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Why more women in China are buying men’s clothes

Why more women in China are buying men’s clothes

Some women in China are unhappy with how brands are making women’s clothing. Posts on the social media site Xiaohongshu show just how awkward the sizing can be. A video of a tiny dog squeezed into a size L women top went viral as proof that brands label tiny clothes as much bigger than they actually are. Now many women are turning to menswear for its durability, quality and low cost. BBC Chinese reporter Eunice Yang explains the trend in detail.

This isn’t just happening in China. Gender and age in fashion have been getting more blurred. Fashion Psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell explains why we could all benefit from shopping in any department.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Emily Horler

Why are more young people being diagnosed with cancer?

Why are more young people being diagnosed with cancer?

According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 5 people will develop cancer during the course of their lifetimes. We usually associate the disease with getting older - but doctors are warning that some cancers are becoming more common in people in their 20s and 30s too.

Data shows that bowel and breast cancer are the most common cancers for young adults, with others such as thyroid and ovarian cancer on the rise too. So, what’s behind this?

BBC Health and Science correspondent James Gallagher explains why we are seeing more young people being diagnosed with cancer - and the new treatments scientists are finding to combat the disease. We also hear from Lauren McDermott in Canada, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 22. She shares her story and tells us why she is encouraging other young people to advocate for their health if they are showing symptoms.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Emily Horler, Chelsea Coates and Ash Mohamed Editor: Verity Wilde

Why India's Cockroach Janta Party has got people talking

Why India's Cockroach Janta Party has got people talking

The cockroach has become an unlikely symbol for millions of Gen-Zs in India, thanks to the Cockroach Janta Party - a satirical collective posting online. Nearly 40% of graduates aged 15-25 in India are jobless and many of them are frustrated or disillusioned with politics. So, it didn’t land when India's Chief Justice Surya Kant compared the unemployed to “parasites and cockroaches”. He later clarified that the comments were directed at people with fake degrees. But within days the Cockroach Janta Party attracted over 22 million followers and lots of support. At the time of recording this podcast, the group’s account on X has been withheld in India ‘in response to a legal demand’. BBC’s South Asia Correspondent Azadeh Moshiri tells us why the cockroach symbolism is resonating but also why there may be pushback from the government.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Emily Horler, William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

How Asia is adapting to getting less oil from Iran

How Asia is adapting to getting less oil from Iran

The war in Iran is doing something years of climate summits haven’t managed to - pushing some countries towards renewable energy, fast.

That’s because ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz have been pretty much blocked for months, since the war began. Thousands of oil tankers are stranded near the Strait, which is one of the world’s most important channels.

And it’s particularly affecting Asia. The majority of the crude oil passing through the Strait is headed to Asian markets. Energy prices there are soaring and there are fears of shortages and blackouts across the region.

Shawn Yuan from the BBC’s Global China Unit takes us through how some countries are accelerating their search for alternative energy sources.

Plus, we hear from Tri Wahyuni, from BBC News Indonesian and BBC reporter Thuong Le who tells us how Vietnam is coping.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Video producer: Tim Hodges Editor: Verity Wilde

Trump says yes to psychedelic drug research

Trump says yes to psychedelic drug research

President Trump has issued an executive order to speed up reviews into psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, LSD, and Ibogaine. Psychedelics are banned in the US in the vast majority of circumstances, but scientists are looking at the drugs and their possible therapeutic benefits for serious mental health conditions.

Ibogaine comes from a shrub native to west Africa and is used ceremonially in Gabon. Trials have reported benefits from the drugs in conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. But experts say that it’s been difficult to study because it can cause heart problems.

BBC’s Bernd Debussman Jr in Washington tells us more about the growing interest in psychedelics in the US. Plus, we hear about the reaction in Gabon from Yann Guignon, a researcher at Blessings Of The Forest, a charity that works to protect Gabonese cultural heritage.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Emily Horler, Chelsea Coates and Benita Barden Editor: Harriet Oliver

Wish you weren’t here! How tourism is impacting Caribbean beaches

Wish you weren’t here! How tourism is impacting Caribbean beaches

Tourism is a vital part of the economy for many Caribbean nations, from Jamaica to Grenada to the Bahamas. In fact, the United Nations says the Caribbean is the region of the world that’s most dependent on tourists. The sector supports millions of jobs — from barmen and waiters to cab drivers and chefs — and many of these roles go to women and young people. But what happens when developers close off beaches to locals?

BBC reporter Chelsea Coates, who has visited several Caribbean islands, explains the growing tensions across the region as countries try to balance tourism with the rights and interests of local communities. Focusing on Barbuda, a tiny island with just a few thousand residents, she looks at the impact of major developments and how local residents are reacting.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Deedee Kyeremateng and Benita Barden Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Should people be allowed to bet on war?

Should people be allowed to bet on war?

Prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket allow people to make trades against future events - which can range from when the US and Iran might sign a permanent peace deal and sports results, to whether a politician will mention a certain phrase in a speech. These sites have surged in popularity over the past year, hosting more than $44 billion in trades.

But they bring up all sorts of ethical questions. Not just war profiteering, but also insider trading. Recently a US soldier was arrested for allegedly using classified information to place bets on the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro - before it happened. Reports say he won more than $400,000 from these bets.

And there are dozens of lawsuits at the US state level trying to figure out how to regulate these platforms. Minnesota has just become the first state to ban prediction markets.

So, why are people betting on things like the weather, elections and global conflicts - and should it be allowed? The BBC’s Madeline Gerber, who’s based in Washington explains.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Santiago Vanegas Maldonado and Chelsea Coates Video producer: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

Ebola outbreak: How dangerous is the new strain in DR Congo?

Ebola outbreak: How dangerous is the new strain in DR Congo?

The World Health Organisation has declared an outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern. Officials say there are now over 600 suspected cases, and over 139 suspected deaths.

This latest outbreak presents a series of difficulties for health officials. The outbreak is driven by a new strain of the virus called Bundibugyo, for which there is no vaccine. The epicentre of the outbreak is in the remote eastern province of Ituri, which is an active conflict zone. And local superstitions and beliefs frequently lead people to seek help at places of worship rather than from medical professionals.

We cover what you need to know about this current outbreak and how cases are being managed. Among others, we hear from BBC health correspondent James Gallagher and BBC presenter Anne Soy, who covered the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and later in the DRC.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

Meet the call centre workers dealing with your complaints

Meet the call centre workers dealing with your complaints

Most of the world’s call centres are based in India and the Philippines, but major hubs are also on the rise in other regions - especially in Latin America. In countries like Colombia, Brazil and Mexico, thousands of young people work in this industry to earn money while they’re studying. They mainly answer customer services calls coming from the US, trying to solve their problems and dealing with a lot of frustrated customers - all in their second language.

BBC Mundo reporter Santiago Vanegas Maldonado, who’s based in Miami, explains why this industry is growing so much in Latin America - and how it’s affecting the local economy. Plus we hear from people who’ve worked in call centres to find out what it’s like.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Santiago Vanegas Maldonado, William Lee Adams and Chelsea Coates Video producer: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

Why did Drake release three albums at the same time?

Why did Drake release three albums at the same time?

After an explosive public feud with Kendrick Lamar, Drake is back with a triple-solo album release. The three albums - Iceman, Habibti and Maid of Honour - contain a blend of music genres across 43 different songs.

The albums have sparked a mixed reaction from fans and critics, but they have already helped Drake become the most streamed Spotify artist of 2026.

BBC Newsbeat’s Peter Gillibrand explains why Drake decided to publish so much music all at once and discusses how it reflects on and reignites Drake’s beef with Kendrick Lamar. He also touches on Drake’s reputation, his lawsuit against his record label UMG, and the hype around Iceman.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

President Trump in China: Deal or no deal?

President Trump in China: Deal or no deal?

For the last few days, international headlines have been dominated by stories about Donald Trump's visit to China, to meet Xi Jinping. The trip featured marching bands, red carpets, photocalls, big smiles and many, many handshakes. Now that President Trump has left the country, we ask what actually happened below the surface level. Was it all just superficial pageantry or did the leaders of the world’s two largest economies make any real agreements or deals?

People expected talks on trade deals, the war in Iran and Taiwan. President Trump didn't travel alone; he was joined by some of the biggest heavyweights in American technology and business. Tesla and Space X boss, Elon Musk, Tim Cook, the head of Apple and David Solomon, from the bank Goldman Sachs to name a few.

So, what, if anything, actually came out of this trip? And what is the US-China relationship really like? We hear from BBC reporters covering the visit and find out how people in China are reacting to President Trump and his visit.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Chelsea Coates and Emma-Louise Amanshia Editor: Verity Wilde

Jet fuel shortages explained - in under 10 minutes

Jet fuel shortages explained - in under 10 minutes

Since the Iran war broke out, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been blocked. The Strait is one of the world's busiest oil shipping routes - leading to fears about shortages of jet fuel. Prices for aviation fuel more than doubled after the war began, and the cost of some plane tickets has gone up dramatically. In May 13,000 flights were cut from schedules. And European travel operator Tui says its customers are appearing more cautious about booking summer holidays due to the Iran war.

Loads of people have questions about jet fuel shortages, airlines cancelling flights, and if jet fuel could run out. This has also sparked a conversation about sustainability, with people asking if reducing flights could have a positive impact on the climate, as well as whether eco-fuel could replace jet fuel. In this episode we sit down with BBC business reporter Emer Moreau to answer all your burning questions about jet fuel shortages.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Baldeep Chahal and Benita Barden Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

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