What in the World

The podcast explores the reasons behind young people leaving Romania, including limited job opportunities and political climate. It also discusses the impact of outward migration on both Romania and Croatia. Additionally, the podcast touches on the challenges faced by young people in China and the controversy surrounding the world's oldest dog record.

It’s estimated that a garbage truck full of clothing is being sent to a landfill every second, with less than 1% recycled into new clothes. One way to stop clothes reaching landfill is reusing, repairing and recycling them. This is part of ‘circular fashion’ - where textiles already in circulation are used again and again, instead of producing new ones. Lots of fashion brands and consumers are trying to make the fashion industry more sustainable. We hear from two projects at the forefront of this. Whitney Speke joins us from Nairobi to tell us how Africa Collect Textiles is tackling clothes waste in Africa. She also shares her views on the 30 wear challenge - which encourages consumers to wear their clothes at least 30 times. We’re joined by Taylor Greene who works for Circ, a US-based company. Circ’s innovative recycling technology is addressing the fashion industry’s carbon footprint – which accounts for around 8% of global carbon emissions. Plus, sustainability journalist Sophie Benson explains how apps have helped make sustainable fashion more accessible, and how it might be scaled up in the future. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

Cape Verde has become the first sub-Saharan nation to be declared malaria-free in fifty years. But mosquitoes, the insects that spread the deadly disease, have started to fight back. One type of the insect has adapted to break all the rules and dodge all the measures we’ve brought in to beat them. Unlike most mosquitoes, Anopheles Stephensi, can live in urban environments potentially putting people in cities in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Djibouti, Ghana and more at risk. The BBC’s Tulip Mazumdar explains the symptoms and effects of malaria. And Dorcas Wangira, our Africa Health correspondent in Kenya, talks to us about this adapted mosquito and the challenges it poses. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

The Houthi, a political and military group in Yemen, have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November. They say they’re targeting vessels headed to or owned by Israel as a way to support Palestinians in Gaza.Not all of the ships are connected to Israel. And now the US and UK has launched military airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen to reduce their military capability. So what’s happening in the Red Sea?Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, explains who the Houthis are and what’s motivating their attacks. And Nawal Al-Maghafi, an international correspondent for the BBC who’s reported extensively from Yemen, tells us a bit more about the group’s political strategies and how they’re framing their approach to the Israel-Gaza conflict.As a result of the Houthi attacks, many of the world's biggest shipping companies have stopped vessels using the Red Sea route, opting for an alternative route through the Cape of Good Hope. Michael Race, a BBC Business reporter, explains how these attacks are affecting the transport and price of consumer goods. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

Hundreds of people have been trying to set new world records in Ghana, with applications flying in since July 2023.Earlier this week a Ghanaian chef, Faila Abdul-Razak, completed the longest non-stop cook-a-thon, chopping and frying for more than 227 hours. She hasn’t yet officially been given the title.She isn’t the first to try though - last year a Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci, broke the world record, jumpstarting a trend for breaking world records in Nigeria too.So why are there so many attempts in Ghana and Nigeria? Our reporter in Accra, Favour Nunoo, runs us through some theories.We also chat to Afua Asantewaa - a Ghanaian who’s attempted to set the Guinness World Record for the longest singing marathon. She managed five days straight. And William from the What in the World team demonstrates a hidden talent that definitely breaks our records! (12:00) Plus AFCON, the Africa Cup of Nations, kicks off this weekend with Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau as the opening match. Teams like Morocco, Senegal and Egypt are among the favourites to win the tournament - but we find out from the BBC’s Isaac Fanin how one man used the video game Football Manager to try to give underdogs Guinea-Bissau an advantage. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

The notorious leader of Ecuador’s main criminal gang escaped from prison this week - he is still missing. The country’s President declared a state of emergency and the gangs fought back, with gunmen breaking into a TV studio during a live broadcast. Separately 130 prison staff are being held hostage by inmates.BBC Monitoring’s Rachelle Krygier, who focuses on Latin America, explains who the gangs are and how they operate from within the prisons. BBC Mundo’s Ana Maria Roura, who’s from Ecuador, talks through whether the government’s strategy of bringing in the army could work.Also, Madeleine Drury from the What in the World team tells us about various approaches being tried in different South American countries to tackle the gangs. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Madeleine Drury and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

More than one in five people between the ages of 16 and 24 are jobless in China according to the latest government data. But the figure could be even higher.Millions of university graduates are struggling to find high paying jobs. So the government is encouraging them to roll up their sleeves and consider manual work in the countryside instead. But many aren’t keen and some are ducking out of the rat race all together, sharing memes of themselves ripping up their degrees. We hear from Joy, who says that out of her class of 32, only around a third have found full-time jobs since graduating in the summer.Laura Bicker, a BBC correspondent based in Beijing, explains what led to this point, and what might happen next. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

We need precious metals to run green tech but what’s the cost of mining them? Norway has approved commercial-scale deep-sea mining off its shores in the hunt for precious metals which are in high demand for green technologies. However, environmental scientists warn it could be devastating for marine life. Climate reporter Esme Stallard takes us through the controversial plans.One of the metals Norway is looking for is cobalt. Currently the world’s main source of cobalt lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where miners toil in often poor conditions and armed conflict in the country has contributed to what the United Nations says is one of the “largest humanitarian crises in the world”.BBC Africa’s Wedaeli Chibelushi describes the picture in the country and explains why some TikTokers are quitting vaping because of mines in the DRC.Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Alex Rhodes and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

It’s been nearly two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Millions of people have fled the country and thousands have been killed. The fighting is still going on, with Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky continuing to appeal for international support.BBC Monitoring’s Russia editor, Vitaly Shevchenko, takes us through what Zelensky’s life has been like since the war began. Before becoming president in 2019, he was a comedian and even voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the film - how is he dealing with being in charge?Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Disney’s copyright on ‘Steamboat Willie’, which features the earliest version of Mickey Mouse, expired in the US on New Year’s Day - meaning the image is in the public domain and free to use… with some caveats. So what’s next for Mickey?Some creatives have already sprung into action. Noor Nanji, a BBC Culture reporter, tells us about an upcoming Mickey Mouse slasher movie and a video game.We also hear from Erin Delmore, the BBC’s North America Business Correspondent and Jennifer Jenkins, a professor of intellectual property law at Duke University, about how public domain laws work. Plus we pitch some ideas of our own. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Benita Barden, Adam Chowdhury and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks