What in the World

For millions of people living with obesity, weight loss drugs have been hailed as a game changer.
They’re known as GLP-1s but are more commonly known by their trade names: Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. So far they’ve only been made by two companies in Denmark and the US and they’re pretty expensive. But now the patents for these drugs have expired in China and India, which means pharmaceutical companies in those countries can now make cheaper copies.
India has a reputation as the "pharmacy of the world" because of its ability to turn expensive medicines into affordable mass-market products. The country is the world's largest supplier of generic medicines. Indian companies are already starting to produce and sell these weight loss drugs.
So what impact will this have on the cost and supply of weight loss drugs in India and around the world? Archana Shukla, the BBC’s India business correspondent in Mumbai, tells us why the expiry of the patents is such a big deal. And BBC Health correspondent James Gallagher explains how these drugs work.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Chelsea Coates, Julia Ross-Roy and Benita Barden
Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Verity Wilde

This year’s Fifa World Cup is the biggest yet. The football tournament is being co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States and has a record 48 teams taking part. Four of those teams have qualified for the first time ever: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan. In this episode, we get familiar with the debuting nations on and off the pitch with some of our BBC reporters, including Paul Njie, a senior journalist at BBC Africa, and Husam Assal, a BBC reporter in Amman.
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Iqra Farooq
Producers: William Lee Adams, Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy
Editor: Verity Wilde

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump threatened to take “total control" of Iran's oil and gas markets, and to seize Kharg Island. Just hours later though, he claimed an agreement to end the war with Iran was on the horizon and cancelled a third consecutive night of strikes.
Mixed messaging from the US President on this conflict is nothing new - but the island at the centre of this latest dispute has a huge role to play. It’s a small, rocky outcrop off of Iran’s coast - but it’s importance for the country’s oil infrastructure- and now for President Trump - is huge. So why is Kharg Island so important? And why does President Trump want it?
Ghoncheh Habibiazad, from the BBC’s Persian language service, joins us to unpack it all - and to explain what the consequences could be if President Trump decides to take the island.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: William Lee Adams
Producers: Chelsea Coates and Emily Horler
Editor: Verity Wilde

PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders affecting women globally; affecting roughly 13% of women who have a menstrual cycle. The World Health Organization has estimated that up 70% of women with PCOS worldwide do not know they have this condition. Symptoms can include irregular periods, fertility issues, weight gain, acne, excess hair growth and insulin resistance. There is no cure.
And now Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is officially being reclassified as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
The new name reflects growing recognition that the condition involves much more than ovarian cysts alone. It’s actually a complex endocrine condition (to do with hormones) which affects the whole body. Experts hope that the name change will lead to a better focus on treating and reversing some of symptoms. Global health reporter Dorcas Wangira in Kenya explains what we know about the condition. And we hear from Professor Helena Teede, from Monash Univerity in Australia, who led the name-changing initiative.
Jenef Ngombo, 25 from the UK and Chelle Robotham, in Florida USA, share their experiences of PMOS/PCOS and tell us what they think about the name change.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producer: Shakira Abdi and Julia Ross-Roy
Editor: Verity Wilde

Since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been banning social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X. Recently the government also extended the ban to Telegram, one of Russia’s most popular messaging apps. It’s cracking down on VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and it’s introduced a new state-backed app called Max, which comes downloaded on any new phone.
Authorities say these internet crackdowns are needed to “ensure security” and disrupt Ukrainian drones. But some say this is actually all about censorship - and that the government is trying to extend its control over the internet. So - how are these bans affecting Russians that rely on the internet everyday?
BBC Monitoring journalist Clare Denning joins us to break down why the Kremlin is restricting access to the internet and how Russians are reacting to the crackdown.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Sarah Coop and Chelsea Coates
Editor: Verity Wilde