Thailand became the first Asian country to make cannabis legal back in June 2022. They are one of the very few nations in the world to let people use the drug recreationally. Farmers switched from wheat to weed and cannabis cafes have popped up all over the country.

However, before even reaching the two-year mark, the Thai government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s populist Pheu Thai party, looks set to reverse the decision and outlaw the drug.

BBC Thai reporter Tossapol Chaisamritpol explains how the public are feeling about the government’s direction, how it will impact the cannabis business and how the drug is being used in Thai cuisine, including tom kha gai and tom yum soup.

The Netherlands is also reconsidering its relationship with the drug. The popular tourist destination city Amsterdam has long been known for its red light district and cannabis hotspots, despite the fact that the drug is technically illegal in the European country. After complaints from residents about rowdy visitors ruining their home town, the local government has placed restrictions on cannabis and other red light district related activities, including a ‘Stay Away’ campaign targeted at certain tourists.

The BBC’s correspondent in the Netherlands, Anna Holligan, tells us about how life is changing in Amsterdam.

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

Alexei Navalny, the most prominent critic of Russia’s government, has died in a Russian prison, just months after he was placed in a high security cell in a remote Siberian penal colony. His allies, and his wife Yulia Navalnaya, blame President Vladimir Putin and say it was under his orders.

What is the state of opposition in Russia without him? BBC Monitoring’s Russia editor, Vitaly Shevchenko, takes us through who Navalny was and where other prominent Kremlin critics are now.

With Russia’s elections taking place next month and Putin on his way to a fifth term as president, media censorship is at a high. BBC Monitoring’s Jen Monaghan tells us how Russian state media covered the news of Navalny’s death.

We’ll also answer the title question with Vitaly - what would it take for Putin to lose power in Russia?

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Kevyah Cardoso Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

It’s awards season. We’re talking Grammy’s, Golden Globes, Emmy’s and the Oscars. But, as usual, there’s been controversy about how diverse the nominees and winners are. After Barbie’s director Greta Gerwig was snubbed for the Best Director nomination, it’s got people talking.

The BBC’s culture reporter Noor Nanji talks us through some of the times when awards shows failed in diversity and the ways they are trying to fix it. We get the inside track on how the Grammy nominations work, from recording academy member Navjosh Singh.

And the founder of Diversity in Cannes, Yolonda Brinkley, tells us how she thinks the film industry needs to change.

Also, the BBC’s Kostas Kallergis explains what’s behind Greece’s recent decision to legalise same sex marriage.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Imogen James, Adam Chowdhury and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Rival gangs in El Salvador used to rule the streets. It was one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with a really high murder rate. But now its President claims it is one of the safest in the Western hemisphere. How did he do it?

By creating a state of exception and arresting 75,000 people. Some of them have ended up in a new mega-jail, where inmates can’t have visitors, go outside, or even make a phone call. It can house 40,000 prisoners.

Human rights groups say many innocent people have also been arrested, with little evidence or access to due process.

A year after it was built journalists have finally been allowed to go inside. We hear from BBC Mundo’s Leire Ventas who was one of them. And she tells us a bit more about El Salvador’s President Bukele, who described himself as “the world’s coolest dictator”.

Also, Anselm Gibbs, the BBC’s reporter in Trinidad and Tobago tells us about a mysterious oil spill that interrupted the islands’ carnival celebrations.

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

South Africa has the most industrialised and diverse economy in Africa. Yet it faces a major youth unemployment crisis with around four in ten young people jobless.

Young people are becoming disenchanted and disenfranchised, which could impact elections later this year. Polls show that the governing ANC party could lose its outright majority for the first time in three decades.

Siyabonga Ncala lives in Soweto and is currently hustling to find work. He talks us through some of the barriers he’s facing. Nobuhle Simelane, a BBC producer in Johannesburg, explains what the government is doing to help.

And we also hear from Ofentse Lekwane from the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. She explains what the future of work could be for young South Africans.

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

Netflix’s award-winning series ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ brought to light some of the sexist attitudes people have towards women competing in chess. It’s all fiction, but how much of this happens at real chess tournaments?

Matt Graveling, a BBC Sport reporter explains how the professional world of chess works, including why there’s a Women’s Chess Championship and what it takes to compete.

A BBC reporter in Mumbai, Cherylann Mollan, takes us through what hurdles women in India have to deal with when competing. International Master Divya Deshmukh recently posted on Instagram about the issues she faces as a woman in chess. She said people often focus on her appearance instead of her skill.

