Rigid dress codes, education bans and job restrictions. Things have changed a lot for women in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power two years ago.

In this episode we explain who the Taliban are, what they want and if their government kept its promise to uphold women's rights.

Alex Rhodes speaks to Sana Safi from the BBC's Afghan service to understand what life is like there now.

Plus we hear from two women footballers who had to flee the country.

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Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Over three billion people around the world play video games and the industry is worth roughly $350 billion dollars. However, do we understand the relationship between the games we play and our mental health?

Alex Rhodes is joined by the BBC’s Laura Cress to find out.

They chat with psychologist and game designer Doctor Kelli Dunlap to understand whether violent video games actually lead to violence in real life, and she gives us her three tips on how to manage our mental health when it comes to gaming.

Sky Tunley-Stainton from gaming charity Safe in our World explains what they are doing to help the mental health of gamers and people working in the gaming industry.

Plus, BBC Culture reporter Annabel Rackham gives us an update on the writers’ and actors’ strikes that have bought Hollywood to a halt.

Details of organisations offering information and support with mental health are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

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Presenter: Alex Rhodes with Laura Cress Producers: Adam Chowdhury, Emily Horler, Mora Morrison, Benita Barden and Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Hip-hop is celebrating its unofficial 50th birthday.

The genre has had a massive influence on everything from fashion to politics to culture. It’s a global phenomenon which continues to evolve - with artists like Nicki Minaj and Jay-Z driving it forward.

So, what is hip-hop’s legacy at 50?

To help explain its origins and relevance today we’re joined in the studio by Nicholas-Tyrell Scott, a London-based music journalist. We also hear from South African kwaito star Moonchild Sanelly, and from fans in Ghana, the U.S. and Germany about why they love hip-hop.

Switching gears, we learn more about the “body check” controversy at the recent Miss Universe Indonesia pageant. Pijar Anugrah, a BBC journalist in Jakarta, explains how police are investigating the allegations of sexual harassment and how pageant officials have responded.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with William Lee Adams Producers: Mora Morrison and Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Hannah is joined by BBC reporter Favour Nunoo in Accra, Ghana to present this episode.

Some of the biggest names in football, like Sadio Mane, Rúben Neves and Karim Benzema have been bought by Saudi clubs this summer, to play in a league that is ranked 68th in the world in terms of quality. BBC Sport reporter Sam Harris tells us why.

Is this just another example of ‘sportswashing’? Abdirahim Saeed from BBC Monitoring explains what that means.

We’ve been hearing a lot about inflation - and now deflation in China - but what is it? BBC Asia Business Correspondent Nick Marsh joins the conversation - and Favour tells us what it’s like for people in Ghana.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Favour Nunoo Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Adam Chowdhury and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Around 60 million adults around the world vape but governments are trying to crack down by putting bans in place. New Zealand and Australia are two of the latest countries to introduce restrictions.

What are the health risks to vaping and how does it compare to smoking cigarettes? Why are so many countries looking to restrict vaping and is there evidence to show that bans work?

The BBC’s Laura Foster, Dr Stewart Beggs, Freddie Dawson from ECigIntelligence, and Priyansha Gupta, a law student from Rajasthan, all help us to try and answer those questions.

And we have a quick update on that meeting discussing deforestation in the Amazon.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Emily Horler Producers: Alex Rhodes, Julia Ross-Roy and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 66% in July 2023 compared to a year earlier. The news comes as leaders from eight South American countries are gathering in Belem to discuss how to protect the rainforest. The BBC’s South America Correspondent Katy Watson is in Brazil and tells us what she’s been hearing.

We also look at Lyme disease following Bella Hadid’s recent Instagram post that details her struggles with the disease.

Our Health and Science Correspondent James Gallagher explains the cause and symptoms. And our friends at BBC Reel speak to Iranian-American novelist Porochista Khakpour, whose memoir “Sick” describes the difficulties and expense of living with the condition.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Benita Barden, Adam Chowdhury, William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Manipur, a state in north-eastern India, has been struggling with violence over the past few months. Clashes between two communities have killed more than 150 people.

One graphic video has gone viral. The BBC’s Divya Arya went to Manipur and the street where it was filmed.

Also, Hannah speaks to two of the people behind Disney’s first animation series made by studios across Africa.

And the Barbie movie has passed a billion dollars at the box office.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Alex Rhodes Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Blackpink’s Jisoo has announced she’s in a relationship - the 28-year-old K-pop star and actor Ahn Bo-hyun, 35, are "getting to know each other with good feelings", according to Korean media reports. The BBC’s Fan Wang explains why K-pop stars are usually so secretive about their private lives. Costs of petrol are rising in Nigeria because the President has said he’ll cut fuel subsidies - so Hannah tries a thought experiment with our special “Presidential Simulator 2K23” and the BBC’s business reporter in Nigeria, Nkechi Ogbonna - what would you do if you were in charge of a country? And Nomia Iqbal, BBC North America Correspondent brings you up to date on all things Trump.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross Roy, Alex Rhodes, Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

The way we buy clothes has massively changed over the past decade - it’s now cheaper and quicker to buy fashionable clothes with the growth of ‘fast fashion’.

So what is it? And is there more to it than making a quick purchase and staying on trend?

Hannah Gelbart is joined by Sophie Eastaugh, who’s covered the topic for the BBC's Climate Question.

Favour Nunoo, a BBC Reporter in Ghana, gives us a glimpse into what happens to some of the clothes that get thrown away, and how they end up at Kantamanto market, in Accra.

Fair fashion campaigner and influencer Venetia La Manna gives her view on how shoppers should change their habits.

Plus BBC Monitoring’s Samuel Murunga explains what’s behind the TikTok ban in Senegal.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross Roy, Benita Barden & Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

The government in South Korea hopes money will persuade young recluses out of their homes. Hannah Gelbart talks to BBC reporter Hyunjung Kim in Seoul.

Also in this episode Lizzo is being sued by three of her former dancers over claims including sexual harassment and fat shaming. The ‘About Damn Time’ singer is known for celebrating her body and self-love, so this has come as a surprise to many. This got us thinking about body shaming around the world.

We hear from fat activist James O’Hagan in Ireland, and Esther Ogola in Kenya. At the time of recording Lizzo hadn’t responded to the BBC’s request for comment.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Update 3 August: Since the recording Lizzo has responded to allegations describing them as "false" and "outrageous".

With the Women’s World Cup taking place in Australia and New Zealand, athletes around the world are tracking their menstrual cycles to adapt their training plans and improve their performance based on their hormonal fluctuations.

In this episode, we’re demystifying periods and looking at how the conversation around them is changing. Hannah Gelbart is joined by Hannah Wilkinson, who plays for the New Zealand national football team and Dr Georgie Bruinvels.

Plus, BBC reporters Kerry Allen and Sarah Keith-Lucas explain what’s happening with typhoons in China.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with William Lee Adams Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius have been recorded in China and the US and the UN chief says the era of global warming has ended and “the era of global boiling has arrived”.

When it’s extremely hot, there are more hospital admissions and more deaths. But one thing that isn’t talked about as much is how the heat affects your mental health. So, in this episode we’re asking: What in the World happens to your mental health in extreme heat?

Hannah Gelbart is joined by BBC reporters Kelly Ng and Sofia Bettiza, and also Dr Dominic Canova from New York City.

Plus, the BBC’s Mimi Fawaz explains how Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina has made history by becoming the first football player to wear a hijab at a World Cup.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with William Lee Adams Producers: Mora Morrison and Adam Chowdhury Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks