What in the World

In this discussion, Mark Savage, a BBC music correspondent, unpacks how TikTok and streaming have transformed pop music, particularly the ideal length of songs. He reveals a trend where tracks are getting shorter to capture listeners quickly, yet some recent hits are pushing back over four minutes. Savage explores the creative challenges artists face on platforms like TikTok, balancing quick content with artistic integrity. He highlights insights from musicians Queen Ife and Fiona Kida on how these changes impact their music-making processes.

Joseph Shaw Ayesu, an ecological research manager at The Or Foundation, discusses Ghana's struggle as the world's largest importer of second-hand clothing. He reveals that 15 million garments arrive weekly, with a staggering 40% deemed unsellable, leading to environmental degradation. The conversation highlights community-driven efforts, including beach clean-ups and upcycling initiatives in Kantamanto Market. Joseph emphasizes the need for sustainable practices in the fashion industry and the importance of local production to combat the waste crisis.

In the UK, if you want to watch pornography or see content on sites like X, Reddit and Discord that is deemed only suitable for people over 18 years old, you now need to provide your identification to prove you are old enough to access this material. The UK government says its Online Safety Act aims to make the internet safer, especially for children. However, some are concerned about their online privacy.BBC technology reporter Liv McMahon explains the new law and how the age verification works plus what the rules are in some other countries. We also hear from people in Egypt and Switzerland and how they feel about online age checks.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

The big fat 'fake' Indian wedding is social media’s latest party trend. Fake wedding parties have taken the world and social media by storm with people getting together to enjoy all the fun of a wedding party: the food, Bollywood music, dancing and glamorous outfits. But there aren't any of the rules on how to dress or act and none of the nagging questions from nosey relatives.We speak to Devina Gupta, a BBC journalist in Delhi, about how these fake parties are contributing to India’s $130bn wedding industry, and how venues are optimising the trend to make up for lost profits in the quiet season. We get all the goss on Dubai’s very own fake wedding party from pals Tanisha Dhawan, Laveena Barathi and Mihika Asrani who attended. Plus, they tell us whether they’re ready to splash the cash on a big fat wedding of their own.Thumbnail credit: ThirdPlaceInstagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Abiona Boja and Mora Morrison Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

Life is full of plastic, but it’s not always fantastic. We know that plastic is super useful: it helps keep food fresh and lets medicines, like vaccines, be delivered at scale to billions of people. But the world is drowning in it. In fact, the amount of plastic on our planet now weighs more all the land and sea creatures currently alive. Last week countries from around the world gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, to try to come up with a plan to tackle plastic pollution. But they once again failed. That’s because there is a split between those calling for curbs on the production of plastic, and oil states pushing for a focus on recycling.BBC climate correspondent Georgina Rannard talks us through the problem, the conference, and potential solutions to plastic waste. And we also hear from 24-year-old conservationist Sri Mauliani about how plastic pollution impacts Indonesia. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

North Korea is one of the world’s most secretive nations. For years it’s been almost entirely closed to foreign visitors (apart from a few highly-controlled tours each year). But in July the state opened the luxury Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which was promoted as an attraction for both locals and foreigners. It has hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and a water park, with a capacity of 20,000 people, according to state media.Since the resort began construction in 2018, human rights groups have protested the alleged mistreatment of its workers. According to early planning documents seen by BBC Verify, the initial goal was to attract more than a million visitors, with foreign tourists expected to mainly come from China and Russia.But now, a notice on North Korea's tourism website says that foreigners are "temporarily" not allowed to visit. Russian tourists appear to be the exception. We speak to Rachel Lee, a BBC reporter in South Korea about why North Korea is trying to boost its tourism. And we hear from Anastasia Samsonova, a Russian tourist who visited the resort.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Abiona Boja Additional reporting: Yaroslava Kiryukhina Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Jamestown in Accra, Ghana, is famous for producing boxing world champions like Azumah Nelson. However, it wasn't until last year that a female boxer brought back a historic new title. Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey defeated British boxer Sangeeta Birdie, making her Ghana's first female boxing champion and Jamestown's newest boxing prodigy.Abigail tells us how the journey to victory was a difficult one. We hear about the social and financial challenges she faced in detail.Plus, Isaac Fanin, a sports reporter from BBC Newsday gives us a crash course on what it takes to become a world champion boxer.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden, Beryl Richter Editor: Verity Wilde

The controversy over Adidas' Oaxaca Slip-Ons sparks a passionate debate on cultural appropriation versus appreciation. Critics argue the brand failed to collaborate with Indigenous artisans, raising questions about ethical practices in fashion. Legal expert Javier Uhthoff discusses the rights of Mexican designers, shedding light on how legislation aims to protect cultural creations. The discussion serves as a call for brands to engage in respectful collaborations and ensure fair recognition for cultural inspirations.

In this engaging discussion, Graihagh Jackson, a BBC journalist and the voice behind The Climate Question podcast, delves into the complexities of eco-tourism. She highlights Costa Rica as a model of sustainable travel yet raises questions about the true eco-friendliness of tourism itself. The talk explores the carbon footprint linked to air travel, the paradox of tourism's benefits versus its environmental toll, and the prevalence of greenwashing. Graihagh urges for practices that genuinely support both local communities and the planet.

Nigeria's women's basketball team just claimed their seventh AfroBasket title and are set to receive $100,000 and new apartments as recognition. President Bola Tinubu emphasizes the inspiring role of these athletes. However, reactions vary; many question the sustainability of these rewards amidst economic challenges. Listeners also hear about how other nations incentivize their athletes, from cash prizes to livestock, highlighting a global perspective on sport and financial support. The podcast dives into the tension between celebrating success and addressing economic realities.