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PODCAST

What in the World

BBC World Service

Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world. Big stories, small stories and everything in between. Understand more, feel better. Five days a week, Monday to Friday.

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All Episodes

8:56

How yaba swept across East Asia

What in the World ·

2025/10/09

The Golden Triangle, a border region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos is the world’s most active production zone for synthetic drugs like methamphetamine. Synthetic drugs are made from chemicals, instead of plants. But yaba - which has been around for decades and is a mix of caffeine and meth - has swept across the region and hit Thailand particularly hard because it’s really cheap and easy to come by. According to UN Office of Drugs and Crime, in 2024 Thailand seized more than 1 billion yaba

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8:54

China’s renewable energy takeover

What in the World ·

2025/10/08

Renewables are now the world’s leading source of electricity and China has boosted its solar and wind capacity more than the rest of the world combined. But it’s also one of the world’s biggest polluters and is thought to be behind 30% of global emissions. So what's behind the country's boom in green energy - and are other countries set to follow suit?Tony Han from the BBC’s Global China Unit explains why China is pushing ahead in renewable energy — and how we might power our homes, gadgets and

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10:06

Too young for cosmetic surgery?

What in the World ·

2025/10/07

A teenager recently died in Mexico, reportedly after having cosmetic surgery. Paloma Nicole was just 14. Her dad claims he didn’t know she was having surgery until after she died. BBC Global Affairs Reporter Mimi Swaby joins us to talk through the details.#Lasniñasnonecesitanimplantes (girls don’t need implants) has also been trending. We hear why some people online are so angry, and why the Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum has even commented on the case. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworldEmail:

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11:06

Will the world’s oldest leader win again?

What in the World ·

2025/10/06

Cameroon’s president Paul Biya is 92-years-old. He’s been the president for decades. This weekend Cameroonians will vote in presidential elections to decide if he will continue in this role. Despite some criticisms, as well as a host of security and economic challenges, many believe that Paul Biya stands a strong chance of victory. BBC journalist Paul Njie, who’s based in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé, joins us to share all we need to know about Cameroon’s upcoming presidential elections - including

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12:49

How do you cut the internet for a whole country?

What in the World ·

2025/10/03

Afghanistan has just come out of an internet blackout, which paralysed businesses, banks and airports and cut people off from their friends and family. People in the capital Kabul celebrated in the streets when the Taliban government finally switched it back on. So what do we know about why it was shut down in the first place? And what impact did it have on women in the country, where the Taliban has banned girls over the age of 12 from receiving an education? Alia Rajai from the BBC’S Afghan

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9:57

The multi-million dollar coral reef restoration...

What in the World ·

2025/10/02

In 2017 a cruise ship called the Caledonian Sky was sailing near the Raja Ampat islands in Indonesia when it ran aground in the shallow waters and got stuck. The coral reef was severely damaged. Raja Ampat is one of the world’s most popular dive sites and a national park. The accident caused a serious loss of marine diversity and affected the livelihoods of the islanders, who rely on fishing and tourism. After a long investigation, an out of court settlement was reached, worth hundreds of millions

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13:57

Bad Bunny is taking Puerto Rican vibes to the Super Bowl

What in the World ·

2025/10/01

It is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio AKA Bad Bunny’s year. In January, he released Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, his sixth album, with great reception from audience and critics and a heavy influence of Puerto Rican culture and sounds. In July he started a two-month gig residency in San Juan, which has boosted the island's economy, and in November he will start a world tour that is largely sold out.In a twist of events, he will play the US after all, but for one night only. He's been confirmed as the

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9:28

What is bride kidnapping - and why does it still happen?

What in the World ·

2025/09/30

In Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, two countries in central Asia between Russia and China, there is a so-called tradition of bride kidnapping. Young women are abducted, often in broad daylight, and taken to a man’s house, where they are pressured into accepting his marriage proposal. It’s illegal in both countries but recently the president of Kazakhstan announced a law to further crack down on it and increase the penalties for the perpetrators.In this episode Malika Burieva, a content creator who covers

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13:13

No phones on the dance floor! Why artists don’t want...

What in the World ·

2025/09/29

Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish may not have much in common, but they do share one thing: asking fans to put their phones away at their concerts. Across the world of music, more artists and venues are asking people to stop filming every moment of the gig and instead, live in the moment to have an authentic experience. However, some artists say fans filming their best moments can help them go viral and boost their careers.Adam Chowdhury from the What in the World team explains what’s happening on

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8:54

If you’re listening to this, the Rapture didn’t happen

What in the World ·

2025/09/26

#Rapture has been trending on TikTok. Some believe that the Rapture is when Christ’s followers will be taken up to Heaven, while those who do not follow him will be left behind on Earth, changing life for humans forever. It isn’t a belief held by all Christians, however. The Rapture is closely linked to evangelism, in particular its believers based in the US.But the Rapture is also talked about across Africa. And it was a pastor from South Africa who claimed to have seen Jesus in a vision. He said

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13:46

Could a four-day work week become the new norm?