And two female chess players tell us about what barriers they’ve seen for women in the sport.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Imogen James, Emily Horler and Benita Barden Researcher: Marcia Veiga Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

In this episode we’re stepping into the world of art theft. According to the CIA it’s one of the top criminal enterprises in the world.

A case was in the headlines recently after two British brothers admitted to raiding a museum in Switzerland and making off with iconic Chinese Ming dynasty era artefacts worth millions. They then fled abroad to try and shift the pieces. But were later caught. The BBC’s Thomas Mackintosh walks us through how the police tracked them down.

The art itself however can be more tricky to recover, as it’s often hidden or traded by criminal gangs. Arthur Brand, a Dutch art detective, has recovered hundreds of stolen artworks, including a Van Gogh. He tells us how.

Plus, we hear reaction from Ivory Coast and Nigeria football fans following Sunday’s AFCON final.

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

American Football, Rugby, MMA, UFC. All these adrenaline-filled sports bring in millions of viewers each year, and athletes put their bodies and brains on the line to excel in them.

But there’s increasing concern that head injuries are leading to serious mental health problems.

BBC Sport reporter Bobbie Jackson tells us about the research into this. He’s been speaking to the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) to see what’s being done across different sports bodies.

We also hear from three athletes; Wayne Drew, Leeon Nyang, Terry Mngomezulu who tell us why they’re willing to take the risk and what drives their passion for the sport.

There’s also recognition about the links between concussion and a brain condition called CTE; chronic traumatic encephalopathy, that can only be diagnosed post-mortem. Michelle Roberts from the BBC’s Health team explains the symptoms.

This episode contains discussion about suicide and violence. 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 Producers: Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Hundreds of thousands of people are illegally crossing the border from Mexico into the US every month right now. Some of them try to get across the Sonoran desert - where temperatures can reach 50 degrees. Some people get lost there, and some die. A volunteer group called the “Eagles of the Desert” searches for missing migrants. BBC reporter Valentina Oropeza has been out with them and tells us about the work they do.

President Trump was famous for his slogan “Build the wall” but did illegal migration go down under his watch? Why is it so high now? And what has President Biden tried to do about it? Bernd Debusmann Jr, a BBC reporter in Washington D.C. explains why immigration is such a hot topic in the US right now.

Also, we hear from someone who’s crossed that border; Leni Alvarez is 27 years old and she now works with the Global Fund for Children in Mexico.

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

Social media can be a messy business full of opinions and celebrity influence. But can celebs speak freely online, and what happens when they do?

In some parts of the world celebs and influencers are sometimes censored from sharing opinions altogether, unless they align with the state.

We look at three countries: Egypt, India and China. The BBC’s Jaidaa Taha in Egypt talks us through what footballer Mo Salah has said online. Rupsha Mukherjee, a BBC reporter based in India, explains why actor Chetan Kumar was arrested over a tweet. And Kerry Allen, the BBC’s Chinese Media Analyst, shares what’s allowed, and what’s not, in China.

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

Guinea worm could soon be the second human disease to be eradicated.

In the 1980s millions of cases were recorded annually in 21 countries in Africa and Asia. Now, thanks to huge efforts globally, only 13 reported cases remain. That’s according to The Carter Center - which is leading the international campaign to eradicate the disease.

If successful, guinea worm will not only be the second disease in history to be eradicated, after smallpox, it will be the first to be wiped out without a vaccine or medicine. Adam Weiss, the director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program, talks us through the actions they’ve taken to cut cases.

The world is on a mission to eradicate other diseases too, including polio. What can we learn from the potential eradication of guinea worm? Dorcas Wangira, the BBC’s Africa Health Correspondent, explains.

Note: This episode contains medical descriptions of removing worms from the human body.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Imogen James, Mora Morrison and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

*This episode was recorded and first published in February 2024. Jimmy Carter, who founded the Carter Center, died on 29 December 2024.*

It’s been three years since Myanmar’s military coup when the army took control of the country, a decade after agreeing to hand power to a civilian government. A civil war broke out after the after the military used lethal force to put down mass protests in the weeks after the coup.

Before all this, Myanmar’s army was accused of committing a genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution and violence. Thousands more died trying to flee.

Soe Win Than, editor of the BBC Burmese Service, walks us through what thinks are like now in Myanmar and how it’s impacted young people’s plans for the future.

(13:46) Also in this episode - Faith Oshoko, a reporter for BBC Pidgin tells us what it means for the Grammy Awards to finally recognise African musicians in its new category - Best African Music Performance.

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