For decades China has used pandas as a way to improve diplomatic relations with other countries. Now, China’s Premier has offered Australia two, to replace the zoo's existing pandas. BBC Sydney Correspondent Katie Watson explains.

We also speak to the BBC’s Jack Lau in Hong Kong about China’s history of panda diplomacy and the significance of the animal to the country.

And we hear from Katharina Marie Sperling, who is the Head of Wildlife Conservation Program at Berlin Zoo, about the costs involved in keeping them and their characteristics.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Josh Jenkins, Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Nigeria is Africa’s economic powerhouse - so why are so many young people trying to leave and find opportunities in other countries? It’s become so common there’s even a word for it: Japa.

Last year, Nigeria’s immigration service issued a record number of passports - almost 2 million.

So when we were in Lagos we spoke to the BBC’s Faith Oshoko, who explained what drives young professionals to move abroad.

And we chatted to students - would they ever Japa? And would they come back?

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Makuochi Okafor Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editor: Verity Wilde

Nuclear power counts for just ten percent of the world’s total power supply and only 33 countries currently have nuclear power stations. But those numbers could soon change as China rushes to build new nuclear facilities and as African countries consider building their own.

Jordan Dunbar from the BBC podcast The Climate Question explains how nuclear power works, describes its benefits and drawbacks, and assesses whether it could ever be seen as a green form of energy.

Many people are nervous about leveraging nuclear power, partly because of the infamous disasters at nuclear sites like Three Mile Island and Fukushima. Alex from the What in the World team runs us through what happened at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine in 1986.

South Africa is the only country in Africa with a nuclear power plant — the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station near Cape Town. But ten other African countries — including Nigeria and Uganda— are looking into getting a plant of their own. Kevyah from the What in the World team explains why some African nations are considering a nuclear future.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Alex Rhodes and Kevyah Cardoso Editor: Emily Horler

South Korea’s Buldak noodles are super spicy - and Denmark’s food regulator has now recalled some types of them, saying they could cause "acute poisoning". The company behind the noodles says there are no quality issues. They’re used in extreme food challenges that often go viral online. So we decided to try them ourselves and they were FIERY!

The BBC’s Health and Science Correspondent, James Gallagher, explains why spicy food can make us feel all hot and bothered, how to combat the side effects, and takes us through some common myths about spice.

And one of our BBC colleagues, Akwasi Sarpong, tells us how a tiny bit of extremely hot sauce caused some drama at work.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: William Lee Adams with Benita Barden Producer: Emily Horler Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

She may be one of music's biggest stars, but it turns out even Billie Eilish is not immune to being ghosted. The ‘Bad Guy’ singer recently opened up about her experience on a BBC podcast, and it got us thinking about why ghosting feels so pervasive and hurtful.

So, in this episode, we’re chatting about all things ghosting: where the term came from, what it means, and why it makes us feel so bad. We hear from listeners in Colombia, Nigeria, the United States and France who have been ghosted - or done the ghosting. And Sylvia Anim - a psychosexual therapist in London - shares tips on how to look out for yourself if it happens to you.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with William Lee Adams Producer: Mora Morrison Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Despite the latest data showing fewer women are dying in childbirth globally, maternal mortality remains a huge issue for women across Africa. The World Health Organization says that more than two thirds of maternal deaths across the world happen in the continent. Chad and South Sudan rank the highest for maternal mortality, followed by Nigeria, one of the richest countries in Africa.

Dorcas Wangira, the BBC’s Africa Health Correspondent, explains the major causes of maternal death and what efforts are being made towards prevention and reducing rates. She also tells us about the specific issues faced by Nigeria and Kenya.

Plus, we speak to Isata Dumbuya, a trained midwife who moved back to Sierra Leone from the UK to improve maternal healthcare. Sierra Leone successfully reduced their maternal mortality rate by 60% and she describes exactly how they achieved this.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Being a feminist in South Korea is often associated with being a man-hater. And people who are thought to look like feminists - by for example having short hair or not wearing makeup - can be ridiculed, or even attacked.

