What in the World

For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago, Ukrainian soldiers have advanced 30km inside Russia. President Zelensky says Ukraine is pushing the war onto "the aggressor's territory" in the Kursk region. What could this mean for the war? Vitaly Shevchenko, one of the hosts of Ukrainecast and the Russia editor of BBC Monitoring, explains. We also discuss a recent fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and why Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for starting it. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have officially come to an end. Among the memorable moments are things like: that outstanding 100m photo finish, the debut of Olympic breakdancing, the refugee collecting their first medal and Snoop Dogg. To mark the occasion, we asked you what questions you had about the Olympic games - and reached out to two BBC journalists who’ve been in Paris: Isaac Fanin from the BBC World Service and Laura Garcia from BBC Mundo.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: Emily Horler

IITERNITI, formerly Eternity, is a South Korean pop group created entirely by artificial intelligence. The group first launched back in 2021, and now has millions of views online. And they’re not the only ones. There are other AI K-pop groups around too. BBC reporter Iqra Farooq has been looking into how AI could change the genre; from ChatGPT messaging fans, to VR concerts. She talks us through her findings. We’re also joined by Jieun Park, the CEO behind IITERNITI, Taiwanese artist KIRE, and Felix from K-pop mega group Stray Kids. Plus, we hear why some fans love AI in music, and others find it ‘terrifying’. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

There are loads of podcasts about entrepreneurship, setting up a business or start-up, being your own boss and making money. According to the American business magazine Forbes, up to 9 in 10 start-ups fail, and the number is thought to be even higher in Africa.BBC Africa’s business reporter in Lagos, Nigeria, Nkechi Ogbonna, explains what a start-up is and some of the reasons why start-ups fail. We also hear about some of the sectors where start-ups are doing well. African entrepreneur and YouTuber, Joseph Don, from The Entrepreneurs Connect Show, sets out the challenges some businesses in Africa face - and gives his top tips for starting and maintaining a successful business. And Nic Rawhani, the South African founder of Vula.VC, a company that uses AI to help start-ups find and apply for funding, tells us how people can pick themselves up and learn from their mistakes if their business doesn’t work out. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Benita Barden, Mora Morrison, Kevyah Cardoso and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde

Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, has been facing online abuse since becoming a finalist in Miss South Africa 2024. Chidimma is South African and grew up in Cape Town to a Nigerian father and South African mother with Mozambican roots. Some people think she shouldn’t compete because of this - even though she is eligible. BBC Africa journalist Danai Nesta Kupemba talks us through the details, and what this says about xenophobia and ‘afrophobia’ more generally in South Africa.This isn’t the first time there have been issues over the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. Melissa Nayimuli - whose father is Ugandan - competed last year and also faced online abuse. She joins us to share her experience. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editor: Verity WildeThis podcast was recorded on Wednesday lunchtime in the UK. On Wednesday evening, the South African government released a statement saying there was an ongoing investigation into fraud and identify theft involving Chidimma Adetshina’s mother, in order to become a South African citizen. On Thursday, Ms Adetshina announced she was withdrawing from the contest “for the safety and well-being” of herself and her family. She did not refer to the investigation.

There are celebrations in Bangladesh following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation after weeks of violent unrest. Many have described the past month as one of the worst periods of violence seen in Bangladesh since the country formed five decades ago. Student protests against quotas in government jobs escalated into an anti-government movement after a violent crackdown by security forces and pro-government student groups have seen around 400 people killed. The country remains in a state of chaos after the Prime Minister hastily fled the country before protestors stormed her official residence. Until recently, 30% of civil service roles in Bangladesh were reserved for the children and grandchildren of people who fought for the country’s independence back in 1971, a system protestors said benefitted those close to the ruling party. Protestors share their experiences and our BBC reporter in Dhaka, Akbar Hossain, explains how the student protests changed course and dramatically ended the 76 year-old leader’s 15 year reign. We also hear from Rani Singh, who previously interviewed Sheikh Hasina at her palace.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Kevyah Cardoso and William Lee Adams Editor: Emily Horler and Rosanna La-Falce

Animals are essential in maintaining ecosystem balance, but in some cases they can have the opposite effect. In the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, authorities are looking to cull 1 million Indian house crows. Conservationists say they are becoming a nuisance and have significantly reduced the number of small indigenous birds in the region. So how will they be dealt with? The BBC’s Dorcas Wangira, an Africa health correspondent, explains. Pest are an issue in New York too. There’s estimated to be 3 million rats scurrying around the Big Apple and the city’s mayor has made it his mission to deal with the rocketing number of rodents by hiring a ‘rat tsar’. Sam Cabral, a BBC reporter in New York, tells us more. Finally, we hear from Predator Free Wellington, an organisation in New Zealand, which is hoping to completely remove predators (like rats and possums) by 2050. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Mora Morrison and Baldeep Chahal Editor: Emily Horler

Leg-lengthening surgery was once reserved for people with a serious injury or physical deformity. But now more people are undergoing the procedure simply because they want to be taller. BBC journalist Tom Brada explains what the operation entails, the risks it carries, and the costs that patients incur. We also hear from Daniel, a man who underwent the procedure. He describes why he wanted to be taller, what his surgery and recovery were like, and whether it was worth it.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Baldeep Chahal and William Lee Adams Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Thousands of Venezuelans have been protesting after President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory in the country's disputed election. The opposition says the results were fraudulent.There are reports of at least 11 deaths in protest-related violence, with lots more people injured.Our South America correspondent, Ione Wells, explains why the results are disputed and what protesters in Caracas have been saying.BBC Mundo’s Jorge Perez gives us the background on Venezuela, including who Hugo Chávez was and why the country is in such economic turmoil, despite having the biggest proven oil reserves in the world. Also, young Venezuelans tell us about their hopes for their futures.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Shiler Mahmoudi Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Dearest gentle listener: It’s our first birthday! To celebrate one year of our What in the World podcast, we asked you what burning questions you had — and we turned to the BBC’s global network of experts to get the answers. In this episode, you’ll hear…Digital health editor Michelle Roberts on how vaccines train the body’s immune system.Seoul correspondent Jean Mackenzie on what tourists in North Korea can actually do.Correspondent Samira Hussain on how the electoral college decides the U.S. presidential election.Climate and environment researcher Mark Poynting on the role of hydrogen in the green energy transition.Plus Mora from the What in the World answers Alex’s question, “How do fringes happen?” We said no question was too stupid. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes and William Lee Adams Editor: Julia Ross-Roy