What in the World

Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world.

World Service,752 episodes

Episodes

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Who are the Houthis and why are the US and UK attacking them?
The military group in Yemen has been targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea
15 Jan 2024,14 mins
Why are Guinness World Records being smashed in Ghana and Nigeria?
Plus, can Football Manager give Guinea-Bissau the edge at AFCON?
12 Jan 2024,14 mins
Ecuador: How do you solve the gang problem?
Can a state of emergency sort out the gang problem in Ecuador?
11 Jan 2024,14 mins
Overeducated, underpaid: China’s youth unemployment problem
Why can’t they find jobs?
10 Jan 2024,11 mins
The dirty secret inside clean tech
We need precious metals to run green tech but what’s the cost of mining them?
09 Jan 2024,12 mins
Ukraine: What’s life like for President Zelensky?
Before 2019, he was a comedian but now he's the president of a country at war
08 Jan 2024,14 mins
Mickey Mouse: Copyrights and wrongs
Mickey Mouse is no longer under US copyright but it’s not all black and white
05 Jan 2024,14 mins
How to survive a plane crash
Is Japan’s flawless evacuation a model for all?
04 Jan 2024,14 mins
Make it rain: What is cloud seeding?
The city of Lahore is using artificial rain to clear the air
03 Jan 2024,15 mins
Can blind dates fix China’s shrinking population?
Some cities are also offering parents money to have more babies
02 Jan 2024,12 mins
How Vladimir Putin changed everyday life in Russia
The BBC’s Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg takes us through his rise to power
01 Jan 2024,15 mins
Bigfoot, Chupacabras and Yetis: What are cryptids?
We take a look at mythical creatures from around the globe
29 Dec 2023,14 mins
Are billionaires a good thing?
There’s thousands of them, but does their wealth trickle down?
28 Dec 2023,12 mins
The Nile: A big dam problem
Ethiopia is building a dam on the river but what does this mean for Sudan and Egypt?
27 Dec 2023,12 mins
Kush: The mystery drug that’s got Sierra Leone hooked
It’s cheap, it’s potent and nobody really knows what’s in it
26 Dec 2023,13 mins
Work hard, play hard
Which countries have the best and worst work-life balance?
25 Dec 2023,14 mins
Fascination and fear: Why are volcanoes a hot topic?
An eruption in Iceland has captured the world’s attention
22 Dec 2023,15 mins
Sudan: What’s happening in the world’s ‘forgotten war’?
We explain how Sudan got here and whether the war could end anytime soon
21 Dec 2023,13 mins
Why do farmers in Myanmar and Afghanistan grow opium?
Myanmar recently surpassed Afghanistan as the world’s top producer
20 Dec 2023,16 mins
AI deepfake porn: Could I be next?
As AI tech grows, more apps are being developed to create these fake images
19 Dec 2023,14 mins
Why are STIs on the rise in Europe?
More people are testing positive for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and LGV
18 Dec 2023,13 mins
BTS: From singers to soldiers
All members of the K-pop band have enlisted in the South Korean military
15 Dec 2023,15 mins
Israel-Gaza: How and when might a ceasefire happen?
The BBC’s Jeremy Bowen gives his analysis on how the war might end
14 Dec 2023,16 mins
COP28: What’s the deal?
Nearly 200 countries have agreed a new global deal on climate change
13 Dec 2023,15 mins
Kashmir: What India’s Supreme Court ruling means
Jammu and Kashmir were given special status when they joined India
12 Dec 2023,14 mins
How progressive is the Pope?
Pope Francis’ more liberal stance on LGBTQ issues has caused rifts inside the church
11 Dec 2023,14 mins
Should rap lyrics be allowed as evidence in criminal trials?
Young Thug’s lyrics are being used as evidence against him in court
08 Dec 2023,15 mins
COP28: How to stop your climate anxiety flaring up
Activists share their strategies for dealing with feelings of despair about the planet
07 Dec 2023,14 mins
Tanzania floods: What’s it like to live through a landslide?
Dozens of people have been killed following torrential rain
06 Dec 2023,14 mins
Why are Venezuela and Guyana locked in a land dispute?
Venezuela has voted to claim Essequibo - an oil-rich region part of Guyana
05 Dec 2023,15 mins