What in the World

Finland continues its reign as the happiest country, thanks to a unique blend of culture, nature, and strong social welfare. The impact of simplicity, family, and community creates profound contentment among its citizens. Dive into the role of trust and social cohesion in Scandinavia, plus personal anecdotes from Sweden. Discover how kindness and social connections are key to happiness, and explore global trends that show older people tend to be happier than younger generations facing mental health challenges, especially in vibrant Costa Rica.

Jacqui Wakefield, a BBC Global Disinformation reporter, dives into the murky waters of wellness scams proliferating online. She exposes outlandish claims, from slimming teas to gemstone treatments, all lacking scientific backing. The conversation touches on the disturbing rise of these scams on TikTok, their global impact, and the added risks in Nigeria and Latin America. Wakefield empowers listeners with key warning signs to spot false wellness claims, encouraging skepticism in a landscape filled with misinformation.

Imagine going on a work or school trip for eight days, but ending up away from home for nine months. Now, imagine that journey was to space. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s spacecraft launched in June last year from Cape Canaveral in Florida. They were taking part in the first crewed test flight of the Starliner spacecraft, developed by Boeing. But there were some technical problems after launch and NASA decided it was too risky to use it to take the astronauts back to Earth. Instead, Suni and Butch would catch the next scheduled flight home, which ended up being nine months later. And now Suni and Butch have splashed down off the coast of Florida in a different spacecraft. Our Science Editor, Rebecca Morelle, explains what went wrong with the mission, if they were really stranded, and what daily life is actually like in space.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Elena Angelides Editor: Verity Wilde

On Sunday night, hundreds of people gathered at Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia to watch the popular hip-hop duo DNK perform. It ended in tragedy. A fire ripped through the venue killing 59 people and leaving more than 150 others injured. Reports say the fire was caused by sparks from pyrotechnic devices that hit the ceiling, which was made of highly flammable material. The incident has raised questions about how the venue was able to operate with inadequate safety measures, and if corruption has a role to play.We speak to Saska Cvetkovska, an investigative journalist in Skopje, about what we know so far and how the country is coping with the aftermath of the tragedy. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

In this discussion, Thomas Morgan, an expert from the Institute for Economics and Peace, dives into the disturbing trend of youth radicalization in Europe, revealing that over 40% of UK terror suspects are under 18. He explains how online content drives this alarming rise. Joined by Julian, a Berlin-based counselor, they explore transformative counseling approaches aimed at helping radicalized teenagers. This conversation shines a light on societal factors, isolation, and the importance of preventive measures to curb youth extremism.

In this engaging discussion, BBC tech reporter Tom Gerken reveals Saudi Arabia's strategic $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic, the publisher behind Pokémon Go. He explores the reasons behind the Kingdom's massive investments in gaming, driven by a desire for economic diversification. The conversation highlights the booming gaming scene in Saudi Arabia, fueled by government support and shifting social norms. Additionally, Abdirahim Saaed from BBC Arabic shares insights on the PIF's financial power and implications for data privacy in gaming.

Join William Lee Adams, the resident animal expert, as he delves into the intense debate surrounding the existence of zoos. With a rich history dating back to royal displays, Adams reveals how modern zoos have evolved from mere attractions to centers of conservation. He discusses the ethical dilemmas of captivity versus animal welfare and the distress signals animals exhibit in enclosures. Featuring perspectives from a biology lecturer and an animal rights activist, this conversation navigates the future of zoos, advocating for a shift towards ethical sanctuaries.

In November, fifteen people were killed at the Novi Sad railway station in Serbia when a concrete canopy collapsed. Students in the country have been protesting ever since, claiming that government corruption contributed to the tragedy. The protests have brought the country to a standstill, and on Monday students occupied the public TV station RTS. Slobodan Maričić from BBC Serbian tells us about the student protests, what he’s seen when out reporting and the criticism faced by President Aleksandar Vučić. We also hear from several student protestors and Konstrakta, a popular singer. She explains why students have been so effective leading and organising the protests and how their movement has expanded to include people of all ages. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Emilia Jansson and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Two weeks ago $1.5 billion vanished from a cryptocurrency platform - it’s thought to be the biggest crypto heist ever. They had fallen into the hands of some infamous hackers - the Lazarus Group. These hackers have alleged ties to the North Korean government and have managed to steal huge amounts of money from other crypto platforms before. The BBC’s Cyber Correspondent, Joe Tidy, takes us through all the details and explains why North Korean hackers are so untouchable.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Emilia Jansson Editor: Verity Wilde

Plastic pollution has been highlighted as an environmental issue for several years. But experts are now researching whether it poses a potential danger to our health. Microplastics specifically are found in our bodies - even in our brains.The BBC health reporter Smitha Mundasad explains to us what they are and whether we should be worried. And 25-year-old microplastics researcher and influencer Dana Zhaxylykova shares her top tips on how to avoid plastics.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Emilia Jansson Editor: Verity Wilde