Bill Gates, the tech billionaire turned philanthropist, invests huge amounts of money in the climate crisis - and he’s pretty optimistic about how we can avoid the worst impacts.

But why? Graihagh Jackson, from The Climate Question, helps unpack some potential solutions.

We also hear from Nissa Bek, a climate activist and the founder of Project Mulan in Libya, about ways to get involved - from art to architecture.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes with Graihagh Jackson Producer: Mora Morrison Editor: Verity Wilde

The World Health Organization has warned that mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever are spreading to new regions. One reason is that warmer temperatures are allowing disease-carrying mosquitos to push into new areas. And wetter monsoons are giving them more time to reproduce in countries like India. According to the WHO, the number of reported cases around the world has jumped from around 500,000 in the year 2000, to 4.2 million in 2022. It’s now found in around 130 countries. So what is dengue fever? And should we be worried about it? The BBC’s global health correspondent Tulip Mazumdar gives us an overview of the symptoms and discusses what treatments are available. Zain Hasan, a doctor in Los Angeles, explains just how painful the symptoms can be in severe cases. Makuochi Okafor, a reporter at the BBC’s Lagos bureau, looks at how officials are responding to an outbreak in Burkina Faso. And Pramila Krishnan, a reporter from BBC Tamil, tells us how India is coping with dengue through a technique called fogging. She also describes efforts by Indian scientists to develop a vaccine.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

China is pouring billions of dollars into other countries’ infrastructure projects - some of which have been hugely successful. In this episode we’re asking why and also take a look into some of the plans that haven’t quite panned out. Nikhil Inamdar tells us about a Sri Lankan airport with no travellers and Anne Soy takes us onboard Kenya’s “railway to nowhere”.

Plus we here from Celestine Karoney about the hopes and dreams for the brand new African Football League.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler and Mora Morrison Researcher: Dan Eboka Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Why would a government build an entirely new capital city? Soe Win Than, editor of the BBC Burmese service, explains why Myanmar did exactly that, starting construction of its capital city Nay Pyi Taw in 2002 and completing it ten years later. He also tells us about the extreme secrecy that went into its planning and explains why so few people wanted to move there.

Astudestra Ajengrastri, a reporter with BBC Indonesia, discusses Nusantara, which is scheduled to replace Jakarta as Indonesia’s capital in 2024. The government has promised it will be a city of the future that protects green spaces and reduces its environmental impact, but not everyone is convinced.

Saudi Arabia isn’t building a new capital city, but it has ambitious plans for an eco-city. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is spear-headng The Line, a development with no roads and no cars. It will stretch for 170 kilometres across a desert in the northwest of the country. Amira Fathalla from BBC Monitoring tells us how the development is coming along two years after plans were first released.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Taylor Swift’s Eras tour is set to become the biggest tour of all time.

From tickets to merch, fans are showing up for Tay Tay and spending the big bucks. Her tours have boosted local economies across the United States and will continue to sell out around the world. Even her relationship with Travis Kelce has helped American Football (NFL) reach a new audience.

You may have heard about this ‘Taylor Swift effect’ or Swiftonomics. Erin Delmore, the BBC’s North America Business Correspondent, crunches the numbers for us.

We also hear from fans who were at the Eras tour film premiere in Los Angeles.

And did you know you can study Taylor Swift at university? Dr Elly McCausland from Ghent University in Belgium tells us more.

Spoiler alert: there aren’t any Taylor songs in here - that’s because we sadly don’t have the rights. Sorry!

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison and Benita Barden Editor: Julia Ross-Roy and Simon Peeks

An explosion at a crowded hospital in Gaza City has killed hundreds of people, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel says the number is much lower. Hamas blames Israel, but Israel says it wasn’t them and points the finger at another group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. They also say it wasn’t them. Shayan Sardarizadeh, from the BBC Disinformation team, tells us how he has been investigating what happened at Al-Ahli hospital, and whether we can say who was behind it (03:26). We also answer some of the main questions people have been searching for online, like what are Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with Hesham Shawish, who covers the Middle East for BBC Monitoring (07:25). And we hear from two 18 year olds, in Israel and Gaza (11:57).

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

Botox, tummy tucks, Brazilian butt lifts. You may have seen the posts - and adverts - on your socials.

Cosmetic surgery is on the rise globally. Last year there were 33.8 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures done worldwide. That’s according to a recent report from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

We chat to Giulia Granchi, our reporter from Brazil, and Hyunjung Kim, in South Korea to find out which procedures are popular where they live. We also hear from Los Angeles-based writer Iris Kim and learn about her complicated relationship to double eyelid surgery.

And we check in with Dr Anthony Youn (@doctoryuon on Tik Tok) to ask him about how social media and celeb culture is changing what people ask to get done.

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

India’s Supreme Court has rejected a petition seeking to legalise same-sex marriage. Petitioners sought the same rights as heterosexual couples — including the right to adopt children and open joint bank accounts. The petitioners said not being able to marry violates their constitutional rights and makes them "second-class citizens.” The government and religious leaders strongly opposed same-sex unions, saying they are against Indian culture.

Umang Poddar, a reporter in the BBC Delhi Bureau, explains the Supreme Court’s ruling and shares some early reactions to the verdict. He also explains how the decision could impact the lives of LBGTQ+ people in the country.

(09:50) In music news, British band The 1975 are due to play a series of “carbon-removed” shows next year to counter the environmental impact of touring. Bonnie McLaren from BBC Newsbeat explains how concerts contribute to carbon emissions and tells us how the removal process works.

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

Amid a year of heatwaves and wildfires you might have missed that winter sea-ice surrounding Antarctica is at a record low. The BBC’s Georgina Rannard explains why.

And we speak to Dr Robbie Mallett who’s in the Antarctic. He talks us through why it’s so important - and underreported.

Plus, Tiffanie Turnbull gives us an update on how Australians are feeling after the country voted against a plan to give greater political rights to Indigenous people.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Georgina Rannard Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde

A special vote is taking place in Australia this weekend asking people whether Australia's constitution should be changed. The referendum seeks to create a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, which would allow Australia’s Indigenous communities to advise the government on issues that impact their lives.

Tiffanie Turnbull, a BBC reporter based in Sydney, explains how the referendum came about, why people are campaigning for and against it, and how it has stoked racism and tension.

(09:40) In gaming news, Microsoft has been cleared to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. That's after the U.K.'s competition regulator blocked the original $69bn bid back in April. Alex from the What in the World team explains what it all means.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: William Lee Adams with Tiffanie Turnbull Producers: Alex Rhodes and Maria Clara Montoya Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. But it’s also the most dangerous to be an environment activist. A report from Global Witness, a non-governmental organisation, says Colombia has the highest number of murders of green activists anywhere in the world.

The BBC’s Maria Clara Montoya has spoken to two young climate defenders - why are they at risk and what is being done to protect them?

(09:20) Also, scientists in the US are analysing dust collected from the Bennu asteroid - one of the most dangerous rocks in the solar system. Our Science Editor, Rebecca Morelle, takes us through what experts have learnt so far.

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

It starts with downloading an app but pretty soon some scammers are going through your data, messaging your contacts, threatening you with violence and destroying your life. Poonam Agarwal from the BBC Eye Investigation team tells us about the blackmailers and the string of at least sixty suicides they’re connected to.

Plus: How do young women in Afghanistan get an education when they’re banned from going to secondary school by the Taliban? We hear about Dars, the BBC programme that offers lessons online and through TV and radio. Mariam Aman, one of the show’s producers, and Shazia Haya, a Pashto-language co-host, tell us more.

If you’ve been affected by issues discussed in this episode, details of organisations offering information and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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