What in the World ·

2025/09/25

A study published earlier this year showed that cutting the working week to four days instead of five significantly improved people's wellbeing. So why hasn’t it become the norm yet?We’re joined by Sofia Bettiza, the BBC’s Global Health reporter, who breaks down all the data we have about the four-day work week, and tells us how reliable it is. Plus we hear about how work culture differs across countries like South Africa and Japan.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email:

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11:28

Can you be fined for insulting virtual K-pop idols?

What in the World ·

2025/09/24

PLAVE is your average hit-making K-pop group, but with a twist: its members are virtual avatars. There are real-life performers behind the characters, who control their voices and dance moves using motion capture technology, but their identities are kept secret. Despite their anonymity, a South Korean court has sided with the group after they sued a social media user for insulting comments they posted online about the avatars. Each member was only awarded around $70 US dollars, but the case is one

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13:38

How Australia is addressing its koala chlamydia crisis

What in the World ·

2025/09/23

Australian koalas are having a hard time in the wild. As many as 80% of some populations in eastern Australia have chlamydia and it can be deadly. They’re also facing habitat loss from urbanisation and natural disasters. In areas like New South Wales, they're listed as endangered - meaning that they're at risk of becoming extinct.BBC reporter Tiffanie Turnbull tells us about some of the recent moves the Australian government has made to towards koala conservation. And how a newly approved vaccine

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12:27

How a Kenyan athlete became a soldier for Russia

What in the World ·

2025/09/22

Imagine if you took a trip abroad and in an effort to extend your stay, you unknowingly sign a piece of paperwork that makes you a front line soldier. That’s what Evans Kibet, a 36 year old runner from Kenya claims happened to him in Russia. He’s now a prisoner of war in Ukraine. BBC journalist Akisa Wandera tells us what we know about his case currently.Citizens of Somalia, Togo, Cuba and Sierra Leone have also been documented as prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces. But how are they recruited in

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15:31

Are you obsessed with The Summer I Turned Pretty...

What in the World ·

2025/09/19

Don’t worry if you haven’t watched The Summer I Turned Pretty, this episode is a great introduction! And fear not, there will also be no spoilers - we won’t tell you what happens.Choosing between two love interests is a classic plot line in series and films. The big one people are talking about right now is in The Summer I Turned Pretty. Fans are Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad - they’re two brothers who the main character, Belly, is interested in.The BBC's Lola Schroer tells us about how some fans are

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12:00

Teens in Rwanda get access to family planning without...

What in the World ·

2025/09/18

Rwanda has made it easier for teenagers to access reproductive health services with a new law. If you’re aged 15 in the country, you’ll be able to start the contraceptive pill or get condoms through a medical professional without your parents’ permission. Those in favour say it’ll help tackle teen pregnancy, which some lawmakers have called a national crisis. But it’s also sparked backlash from religious communities and social media commentators. BBC Africa’s Health correspondent Dorcas Wangira

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9:42

Gimme GTA 6 now!

What in the World ·

2025/09/17

Borderlands 4 is now out after a six year wait and Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to come out in 2026 after more than a decade. It’s one of the most anticipated video game sequels. Gaming is one of the biggest industries in entertainment, with budgets that rival Hollywood. Developers come up with impressive graphics and endless missions. But that level of detail also delays releases. Is that the only reason, though? Peter Gillibrand, a BBC reporter, explains what else is behind this. And the BBC's

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12:40

Is AI the reason graduates can’t get jobs?

What in the World ·

2025/09/16

Applying for jobs is TOUGH. First you’ve got to find the adverts and openings, then there’s the mental energy and time required to put in an application - and that’s before you get to the nerve wracking interviews. But some of us are finding that process even harder than normal - putting in loads of applications and never hearing back. Some recent studies suggest that AI is a contributing factor, with younger workers being replaced by AI in some industries.Companies like Amazon and Duolingo have

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12:24

Nepal’s Gen Z don’t want #NepoKids or corruption

What in the World ·

2025/09/15

Protesters in Nepal were demonstrating against corruption, nepotism, and a social media ban which they said limited their freedom of speech. But the protests turned violent and officials say 72 people died in the unrest, including three police personnel.Gen Z groups leading the protests distanced themselves from the destruction, saying they had been "hijacked" by "opportunists".BBC journalist, Emily Atkinson, explains the #NepoKids movement and we hear from a Gen Z protester for her views on what

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12:43

Why was Charlie Kirk such a big deal for young...

What in the World ·

2025/09/12

On Wednesday 10th September Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a university campus in Utah. Charlie Kirk was a conservative activist who founded the student organisation, Turning Point USA. It aims to spread conservative ideas in liberal universities and now has chapters at more than 850 colleges. Kirk became known for his controversial views and was accused of being racist, misogynistic and trans-phobic. He held open-air debates on campuses across the country, where he tried to win people over to his

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