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Why do tennis players smash up their rackets?

Why do tennis players smash up their rackets?

If you’ve been watching the US Open this year, chances are you’ll have seen that there’s been some drama on the court. There was a heated exchange between players Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend. Ostapenko has been fined in the past before for throwing her water bottle and knocking over a chair, after she lost a match.

So today, we’re talking about bad behaviour in tennis, and what the rules are for tennis players who throw things, shout, and even smash up their rackets. Someone who has seen many a Grand Slam spat in their time is Ben Rothenberg, former NYT tennis correspondent and writer behind the blog Bounces. He takes us through some top tennis meltdowns and explains why it’s such a high pressure sport.

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

How to REALLY spot a narcissist and can they change?

How to REALLY spot a narcissist and can they change?

Am I a narcissist? Am I dating a narcissist? Is narcissism becoming more common? How do I spot a narcissist? Can narcissists change or be treated?

These are just some of the many questions which people - especially on social media - ask about narcissism. It’s a term which gets banded around A LOT these days, but what actually is it? Well, we took five of the most asked questions about narcissism and put them to an expert. In this episode we sit down with Ramani Durvasula (@DoctorRamani on YouTube) - a bestselling author, clinical psychologist and leading expert on narcissism and narcissistic relationships.

And, just to be clear, in this episode we’re talking about the narcissism as a personality style not the diagnosable disorder. There’s a big difference. Narcissism is a spectrum of several behaviours and characteristics - like being overly sensitive to criticism and having an unshakeable belief you’re better or more deserving than other people. But Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is more rare and much more extreme — it’s a diagnosed mental health condition where a person demonstrates many of the traits repeatedly and over time, and these traits significantly interfere with a person's life.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Mora Morrison Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

Why are protesters in Indonesia so angry with the government?

Why are protesters in Indonesia so angry with the government?

There have been huge protests across Indonesia. They were sparked by cost-of-living concerns and discontent at politician wages and allowances. But after police ran over and killed a delivery driver, protests have spread and become violent. Protesters have been killed, buildings torched and politicians' houses looted.

Astudestra Ajengrastri, a BBC journalist who’s based in Jakarta, takes us through why the protests began, what the government says about it, and where things could go next.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editor: Verity Wilde

How does China control its internet?

How does China control its internet?

China has one of the world’s most sophisticated internet censorship systems - it’s so extensive that it’s been nicknamed ‘The Great Firewall of China’. Many Western websites, such as Google or WhatsApp, are shut off to Chinese Internet users, while Chinese equivalents like Baidu and WeChat are popular instead. Blockbuster films like Top Gun Maverick have been edited, celebrities like Lady Gaga are taboo and even Peppa Pig has been censored.

So, what is the Chinese government trying to achieve with internet censorship? And in an increasingly globalised world, how are they managing to filter out the information they don’t want people to know? Shawn Yuan from the BBC’s Global China Unit explains how the ‘Great Firewall’ works - and what it tells us about the relationship between the government and citizens in China.

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

Kpop Demon Hunters is slaying charts and monsters

Kpop Demon Hunters is slaying charts and monsters

The animated movie Kpop Demon Hunters is topping nearly every chart. Netflix says it’s become its most watched movie ever, and its songs are some of the most streamed on Spotify.

The name is pretty self-explanatory - it’s about a Kpop girl group who hunt demons, and their power comes from their music.

But one thing that really stands out is how Korean it is - all the references, outfits, and artefacts have gone down really well in South Korea.

It wasn’t made in Korea though, but it was co-directed by a Korean-Canadian director and many of the actors are Korean-American

BBC Korean reporter Yuna Ku joins us from Seoul to explain why a film made for a global audience is so popular in South Korea.

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

The Russian job scheme targeting young women in South Africa

The Russian job scheme targeting young women in South Africa

South Africa’s government is warning young women not to fall for social media recruitment drives promoting job opportunities abroad. That’s after a number of online videos by South African social media influencers advertising jobs for young women in Russia went viral.