Rachel Lee, a journalist based in Seoul, explains why anti-feminist sentiment is growing among young men, how this plays out online, and what the government is doing to protect women. Investigative journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou talks us through the Burning Sun scandal - which saw some K-pop stars imprisoned for crimes against women.

And we unpack the 4B movement, which is currently doing the rounds on TikTok.

Note: This episode mentions sexual abuse.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Kevyah Cardoso Editor: Emily Horler

Similar to the viral image "All Eyes on Rafah," the image "All Eyes on Papua" has been spreading across social media. It’s turning attention to Papua, a province of Indonesia. The slogan refers to the campaign of the indigenous people of Awyu and Moi in Papua, whose forest is at risk of being cleared for palm oil plantations.

Abraham Utama, a BBC journalist based in Jakarta, explains how the campaign started and what it hopes to achieve. We also hear how it has sparked a wider conversation about other issues Papuans face.

Plus, Deffe Wabiser, an indigenous Papuan campaigner shares her reaction to the "All Eyes on Papua” picture going viral.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

In April, a top Nollywood star, Junior Pope, was killed in a boat crash, while being transported from a film set. He starred in more than a hundred Nigerian-produced films and his death has got the people who work in the industry asking questions about its safety record.

We speak to Ruth Kadiri, an actor and screenwriter who knew Junior Pope. She tells us about her own experiences with dangerous situations in moviemaking. She also talks about the big changes to Nollywood and how some producers are putting their films straight on YouTube, racking up millions of view in the process.

Plus we speak to Chidi Dike, a star who’s only recently burst onto the scene. He shares his advice for other young actors and tells us what it’s like to suddenly find yourself in the limelight.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Chimezie UcheAgbo Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editor: Simon Peeks

Phone theft is really common - but what happens to your phone after it’s stolen? Nowadays it’s not just about taking the phone to sell on, or strip for parts. Now thieves will try to scam you afterwards to get your data or bank details. BBC Journalist Zofia Louise’s phone was stolen in London and ended up in Dubai. She talks Hannah through her experience.

Nigeria and Brazil also see a lot of phone robberies - BBC journalist Makuochi Okafor tells us what it’s like in Lagos and Jessica Cruz, from the BBC bureau in Sao Paolo, describes how people there try to avoid being a victim of phone theft.

Lots of stolen phones seem to turn up in Shenzhen in China. Shawn Yuan from the BBC Global China Unit explains why. And we get tips on how to keep your phone and data safe from British cybersecurity expert Jake Moore.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenters: Hannah Gelbart and Zofia Louise Producers: Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde

For many, it’s a dream to fly to Nepal and reach the top of the highest peak in the world. But climbing Mount Everest is considered extremely risky even for experienced climbers and it can be deadly. On top of this, climate change is making the conditions even more dangerous. It’s thought that the bodies of nearly 200 of the 330 climbers who have died on the peak are still there, in hard-to-reach areas.

The BBC’s Navin Singh Khadka gives us an overview of the facts about the giant and takes us through some of the problems climbing Mount Everest.

We hear from two people who have been to the summit - Prakriti Varshney who climbed it in 2022 and Kami Rita Sherpa, who has summited Everest 30 times. That’s the most summits that anyone has ever done! He has been a guide there for 20 years. His son Lakpa Tenzing Sherpa tells us about the dangers of his dad going up the mountain.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Alex Rhodes, Benita Barden, Baldeep Chahal and Mimi Swaby Editor: Verity Wilde

Female genital mutilation affects around 230 million women and girls globally, with rates highest in Africa. FGM is considered a human rights violation and has no health benefits. That’s according to World Health Organisation. Hibo Wardere, a survivor from Somalia, recounts her ordeal and discusses the importance of education in ending the practice.

The Gambia banned FGM in 2015, but it could be about to reverse this. BBC journalist Esther Ogola, who’s based in Nairobi, explains why. We also hear how Kenya has more than halved its victims - and discuss the likelihood of the practice ending by 2030, which is the UN’s goal.

Note: This episode contains some graphic descriptions of FGM.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Imogen James Editor: Verity Wilde