

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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 23, 2023 • 14min
Why is the moon’s south pole so special?
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 craters on the dark side of the moon may hold frozen water as they’re permanently in shadow.India's success comes just after Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed trying the same thing.Ashley Christine explains maths, science and philosophy on TikTok - she talks us through what we know about water on the moon. Our reporter in Delhi, Geeta Pandey, has been following the mission from India. And Harriet Bradshaw, our science reporter, ponders what life might be like if we lived on the moon.Also, Indian chess fans tell us how excited they are about the World Cup final, where Pragg is going head-to-head with Magnus Carlsen.Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Alex Rhodes
Researcher: Dan Eboka
Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Aug 22, 2023 • 12min
Why has Somalia banned TikTok?
Somalia’s government has banned TikTok, Telegram, and online betting website 1XBet.It says it’s to ‘limit terrorists and immoral groups spreading constant horrific images and misinformation to the public’. Lots of users rely on TikTok for income, entertainment, and to stay informed. Many have been posting their shock online using the hashtag #tiktokban. So, in this episode we’re asking: Why is Somalia banning these apps? And why are some TikTokers threatening to take to the streets?BBC Somali’s Fardowsa Hanshi has spoken to the country’s communications minister and prominent TikTokers in Somalia - including Abdisalam Abukar who has 1.5 million followers. Fardowsa joins us from Nairobi to explain.Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mora Morrison and William Lee Adams
Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Aug 21, 2023 • 15min
How important was this women’s football World Cup?
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 game in Madrid in a fan zone and Katie Falkingham watched it in Manchester. She also breaks down some of the key facts of the history of women’s football and who she thinks are the biggest legends of all time.And the BBC’s Nadine Yousif takes us through the impact of Meta’s news ban on people trying to evacuate the Canadian wildfires.Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden
Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Aug 18, 2023 • 14min
How does it feel to be skinny shamed?
Skinny shaming can be just as harmful as fat shaming.We recently covered fat shaming on this podcast following allegations against Lizzo. Body image is a hot topic on social media and some celebs, like Ariane Grande, have been hitting back when people comment on their bodies. BBC reporter Ashley Lime wanted to look into skinny shaming in Kenya. Ashley talks about her experience of people commenting on her size. We also hear how skinny shaming impacts men, like 27-year-old Solomon Buchi from Nigeria. And we learn about the mental health effects of skinny shaming from Ugandan psychologist Leona Buhenzire. Plus, why has news disappeared from Instagram in Canada? The BBC’s Nadine Yousif explains.
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Ashley Lime
Producers: Mora Morrison, Adam Chowdhury and Julia Ross-Roy
Researcher: Dan Eboka
Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Aug 17, 2023 • 16min
Are wildfires getting worse?
Parts of Hawaii have been devastated and Canada is having its worst wildfire season on record. Are wildfires getting worse? Are they happening more frequently? BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard explains.
Thomas Grübler, founder of Orora Tech, explains how they use AI to detect wildfires more quickly, to prevent them spreading.
With speculation on Tiktok that lasers started the wildfires in Hawaii, BBC climate disinformation reporter Merlyn Thomas does some fact-checking.
Plus, Jacqui Wakefield looks into a curious story about blond twitter bots fan-girling the United Arab Emirates. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy
Researcher: Dan Eboka
Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Aug 16, 2023 • 15min
Why isn’t Caster Semenya at the World Athletics Championships?
South African runner Caster Semenya won’t be at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. It’s because she has differences of sexual development - or DSD - and isn’t allowed to compete in any track events without taking testosterone-reducing drugs.But what is DSD? And why is it stopping Caster from competing? Celestine Karoney from BBC Sport Africa explains.Plus, we’re joined by Frances Mao who talks us through recent 'Mudjima' knife crimes in South Korea. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison and Julia Ross-Roy
Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Aug 15, 2023 • 16min
How have women's rights in Afghanistan changed?
The podcast explores how women's rights in Afghanistan have changed since the Taliban regained power, discussing topics such as rigid dress codes, education bans, job restrictions, and the current state of women's rights under Taliban rule. It includes personal accounts and fears of living under the Taliban's oppressive rule, as well as the hopes and aspirations for the future of Afghan women in football.

Aug 14, 2023 • 17min
Do video games impact our mental health?
Over three billion people around the world play video games and the industry is worth roughly $350 billion dollars. However, do we understand the relationship between the games we play and our mental health?Alex Rhodes is joined by the BBC’s Laura Cress to find out. They chat with psychologist and game designer Doctor Kelli Dunlap to understand whether violent video games actually lead to violence in real life, and she gives us her three tips on how to manage our mental health when it comes to gaming.Sky Tunley-Stainton from gaming charity Safe in our World explains what they are doing to help the mental health of gamers and people working in the gaming industry. Plus, BBC Culture reporter Annabel Rackham gives us an update on the writers’ and actors’ strikes that have bought Hollywood to a halt.Details of organisations offering information and support with mental health are available at bbc.co.uk/actionlineEmail: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6Presenter: Alex Rhodes with Laura Cress
Producers: Adam Chowdhury, Emily Horler, Mora Morrison, Benita Barden and Dan Eboka
Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Aug 11, 2023 • 14min
Why hip-hop's 50th anniversary matters
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 global phenomenon which continues to evolve - with artists like Nicki Minaj and Jay-Z driving it forward. So, what is hip-hop’s legacy at 50?To help explain its origins and relevance today we’re joined in the studio by Nicholas-Tyrell Scott, a London-based music journalist. We also hear from South African kwaito star Moonchild Sanelly, and from fans in Ghana, the U.S. and Germany about why they love hip-hop.Switching gears, we learn more about the “body check” controversy at the recent Miss Universe Indonesia pageant. Pijar Anugrah, a BBC journalist in Jakarta, explains how police are investigating the allegations of sexual harassment and how pageant officials have responded.Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with William Lee Adams
Producers: Mora Morrison and Dan Eboka
Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Aug 10, 2023 • 15min
Why are so many footballers going to Saudi Arabia?
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 Neves and Karim Benzema have been bought by Saudi clubs this summer, to play in a league that is ranked 68th in the world in terms of quality. BBC Sport reporter Sam Harris tells us why. Is this just another example of ‘sportswashing’? Abdirahim Saeed from BBC Monitoring explains what that means. We’ve been hearing a lot about inflation - and now deflation in China - but what is it? BBC Asia Business Correspondent Nick Marsh joins the conversation - and Favour tells us what it’s like for people in Ghana.Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Favour Nunoo
Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Adam Chowdhury and Benita Barden
Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir


