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Is Syria’s government pushing an addictive party drug?

Is Syria’s government pushing an addictive party drug?

A few days ago police in the United Arab Emirates intercepted a huge haul of illegal Captagon pills worth one billion dollars. It’s an addictive party drug that’s sweeping across the Middle East.

A BBC investigation has found that most of the world’s supply of the drug is coming from Syria - and the trade has links to the highest levels of the Syrian government, something the Assad regime denies. We speak to Emir Nadir, a BBC journalist, who helped expose the scandal around what’s sometimes called “the poor man’s cocaine”.

Plus, the Women’s Tennis Association returns to hosting tournaments in China. Has anything changed since it boycotted the country four years ago following the treatment of top player, Peng Shuai?

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Alex Rhodes, Julia Ross-Roy and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

How has Mahsa Amini’s death changed Iran?

How has Mahsa Amini’s death changed Iran?

One year ago Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman from Iran, died in police custody. The country’s “morality police” had detained her for wearing her hijab too loosely. It sparked defiant protests across the country and calls for greater respect for women.

Two Iranian reporters — Baran Abbasi from BBC Persian and Kian Sharifi from BBC Monitoring — explain what life is like for young women in Iran a year on and assess whether the protests made a difference.

Also: Mimi Swaby, a BBC reporter who has been in Morocco covering last week’s deadly earthquake, tells us three things that have brought her hope from the relief efforts.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Baran Abbasi and Kian Sharifi Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

Why was Storm Daniel so deadly in Libya?

Why was Storm Daniel so deadly in Libya?

Devastating flooding has washed away entire neighbourhoods, killing tens of thousands of people in Libya.

In this episode, BBC Monitoring’s Amira Fathalla explains how the country’s history and unique political situation has made everything far more complicated. And Esme Stallard, a BBC climate reporter, examines the role climate change could have played in the storm’s severity.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Amira Fathalla Producers: Emily Horler, Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

WWE and UFC: Will the merger be a knockout?

WWE and UFC: Will the merger be a knockout?

The professional wrestling company WWE and the Mixed Martial Arts company UFC have merged in a giant deal that has created a new organisation called TKO Holdings. The WWE and UFC are quite different and fans of the brands aren’t sure what this deal will mean for them or the future of the sports.

Alex from the What in the World team explains the differences between the UFC, which is a real combat sport, and the WWE, which is a scripted form of entertainment.

BBC business journalist Tom Gerken explains the incentives behind the merger, and BBC Sport reporter Paul Battison assesses whether the scripted and non-scripted formats will appeal to existing fans.

We also hear from Nicole Vaziri, the daughter of WWE wrestler The Iron Sheik. She tells us what it was like growing up with the former heavyweight world champion and explains how different he was from the villainous character he portrayed in the ring.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Alex Rhodes Producers: Benita Barden and William Lee Adams Editors: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

Will decriminalisation change abortion for women in Mexico?

Will decriminalisation change abortion for women in Mexico?

The new ruling legalises abortion across all 32 states. Mexico's Supreme Court said the denial of the possibility of a termination violated the human rights of women.

BBC Mundo's Beatriz de la Pava talks us through what abortion laws are like across Latin America and explains how this rule-change might need a cultural shift for it to have significant impact.

Also, the BBC's Mimi Swaby is with aid crews in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains - the area most affected by Friday's earthquake. She explains why the government hasn't accepted aid from all countries that have offered it.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: William Lee Adams with Beatriz de la Pava Producers: Alex Rhodes and Emily Horler Editor: Simon Peeks

How has Morocco’s earthquake impacted mountain villages?

How has Morocco’s earthquake impacted mountain villages?

Rescue efforts are continuing in Morocco following a deadly earthquake. The worst affected areas are remote villages in the Atlas Mountains. Aid workers are struggling to reach survivors due to its poor infrastructure, rubble and boulders. Mimi Swaby, a BBC reporter, tells us about the ongoing rescue and relief efforts.

Also on the pod - is 2023 India’s year of wins? They’ve just hosted the G20 summit and had a successful moon landing in August. BBC India correspondent Zubair Ahmed explains how the country prepared to host some of the world’s most powerful leaders.

Finally, Maria Clara Montoya tells us how Spain is reacting to the resignation of Luis Rubiales as president of the Spanish football federation in the wake of the Se Acabo movement.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart with Benita Barden Producers: William Lee Adams Editors: Emily Horler and Simon Peeks

Why are young people fighting for climate action in court?

Why are young people fighting for climate action in court?

The number of climate cases being brought to court has doubled over the last five years (Source: UNEP). There are now over 2,000 cases being brought against states, governments and companies. Over 30 of these have been brought by and on behalf of people under 25. Are these an effective way to force governments and companies to reduce their emissions? BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard joins Hannah to answer our questions.

Six young people from Portugal are bringing 32 countries to trial at a hearing before the European Court of Human Rights. One of them, Andre, 15, tells us why.

And what’s it like to win? We hear from one of the people at the centre of the Montana case in the US, Rikki Held, which made headlines in August. Plus - the BBC’s Waihiga Mwaura in Nairobi gives us an update from the first Africa Climate Summit.

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

How a scandal is forcing Germany to reckon with its Nazi past

How a scandal is forcing Germany to reckon with its Nazi past

The German politician Hubert Aiwanger has admitted to carrying an anti-Jewish pamphlet that mocked the Holocaust when he was a schoolboy. But despite Germany’s tough laws against antisemitism and glorifying Nazism, he’s been allowed to keep his job as deputy premier of Bavaria, the biggest state in the country. Now some worry Germany’s stance against antisemitism is weakening.

BBC reporter Kristina Volk, who grew up in Bavaria, explains the scandal, how hate speech laws apply online, and how the Holocaust is taught in schools.

Also: Surbhi Kaul, a journalist in the BBC Delhi bureau, talks to Alex about why people are discussing whether India could be renamed Bharat.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams with Kristina Volk Producers: Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Why are teachers bullied in South Korea?

Why are teachers bullied in South Korea?

Tens of thousands of teachers in South Korea have been striking to demand better protection. They say they are so scared of being called child abusers at work, they feel they can't discipline their students. The protests happened after the suicide of a young teacher. It later came out she had been dealing with severe complaints from parents. The BBC's Yuna Ku explains what it's like to be a teacher in a high-pressure society, like South Korea.

Also, the Burning Man festival in the US has been struggling with mud and also swirling fake rumours. We debunk the claims.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this episode, help and support can be found at this https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/ If you live in South Korea, you can visit https://www.129.go.kr/1393/ for help, or call LifeLine on 1588-9191 or the Suicide Prevention Hotline on 1577-0199.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison, and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Has THAT kiss become a tipping point for women in Spain?

Has THAT kiss become a tipping point for women in Spain?

Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales, the head of the Spanish national football federation, kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent.

But now the uproar has gone beyond football. Women across the country are sharing experiences of harassment in their workplace and other spaces under one hashtag: #SeAcabo, which means “it’s over”.

In this episode we hear from some of those women. The BBC’s Maria Clara Montoya helps us understand why so many have had enough and discusses whether this could prompt a change in Spanish society.

This episode contains discussion about sexual assault and harassment. Details of organisations offering information and support with these issues are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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

Eat, Pay, Love: How is Bali dealing with its badly behaved tourists?

Eat, Pay, Love: How is Bali dealing with its badly behaved tourists?

Bali has a problem with badly behaved tourists.

Influencers have been caught posing naked on top of sacred mountains, driving recklessly and interrupting religious ceremonies. More than 200 tourists have been kicked out of the Indonesian island this year alone.

But local officials are hitting back. They’ve started a hotline for people to tell on misbehaving tourists and, when things get bad, are even deporting them.

Niluh Djelantik was born and raised in Bali and has been helping snitch on those who break the rules. She tells us about her social media campaigns, and her hopes for the future.

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

Coups and Dynasties: Are Africa’s “nepo baby” leaders in trouble?

Coups and Dynasties: Are Africa’s “nepo baby” leaders in trouble?

For some countries in Africa ruling is very much a family business. Ali Bongo was president of Gabon for 14 years. But that’s nothing compared to his father, who ruled for 41 years. And Mr Bongo will not go on to beat his dad’s record. He’s the latest African leader to be deposed in a coup. There have now been eight in Central and West African states in the last three years. With growing discontent for the traditional, elite families that have dominated many countries for decades we’re asking if Africa’s “nepo baby” leaders are getting nervous. Plus how do these coups happen and how do people pull them off? We speak to Professor Rory Cormac from the University of Nottingham about the plotters who risk it all for power.

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

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