Russia’s president Vladimir Putin says he’s going to stand for the top job again in March. He’s been in charge of the country in some way or another for almost 25 years. The BBC’s Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg takes us through his rise to power and how the country has dramatically changed under his rule.

Plus Alex from the What in the World team brings us five surprising facts about the man himself. Here’s one to get you started… he might be the richest man on earth.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

From the Chupacabra to the Yeti, lots of countries and regions around the world have their own myths about strange creatures whose existence has never been scientifically proven - known as cryptids.

These 'eyewitness sightings' have captured people’s imaginations for decades and even centuries. Alex from the What in the World team takes Hannah on a tour of some of them - with help from BBC reporters Beverly Ochieng, Surbhi Kaul, Fan Wang, Blaire Toedte and Anselm Gibbs.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

There are more than 2000 billionaires worldwide with a combined wealth of $13 trillion. Some say they’re good for society, others call them a symbol of inequality.

Even though many billionaires donate to philanthropic causes, there is growing scrutiny on how they make and spend their money.

We hear from Simon Jack, the BBC’s Business Editor, about how people get rich nowadays - and why tax is such a hot topic.

And Mahayle Khonziwe, who campaigns against inequality, joins us from South Africa to share why she thinks billionaires are bad.

But, what do you think? Do you think billionaires are a good thing? Send us a WhatsApp on the number below.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Ethiopia says its huge dam upstream on the Nile will generate electricity for millions. But downstream countries like Sudan and Egypt are worried about what it’ll mean for their water supply.

We get the details from two BBC reporters: Kalkidan Yibeltal, in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa and Jaidaa Taha, in Egypt’s capital Cairo.

We also take a look at disagreements over the Mekong River in Asia. It runs through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Brian Eyler is from a foreign affairs think tank, the Stimson Centre, and has written a book on it. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Kush is rumoured to contain everything from chemicals used to preserve dead bodies to shoe polish. Nobody really know what’s in it or where it’s coming from. But we do know that it’s having a big impact on young people in Sierra Leone, who are already struggling with high unemployment and a difficult economy.

We speak to the BBC’s West Africa Correspondent, Mayeni Jones, to establish what we know about the drug. We also hear from charity head, Sidikie Kamara, who’s seen its devastating effects first hand.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Indian software billionaire Narayana Murthy (the father-in-law of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak!) - says that young people in his country should be happy to work 70 hours a week to help India’s development.

Indians already work long hours but how does it compare to other countries? We take a trip to India, Mexico, and Sweden to hear from three BBC reporters: Umang Podder, Laura Garcia and Phelan Chatterjee.

Emily, from the What in the World team, runs us through some of the countries that have the longest and shortest working hours.

And Dr Carolyn Rubenstein is a psychologist - she gives us tips on how to reset your work-life balance and some tiny things to do if it’s not that easy. How can you avoid burning out at work?

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Julia Ross-Roy and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

A volcanic eruption in the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland has captured the world’s attention. But how dangerous are volcanoes, and how much do we know about their activity?

The BBC's Science correspondent Pallab Ghosh explains why Iceland is such a hotbed of volcanic activity and the health risks that volcanoes can pose. Nick Beake, the BBC’s Europe correspondent, describes his helicopter ride over the Grindavik volcano. And Dr Kenna Rubin, a volcanologist at the University of Rhode Island, explains the different types of volcanoes you can find all around the world.

We also speak to Anna and Sigrún — two of the more than 4,000 residents of Grindavik who have been evacuated to safety.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Chelsea Coates, Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Since April this year the Sudanese army and a rival military group called the RSF, the Rapid Support Forces, have been locked in a civil war that’s raged across the country. The United Nations says more than 12,000 people have been killed, and over seven million displaced.

Two Sudanese women in different parts of the country describe the effect the war has had on their lives. Kalkidan Yibetal, a BBC journalist based in Ethiopia, explains who’s winning where, the massive impact on civilians and why there’s no sign of a peace deal. And James Copnall, who used to be a BBC correspondent in Sudan, gives us the background to this war, broken down into three parts.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Chelsea Coates and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Myanmar is now the world's largest producer of opium, overtaking Afghanistan. That’s after the Taliban banned the cultivation of opium poppies, which can be used to make heroin.

Growing opium is illegal in both counties, but that isn’t stopping all farmers from growing the crop.

Yogita Limaye, the BBC’s South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent, explains how the ban has impacted farmers who previously depended on opium to survive. And Soe Win Than, editor of the BBC Burmese Service, tells us how corruption and political instability in Myanmar have contributed to the growth in opium production.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Baldeep Chahal, Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

As AI technology advances, new image generator apps pop up all the time. Some of these can be used to make deepfake pornography where someone’s face is stitched onto an image of a naked body. Pictures of faces are often taken from social media profiles and used without consent.

Our Disinformation Reporter, Jack Goodman, takes us through how the tech works and what you should do if a deepfake video is made of you.

It’s not just deepfake porn that’s a worry though - fake videos can be made of almost anything. The BBC’s Noor Nanji explains how Bollywood actresses are being targeted in this way.

And Dr Kerry McInerney and Dr Eleanor Drage from Cambridge University and the Good Robot podcast tell us about their biggest concerns around AI. What do tech companies need to do to protect people?

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Alex Rhodes and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

There’s a concerning rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe. That’s according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In a new report they focus on three specific STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV).

Lina Nerlander, the lead STI expert at the ECDC, explains some of the factors that may be contributing to the increase.

So how do you know if you have an STI? Michelle Roberts, a doctor and health reporter with the BBC, talks us through some of the symptoms.

And Adriana Stinga, a sexual health counsellor in Romania, discusses how she’s working to improve sexual health education in her country.

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

All members of BTS are now in the South Korean military. This week, lead vocalist Jung Kook joined the rest of the group to enlist - a requirement of all able-bodied South Korean men aged 18-28.

There have been exemptions given to Olympic medallists and classical musicians but not for the BTS boys - although they were allowed to defer their service until the age of 30.

The BBC’s Frances Mao explains what their service will involve and when we can expect them to return. And Alex from the What in the World team runs us through some other celebs that have served in their country's army.

Also, we’re going to take a look at football violence in Turkey after a referee got punched in the face by an owner of one of the teams. We speak to Victoria Craig, a BBC reporter in Ankara. How linked are football and politics in Turkey?

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editor: William Lee Adams and Simon Peeks