What in the World

Tim Bowler, BBC Monitoring defence expert, and Bernd Debusmann Jr, BBC correspondent on geopolitics, unpack Iran’s mass drone campaign. They describe the Shahed flying bomb, why Iran favors cheap, mass-launched drones, and the costly challenges of defending against swarms. They compare tactics with Ukraine and discuss how drone stockpiles could shape the conflict’s duration.

Chelsea Coates, a producer and lifelong ballet enthusiast, brings personal perspective from her dance background. She explores Timothée Chalamet's controversial remark and the passionate public reaction. Short takes cover attendance trends, financial pressures, viral defenses, cultural crossovers, and efforts to broaden access to ballet and opera.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad, BBC Persian reporter covering Iran and its women's football team, explains why several players chose to remain in Australia after refusing to sing the national anthem. She explores the team's act of defiance, state accusations of treason, intense hotel surveillance and how humanitarian visas changed their options.

Wanqing Zhang, BBC reporter covering China trends; Luke Hanna, personal trainer and nutritionist; TL Huang, Australian creator who spent a month in a military-style camp. They describe strict daily routines and intense weigh-ins. They discuss emotional coping and community in confined settings. They explore the camps’ rise across China and the social and lifestyle forces behind growing obesity.

Coverage of Iran naming Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader after a high‑profile strike. Discussion of the leader's obscure background, limited public profile and ties to the IRGC and Basij. Debate about whether policy will stay hardline or shift. Reactions inside Iran and from the US are examined, and the potential impact on the regional conflict is explored.

A clear tour of the Strait of Hormuz’s geography and why it matters for global trade. Reports of attacks and stalled shipping reveal how routes and insurance are being disrupted. Discussion of rising energy and production costs and why parts of Asia are already feeling the pinch. Analysis of why there is no easy alternative if the strait closes.

Georgina Rannard, BBC climate and science correspondent who explains environmental issues, gives a lively tour of bee biology and pollination. She outlines why wild bee declines matter for our food and what is driving those drops in Europe. There are stories from a Sierra Leone beekeeper and practical ideas for helping bees in gardens and local landscapes.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad, a BBC Persian journalist reporting from and about Iran, shares on‑the‑ground perspectives. Short scenes cover fears during blackouts, diaspora anxieties for loved ones, generational divides and anti‑Western messaging, and how recent protests reshaped public attitudes. Voices from inside and outside Iran highlight varied experiences and the enduring love many feel for home.

A look at rising clashes between people and wildlife as animals enter farms and villages. Discussions of where attacks happen and the species most involved. Local tactics for protection like early warning, barriers and chilli deterrents. Conservation groups and governments explain rapid response, compensation schemes and community-based solutions.

A fast-moving breakdown of why the US and Israel struck Iran and what that means for the region. A profile of Iran’s supreme leader and the divided public reaction to his death. An account of Iran’s military response and the cross-border strikes that followed. Practical updates on fuel, flights and daily life as tensions reshape travel and commerce.