More money, more growth, more stuff. Can our economies keep on growing forever? And should they? A group of activists and academics are questioning the possibility of endless economic growth on a finite planet and are advocating for a bold solution: degrowth.

The movement argues for a 'democratisation of the economy' and for collectively managing key resources, like housing. This, they argue, would also help us to live more sustainably - and help in the fight against climate change. But critics argue that opposing economic growth is impractical and warn of negative consequences, especially for the most vulnerable.

BBC journalist Alvaro Alvarez has been reporting on this. He joins us to explain the pros and cons of the theory. We also hear from Oxford university professor Sam Fankhauser, and a TikToker in New Zealand who’s living her off-grid dream.

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Dog walking has been banned in at least 20 cities across Iran, after it was first outlawed in the capital, Tehran, six years ago. It’s the latest restriction to come from the authorities, who argue that dogs are ‘unclean’ and see having pets as a sign of growing Western influence.

Despite this, dog ownership has risen in the country in recent years and many owners have started walking their dogs in secluded areas at night to evade detection. Ghoncheh Habibiazad, from the BBC Persian team, explains why the ban has been introduced and how people are defying the strict policies set by the Iranian regime.

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‘High’ or ‘added’ protein foods are popping up everywhere - from ice cream to pizza and even coffee. The nutrient’s newfound popularity has a lot to do with the fact that it helps our bodies repair and build up muscle. But could these new snacks come with hidden health risks? And are there other nutrients, like fibre, we should be paying more attention to?

BBC journalist Chelsea Coates talks us through why high-protein foods are on the rise and explains how much protein we need to stay fit. Plus, Cara Harbstreet, the dietician behind the YouTube channel Street Smart Nutrition, shares her tips for how you can get enough protein in your diet.

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For millions of Moroccans, Eid al-Adha means quality time with your family, eating delicious food - and the tradition of sacrificing sheep. But this year, the king of Morocco, Mohammed VI, has banned the practice because of a seven-year drought in the country. Dry pastures have meant that the number of sheep herds has dropped sharply, while the cost of meat rises. King Mohammed says the ban is necessary to prevent “significant harm” to families struggling with high prices - but not all Moroccans are happy with the restriction of their religious practices.

Basma El Atti, a Moroccan journalist based in Rabat, explains why Eid al-Adha is such an important festival and talks us through the reasons for the ban. And BBC Monitoring journalist Samia Hosny tells us more about the long-lasting drought in the region and how it’s affecting daily life there. And we hear from young Moroccans celebrating Eid about what they think of the ban.

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Baggage fees have become part and parcel of international travel, with charges taking off in recent years. Globally, passengers spent $150 billion USD last year on added ‘extras’ such as seat selection and baggage fees - that’s 25% more than they spent in 2023. There’s also a growing number of ‘packing hacks’ videos on social media, with more people looking for ways to avoid paying fees for their bags.

BBC reporter Sam Gruet explains why airlines started charging for luggage in the first place and how it varies around the world. And travel expert and content creator Chelsea Dickenson shares her tips on how to cut costs when travelling.

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World leaders pledged to end the AIDS pandemic as a public health threat by 2030. And the World Health Organisation aims to reduce HIV infections from 1.5 million in 2020 to 335,000 by 2030. The African continent still has the highest number of HIV infections globally.

How will cuts to the US government's main overseas aid agency, USAID, affect the treatment and prevention of HIV in Africa? And will it make it harder for countries to end new cases of HIV by 2030?

BBC Africa health correspondent Makuochi Okafor explains what HIV is and how it’s currently treated and prevented. He also breaks down some of the misinformation around HIV and PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) which stops HIV getting into your body. And we discuss what impact the cuts to USAID are having on HIV treatment and prevention programmes.

BBC journalist Nathalia Jimenez also gives us a brief guide to the cuts to USAID.

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What do Billie Eilish, Doja Cat and Jennie from Blackpink have in common? They have all been spotted wearing Vietnamese fashion brands. You might have noticed that your clothes and shoes have labels saying "Made in Vietnam". The garment and textile industry in Vietnam is massive - it's the second biggest exporter in the world, after China. And it employs three million people, most of them women. Global brands like Nike and Uniqlo make their clothes there.

But recently, Vietnamese brands are being celebrated in their own right and finding new fans. Thuong Le from the BBC Vietnamese Service talks to us about the Vietnamese fashion industry and why their brands are becoming so popular outside the country. What's their appeal? Fashion influencer Joyce Ng from Singapore explains.

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Polar bears are the biggest bears in the world and the only marine bear. There are estimated to be around 26,000 globally. They’re mostly found in Canada, but also in Russia, the US, Norway and Greenland. Their main prey is seal, specifically seal blubber, as they need a diet high in fat to survive the freezing Arctic conditions.

Polar bears are great swimmers but they can’t outswim seals. So they hunt them on the Arctic sea ice, waiting for them to come up for air and then pouncing. But as the amount of sea ice decreases due to global warming, the polar bear populations that live in the more southerly, warmer parts of the Arctic are in decline.

BBC Science correspondent Victoria Gill explains what it’s like to see a polar bear up close and the challenges they’re facing. Alysa McCall, a scientist at Polar Bears International, gives us her top facts about polar bears and Arctic sea ice.

And we explore whether refreezing parts of the Arctic could be a realistic solution, with Kerry Nickols, from Ocean Visions, a non-profit organisation which looks at ways to protect and restore Arctic sea ice.

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OnlyFans is an online platform where people create content (photos, videos and live streams), which can be monetised. Although it hosts a variety of content across topics like fitness and cooking, OnlyFans is known widely for hosting adult content, much of it explicit. As its popularity has soared, so too has the controversy and stigma surrounding the platform.

BBC Business Reporter Charlotte Edwards explains exactly how the platform works and who owns it. She also gives us the latest on the embattled British canoer.

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High school prom may have started off as an American tradition, but now, it’s spread across the globe. In Uganda, proms are often a super lavish event, with couples flying in on helicopters or pulling up in expensive cars, before doing multiple outfit changes through the night. But the government says it’s gone too far — and it’s brought in new rules to curb the celebrations. Uganda’s Ministry of Education has banned what it calls “indecent dressing” and has even introduced a 6PM curfew, arguing that extravagant prom parties put unnecessary financial pressure on parents.

Gloria Achieng, a BBC reporter in Kenya, tells us more about Uganda’s prom culture and what these new rules mean for students. We hear from young people across Uganda, who share their thoughts on the ban with us. And we find out which member of the What in the World team is prom royalty. And how did prom culture start in America?

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