lives in India
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It starts with downloading an app but pretty soon some scammers are going through your data, messaging your contacts, threatening you with violence an...
How did 6 million people in China buy homes that don’t exist?
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Israel-Gaza violence: The conflict explained
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 tim...
Why has it taken so long to arrest someone for Tupac’s murder?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Why are young people calling on Ghanaians to #OccupyJulorbiHouse?
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of people have been out on the streets of Ghana and organising protests online, using #OccupyJulorbiHouse. In 2019 - just four years ago - G...
The dark but luxurious life of El Chapo’s wife
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of people - including politicians, students and journalists - are killed in drug cartel violence in Mexico every year.One of the biggest car...
Why is there so much instability in the Sahel?
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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. Beve...
Why are thousands of people fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh?
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A decades-long territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, over the Nagorno-Karabakh region has flared up. Now nearly the entire ethnic Armeni...
How do we get plastic out of our oceans?
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 org...
What's really inside your phone?
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Deal! Hollywood writers end their strike
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 A...
Are your 20s the loneliest decade?
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
Net zero: How do we get there?
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
From BTS to Beyoncé - why do “world” tours skip Africa?
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
India’s spy agency: What do we know about RAW?
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said his government is investigating "credible" claims that Indian government agents may have been involv...
Do false online rumours on birth control have consequences IRL?
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
People seem to be turning to social media influencers for advice on what birth control method to use. Some influencers are suggesting that their follo...
Palm oil versus the planet: What can be done?
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Palm oil is found in everything from chocolate to shampoo, pizza, toothpaste and deodorant. It’s hugely popular with food and cosmetics companies be...
Is Syria’s government pushing an addictive party drug?
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 par...
How has Mahsa Amini’s death changed Iran?
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 he...
Why was Storm Daniel so deadly in Libya?
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Devastating flooding has washed away entire neighbourhoods, killing tens of thousands of people in Libya. In this episode, BBC Monitoring’s Amira Fa...
WWE and UFC: Will the merger be a knockout?
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 T...
Will decriminalisation change abortion for women in Mexico?
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How has Morocco’s earthquake impacted mountain villages?
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rescue efforts are continuing in Morocco following a deadly earthquake. The worst affected areas are remote villages in the Atlas Mountains. Aid worke...
Why are young people fighting for climate action in court?
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
How a scandal is forcing Germany to reckon with its Nazi past
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The German politician Hubert Aiwanger has admitted to carrying an anti-Jewish pamphlet that mocked the Holocaust when he was a schoolboy. But despite ...
Why are teachers bullied in South Korea?
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Has THAT kiss become a tipping point for women in Spain?
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales, the head of the Spanish national football federation, kissing player J...
Eat, Pay, Love: How is Bali dealing with its badly behaved tourists?
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bali has a problem with badly behaved tourists. Influencers have been caught posing naked on top of sacred mountains, driving recklessly and interrupt...
Coups and Dynasties: Are Africa’s “nepo baby” leaders in trouble?
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How much do we know about North Korea?
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 missi...
Why air pollution is keeping some people home
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 In...
Why is there violence in Ecuador?
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 preside...
Can reality TV help people talk about mental health?
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 cur...
Is the water from Fukushima dangerous?
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 Unit...
Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin and is he dead?
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 peop...
Why is the moon’s south pole so special?
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 cr...
Why has Somalia banned TikTok?
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Somalia’s government has banned TikTok, Telegram, and online betting website 1XBet.It says it’s to ‘limit terrorists and immoral groups spreadin...
How important was this women’s football World Cup?
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ga...
How does it feel to be skinny shamed?
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Skinny shaming can be just as harmful as fat shaming.We recently covered fat shaming on this podcast following allegations against Lizzo. Body image i...
Are wildfires getting worse?
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Parts of Hawaii have been devastated and Canada is having its worst wildfire season on record. Are wildfires getting worse? Are they happening more fr...
Why isn’t Caster Semenya at the World Athletics Championships?
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
South African runner Caster Semenya won’t be at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. It’s because she has differences of sexual...
How have women's rights in Afghanistan changed?
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rigid dress codes, education bans and job restrictions. Things have changed a lot for women in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power two years ...
Do video games impact our mental health?
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over three billion people around the world play video games and the industry is worth roughly $350 billion dollars. However, do we understand the rela...
Why hip-hop's 50th anniversary matters
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hip-hop is celebrating its unofficial 50th birthday. The genre has had a massive influence on everything from fashion to politics to culture. It’s a...
Why are so many footballers going to Saudi Arabia?
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah is joined by BBC reporter Favour Nunoo in Accra, Ghana to present this episode. Some of the biggest names in football, like Sadio Mane, Rúben ...
Do vaping bans work?
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Around 60 million adults around the world vape but governments are trying to crack down by putting bans in place. New Zealand and Australia are two of...
Can Brazil end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030?
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 66% in July 2023 compared to a year earlier. The news comes as leaders from eight South American countri...
Why is there violence in Manipur?
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Manipur, a state in north-eastern India, has been struggling with violence over the past few months. Clashes between two communities have killed more ...
Why are K-pop stars so secretive about their private lives?
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Blackpink’s Jisoo has announced she’s in a relationship - the 28-year-old K-pop star and actor Ahn Bo-hyun, 35, are "getting to know each other wi...
What is going on with fast fashion?
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The way we buy clothes has massively changed over the past decade - it’s now cheaper and quicker to buy fashionable clothes with the growth of ‘fa...
How is South Korea trying to help its recluses?
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The government in South Korea hopes money will persuade young recluses out of their homes. Hannah Gelbart talks to BBC reporter Hyunjung Kim in Seoul....
How do athletes train around their periods?
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the Women’s World Cup taking place in Australia and New Zealand, athletes around the world are tracking their menstrual cycles to adapt their t...
How do heatwaves affect your mental health?
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius have been recorded in China and the US and the UN chief says the era of global warming has ended and “the era ...
Welcome to What in the World
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re here to help you work out What in the World is going on. Monday to Friday, join Hannah and the team around the world as they make sense of the...