What in the World

COP 16 — the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity — recently concluded in Colombia. One of the major issues was "biopiracy". That’s when companies take out patents to own the rights to living organisms, like plants — despite the fact many local and indigenous communities may have been using these plants and other biological material for centuries. BBC science and climate reporter Georgina Rannard explains the idea of biopiracy and why it’s so high stakes for both businesses and the communities that nurture traditional knowledge. And Nataly Canales, an evolutionary biologist, discusses how the issue of bio-piracy relates to the autonomy of her community — the Amazonian Quechua of Peru.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Gaming is growing in Africa. As the continent’s booming youthful population get better access to smart phones and internet connectivity improves, so does its gaming scene.Esports events are gaining traction too, with South Africa, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria all hosting large tournaments showcasing Africa’s best gaming talent. We chat to Brian Khisa, a BBC reporter based in Nairobi, about why the scene is taking off, and how representative it is. We’re also joined by Megan van der Westhuizen, a 21-year-old gamer based in South Africa, and 26-year-old Sylvia Gathoni (aka 'QueenArrow'), from Kenya. They share what it’s like to be pro gamers, and why they’re excited about the future. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Hayley Clarke Editor: Verity Wilde

The practice of sending money to family in other countries - known as remittances - is widespread. The World Bank estimates that over $650 billion was sent to low- and middle-income countries in 2023. When it comes to the flow of money from the U.S. to African nations, some people use the term ”black tax.” As costs are rising around the world, some people are saying it's becoming harder to afford to send money. And recently Kenyan influencer and comedian Elsa Majimbo reignited the long-running debate when she said on Instagram that she hated sending money abroad.Two BBC journalists, Itoro Bassey in the United States and Makuochi Okafor in Nigeria, talk about their personal experiences of sending or receiving money. And they discuss the broader economic and cultural factors that underpin the issue. We also hear a range of views from people who send money to relatives in Africa and some who receive it. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Hayley Clarke and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

Chris Brown is performing in South Africa for the first time since 2015 this December. Tickets for his concerts sold out Johannesburg's FNB Stadium in just a few hours. But not everyone is happy about it. Campaigners have highlighted that the concert is scheduled just days after the global commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. So, a petition has been started to block his shows. The petition calls them an ‘insult to the millions of women and girls affected by violence in South Africa and worldwide’. Bulelwa Adonis is from Women for Change. She tells us why her organisation started the petition, and the conversations its sparked online and IRL. We also hear from a mother whose been directly impacted by gender based violence (GBV). Noma Mrwetyana’s daughter was murdered in 2019, at the age of 19. She tells us why she started the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation in her name. And BBC reporter Danai Nesta Kupemba talks us through what the government is doing to address the issue. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, abortion remains a central issue in U.S. politics. The backlash from the ruling that allows states to ban abortion shook up the 2022 midterms, and since then, voters have consistently backed abortion rights in ballot measures—even in traditionally conservative states like Ohio, Kentucky, and Kansas.Now, with Election Day approaching, 10 states are set to vote on how abortion should be regulated. The result could overturn existing bans, or solidify protections. So could reproductive rights be the issue that changes the course of the election? In this episode, a doctor breaks down the procedure’s medical aspects and Ana Faguy, our BBC reporter in Washington, explains the high stakes of abortion rights in the presidential race. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Kevyah Cardoso and Hayley Clarke Editor: Verity Wilde

A growing number of young people born in France are choosing to leave the country. Many of them are moving to their parents’ countries of origin in Africa. We chat with BBC reporter and producer Nathalie Jimenez about “The Homecoming”, a documentary from BBC Africa Eye. It explores the “silent exodus” of French Africans with an emphasis on those re-locating to Senegal, a former French colony. Among other things, Nathalie explains how racism and the rise of the far right are driving people to seek new beginnings abroad. We also hear from other French citizens who are starting a new life in Senegal.Just search for "BBC Africa Eye - The Homecoming" to watch the documentary on YouTube. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams & Zofia Louise Editor: Verity Wilde

More than 100 professional women's footballers have signed an open letter urging Fifa to drop the Saudi oil giant Aramco as a sponsor over humanitarian and environmental concerns. It follows Fifa’s announcement - earlier this year - of a partnership with the firm that will run until 2027, giving the company sponsorship rights to the men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Women’s World Cup the following year.The words ‘Saudi Arabia’ and ‘football’ are increasingly used in the same sentence, and the country has become a huge player in the game. But it’s not without controversy. The nation has been accused of ‘sportswashing’ - with critics claiming Saudi Arabia is trying to improve its international reputation by investing in sports.BBC sports correspondent Katie Gornall talks us through why these players are speaking up, and if this petition could change things. We also hear from Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema and Danish international Sofie Junge Pedersen about why they chose to sign. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Hayley Clarke Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

A quick warning before listening: in this episode we’re talking about female genitals, in quite a lot of detail.Brazil has the highest number of plastic surgery operations in the world and it’s where the BBL, Brazilian Butt Lift, comes from. It’s also seeing a spike in demand for another procedure: labiaplasty; where the labia minora (the folds of skin either side of the vulva) are reduced in size.There’s been a 15% rise in this kind of surgery in the last 4 years, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. And Brazil comes top in terms of the number of labiaplasties carried out - over 28,000 last year. Why are women getting this procedure done? Giulia Granchi from BBC Brasil explains. The idea of a “perfect vulva” is not new - it’s been portrayed a certain way since sculptures in ancient Greece. Zoe Williams from the Vagina Museum in London explains the history of this idea - and why porn and social media has made it worse. And we hear about two projects; the Labia Library in Australia and the Great Wall of Vulva (formerly the Great Wall of Vagina) by British artist Jamie McCartney, both with the aim of demonstrating the huge range of shapes and sizes of women’s genitalia. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Lizzy Bella and Hayley Clarke Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

Ten years ago, in 2014, militants belonging to the Islamic State group in Iraq killed and captured thousands of Yazidi people in what would later be called a genocide. It’s understood that hundreds of women are still missing, and are being held as sex and domestic slaves across the Middle East. One was recently found in Gaza. Since then there have only been a handful of court cases - mostly in European courts - but survivors are still fighting for justice. Caroline Hawley, a BBC diplomatic correspondent, talks us through the detail. We also hear from Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad who, at 21, was abducted into sexual slavery when IS militants surrounded her Yazidi community in the Sinjar region. Since her miraculous escape she has been advocating for survivors of genocide and sexual violence through her organisation Nadia’s Initiative. Trigger warning: the material in this episode can be disturbing and quite hard to hear. If you are sensitive to content about physical and sexual violence, or if you believe that you might find the discussion to be triggering, this episode may not be right for you.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Hayley Clarke Editor: Verity Wilde

The Ivorian government has announced the dissolution of all student unions following the killing of two students, a crime attributed to the powerful Student and School Federation (Fesci).The group has long been accused of terrorising university campuses across the country, operating a cartel-like system and charging extortionate rents to over 5,000 unregistered students for university accommodation.During their investigation, authorities claim to have uncovered an underground tunnel used for torture and a secret brothel within Félix-Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan, the nation’s capital.Multiple senior Fesci members have now been arrested in connection with the murders of students Khalifa Diomandé and Zigui Mars Aubin Déagoué, which occurred in August and September.The BBC's Nicolas Négoce reports on the union’s vice grip on university campuses and students speak out for the first time about the culture of violence and fear.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Kevyah Cardoso Editor: Verity Wilde