What in the World

Gukesh Dommaraju — an 18-year-old from India — has become the youngest-ever world chess champion. That’s after beating defending champion Ding Liren, a 32-year-old from China. Dommaraju comes from Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu. Saradha V, a BBC reporter in Chennai, explains how the city became India’s chess capital and how schools there are producing an impressive generation of young players.Plus: Giovanni Sala, a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Liverpool, explains how the Internet is helping chess players master the game more quickly than players did decades ago. He also describes the benefits that chess has for young people.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden, Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde

Game of Thrones. Twilight. Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf is an animal that appears more than most creatures across popular culture. They’re known for being fierce, dangerous and scary. Is this what they are like in real life though? Abby Keller, who works at the International Wolf Centre in the US, tells us everything we need to know about wolves.For 45 years in Europe, grey wolves were under the second highest level of protection in European Union laws. This is called Annex Two and offered ‘strict protection’. This month though, EU conservation officials voted to downgrade them to Annex Three. It means they have gone from ‘strictly protected’ to just ‘protected’. From March next year, each EU nation will be able to set a yearly figure of how many wolves can legally be killed in their country.The BBC’s Emilia Jansson explains the decision and what it means for the wolf population of the EU.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

The reasons women donate their eggs vary significantly. Some people say they feel a sense of pride knowing they may help other women conceive children. Others say they want to earn a bit of extra cash, since many clinics are willing to pay donors for their eggs. Charlotte Edwards, BBC Business reporter, explains how the process of egg donation works — and how it differs by country. Plus: Elaine Chong, an egg donor in the United Kingdom and BBC journalist, discusses how she wanted to help other women of Chinese descent expand their families. And Ebimoboere Ibinabo Dan-Asisahin, an egg donor in Nigeria, discusses the process and physical side effects she experienced.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Video Journalist: Tim Hodges Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

There’s nothing quite like going to see a new film in the cinema; the big screen, surround sound, buckets of popcorn and collective gasps from the audience. But the film industry has experienced a number of setbacks in recent years, including the pandemic, competition from streaming, and Hollywood strikes.Annabel Rackham, a BBC culture reporter, talks us though whether cinema in the United States, and elsewhere, is bouncing back, and how mega hits like Wicked and Gladiator 2 are helping. We also speak to Mr C, a film critic from Nigeria who now lives in the UK, about how cinema is faring in Nigeria. And Adam Chowdhury from the What in the World team quizzes Hannah on some (pretty surprising) film-related Guinness World Records. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Adam Chowdhury and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

Brazil is known for it's top-tier football and stars like Vinicius Junior or Neymar. The enthusiasm for football has now a new layer, with millions of people turning to online betting when watching their national game. Brazil is now considered the third-biggest market globally for sports betting, and authorities are trying to tackle this issue as lots of people are struggling with debt and gambling addictions, as we hear from Ian Alves, a BBC journalist in Sao Paulo.And Reece Bush-Evans, member of the Gambling Research Group in the UK explains why gambling can be so addictive.If you’ve been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode please contact support organisations in your own country. Or, if you live in the UK, please check out bbc.co.uk/actionline. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Josh Jenkins, Maria Clara Montoya and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

The world was stunned over the weekend as rebel forces in Syria captured the capital of Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee and ending the final chapter of his violent regime. Assad is reported to have fled to Russia whilst opposition forces now loot his empty palace and people celebrate on the streets.But who are the Syrian rebels who toppled Assad’s rule? And why has it happened now after decades of the Assad family in charge.Five BBC experts - Frank Gardner, Lyse Doucet, Lina Sinjab, Mina Al-Lami and Barry Marston - take us through the story.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Emilia Jansson Editor: Verity WildeThis audio was updated after publication and a name correction was made on the 17th December.

In this discussion, fan Wang, a BBC reporter based in Singapore, shares her expertise on the K-pop industry. She delves into the turbulent situation surrounding NewJeans, who are contemplating leaving their label after public conflicts. The conversation touches on the massive influence of K-pop fans and how their voices shape decisions within agencies, including recent events involving Riize and member withdrawals. Insights reveal the complex power dynamics between K-pop stars, their labels, and fan expectations.

Hayley Clarke, a BBC journalist, joins to explore the global debate on social media and phone bans in schools. She shares insights on various countries' approaches, including Australia's proposed law to limit social media for minors. The conversation dives into personal stories of addiction, alarming statistics about screen time, and the implications of increased digital exposure on mental health. Hear from students in France and the US on how they'd feel about bans, and listen to experts discuss the real evidence linking technology to social behavior issues.

South Korea's president Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the country on Tuesday night when, out of the blue, he declared martial law in the country. It’s the first time such an order has been passed there in nearly 50 years. Yoon cited "anti-state forces" and the threat from North Korea. But it soon became clear that the move may have been politically motivated. Within hours thousands of people gathered in protest, and opposition lawmakers rushed to remove the measure. Julie Yoonnyung Lee, a BBC World Service reporter, talks us why the announcement was so shocking - and how it could impact South Korea’s democracy. Plus, Emilia Jansson from the What in the World team shares which other countries have used martial law, and why. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Emilia Jansson Editor: Verity Wilde

For the past few nights, thousands of Georgians have been out protesting the government in Tbilisi. It’s because the ruling party, Georgian Dream, says it’s pausing negotiations to join the European Union until 2028. Many Georgians see the move as a betrayal of achieving the long-standing ambition of joining the EU, and some fear the country is inching closer to Russia’s influence.The BBC’s Rayhan Demytrie takes us through the political situation in the country and explains why many Georgians are unhappy. We also hear from two women, Nutsa and Nini, about why they’ve decided to join this round of protests.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde