What in the World

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
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WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden
Video producer: Tim Hodges
Editor: Verity Wilde

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

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

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

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