There have been allegations that some of those recruited to work in Tatarstan have ended up working in a weapons factory, making drones that have been used in Russia's war in Ukraine.

BBC reporter Danai Nesta Kupemba walks us through the allegations and explains why young women may be particularly vulnerable to the scam. She also discusses Cyan Boujee, an influencer who has apologised after advertising the recruitment drive.

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

What’s the ‘manosphere’ and why is it harmful?

What’s the ‘manosphere’ and why is it harmful?

Toxic masculinity can be seen online - and IRL. Chads, Alphas and Stacys are some terms that are used in an online space known as the ‘manosphere’. In this space men often share content that can be toxic, misogynistic, and, in extreme cases, lead to real-world violence.

In this episode the BBC’s global disinformation reporter Jacqui Wakefield unpacks how people can become part of the ‘manosphere’, and how it connect to incels - young men describing themselves as "involuntarily celibate". And we also hear from Will Adolphy, a British psychotherapist who experienced the ‘manosphere’ himself and now mentors men on healthy masculinity and mental health.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Mora Morrison and Maria Clara Montoya Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

How did a meteorite from Mars end up at auction in New York?

How did a meteorite from Mars end up at auction in New York?

A chunk of the planet Mars - the largest ever found on Earth - recently sold for $4.3 million at Sotheby’s auction house in New York City. A meteorite hunter first discovered the massive rock in the Sahara desert in Niger in 2023.

So how did the meteorite end up at an auction in New York City and why would anyone pay millions of dollars for it? BBC reporter Damian Zane walks us through the rock’s mysterious journey — from Mars to New York, via Niger and Italy. He also shares the concerns that Niger’s government has about the sale and how Sotheby’s has responded.

We also hear from Julia Cartwright from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester. She explains how the market surrounding meteorites can lead to even more discoveries.

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

How TikTok and streaming changed pop music

How TikTok and streaming changed pop music

It’s a question artists have been racking their brains over for years: how long is the perfect pop song? The rise of streaming platforms meant that for a while, the answer was to keep it short and snappy, so listeners would be less likely to hit the skip button. After the launch of TikTok, pop songs shrank even more, with the average song in the charts lasting only three minutes and twelve seconds. But BBC News analysis shows that song lengths are creeping back up, with some of the biggest hits in the last few years - like Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club - crossing over the four minute line. So, how has TikTok affected how artists make music? And are we about to see pop songs get even longer - despite the popularity of the platform?

BBC music correspondent Mark Savage explains why the length of pop songs has changed over the years - and what royalties have to do with it. And we hear from TikTok musicians Queen Ife and Fiona Kida, who tell us how the platform has changed how they create and share their music.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Chelsea Coates Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Dead white people’s clothes: How Ghana is dealing with its textile waste crisis

Dead white people’s clothes: How Ghana is dealing with its textile waste crisis

Ghana has been described as the fashion industry’s dumping ground. Around 15 million second-hand garments arrive every week, making Ghana the world’s largest importer of used clothing. Many of the garments are re-sold and re-purposed at Kantamanto Market in the capital Accra. But estimates suggest that 40% of these garments are too damaged to be sold or upcycled, so much of it ends up as waste on Ghana’s beaches and lagoons.

Young people are working to solve the problem. One organisation trying to address the environmental impact of fast fashion is The Or Foundation. We attend a beach clean-up led by Joseph Shaw Ayesu, an ecological research manager, to find out how discarded garments end up on the beach. Then Sammy Oteng, a community engagement manager, explains why Ghana imports so much second-hand clothing in the first place. And finally Nutifafa “Fafa” Mensah gives us a tour of Kantamanto Market, where imported textiles are upcycled and re-purposed to extend their lifespan. Ruth, an upcycler, discusses the difficulties she faces working with bales filled with synthetic and severely worn textiles.

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

ID please! Why the UK is checking your age online

ID please! Why the UK is checking your age online

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: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Why fake weddings are India’s latest party trend

Why fake weddings are India’s latest party trend

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: ThirdPlace

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

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