Ecuador used to have one of the lowest annual murder rates in Latin America. But this year there’s been 3500 murders so far and in the midst presidential elections one of the candidates - Fernando Villavicencio - was shot and killed after a campaign event.

Hannah is joined by Ana Maria Roura, a BBC Mundo reporter who was born in Ecuador, to get an explanation on what led to the country’s increasing violence. And what’s being done to stop it?

Also, the BBC’s Ece Goksedef tells us about the French government’s decision to ban the abaya in state schools, and explains how it links to the country’s history of secularism. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden, Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

From the U.S. to Australia, reality TV show contestants have been discussing their mental health. The same is true for Big Brother Naija, which is currently airing its eighth season – a special All-Stars edition. The Nigerian programme -- one of the biggest reality shows in Africa – often reflects public debates around important issues like women’s rights and mental health.

BBC Pidgin journalist and self-described “BB Naija stan” Faith Oshoko joins us from Lagos to explain why the show is so popular across the continent. We also hear from Season 6 contestant Ololade Gbolahan — better known as Mr. KayVee — who walked out of the show after experiencing what he describes as a “mental breakdown.”

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: William Lee Adams with Faith Oshoko Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Japan has started to release more than a million tonnes of treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The United Nations nuclear watchdog says it’s safe - but what actually is in the water? And why has there been so much criticism?

Hannah is joined by Navin Singh Khadka, a BBC World Service environment correspondent and Tessa Wong, a BBC reporter in Singapore to get the answers.

Our health correspondent James Gallagher also explains what exposure to radiation does to our bodies and health - and assesses how dangerous this waste water is.

Also in the episode - Coldplay, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are famous for their huge international tours, but what environmental impact do concerts and festivals have? Jordan Dunbar tells us a bit about what he found out in his episode of The Climate Question podcast. Spoiler alert - it’s the fans, not the private jets.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Benita Barden, Alex Rhodes and Julia Ross-Roy Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

A plane has crashed in Russia - and everyone on it is said to have died. The Russian authorities say Yevgeny Prigozhin was amongst them. Lots of people are asking; Was the plane crash an accident? How come it was all caught on camera? And is Mr Prigozhin really dead?

In this episode Hannah is joined by Beverly Ochieng and Howard Gethin, both from BBC Monitoring, to explain who Prigozhin is, what the Wagner group does and what we know about the crash.

We answer your questions - including one from the BBC’s Ashley Lime in Nairobi - on what will happen to Wagner forces in Africa?

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Filiz Gurer Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Audio for this episode was update on 24 August 2023

India's Chandrayaan-3 is the first mission to land near the south pole. One of its main goals is to hunt for water ice. Scientists believe the deep craters on the dark side of the moon may hold frozen water as they’re permanently in shadow.

India's success comes just after Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed trying the same thing.

Ashley Christine explains maths, science and philosophy on TikTok - she talks us through what we know about water on the moon. Our reporter in Delhi, Geeta Pandey, has been following the mission from India. And Harriet Bradshaw, our science reporter, ponders what life might be like if we lived on the moon.

Also, Indian chess fans tell us how excited they are about the World Cup final, where Pragg is going head-to-head with Magnus Carlsen.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Benita Barden and Alex Rhodes Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Somalia’s government has banned TikTok, Telegram, and online betting website 1XBet.

It says it’s to ‘limit terrorists and immoral groups spreading constant horrific images and misinformation to the public’.

Lots of users rely on TikTok for income, entertainment, and to stay informed. Many have been posting their shock online using the hashtag #tiktokban.

So, in this episode we’re asking: Why is Somalia banning these apps? And why are some TikTokers threatening to take to the streets?

BBC Somali’s Fardowsa Hanshi has spoken to the country’s communications minister and prominent TikTokers in Somalia - including Abdisalam Abukar who has 1.5 million followers.

Fardowsa joins us from Nairobi to explain.

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

Two reporters help us to reflect on the legacy of this women’s football World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Sergi Forcada Freixas watched the game in Madrid in a fan zone and Katie Falkingham watched it in Manchester. She also breaks down some of the key facts of the history of women’s football and who she thinks are the biggest legends of all time.

And the BBC’s Nadine Yousif takes us through the impact of Meta’s news ban on people trying to evacuate the Canadian wildfires.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Rachael Akidi Okwir

Skinny shaming can be just as harmful as fat shaming.

We recently covered fat shaming on this podcast following allegations against Lizzo. Body image is a hot topic on social media and some celebs, like Ariane Grande, have been hitting back when people comment on their bodies.

BBC reporter Ashley Lime wanted to look into skinny shaming in Kenya.

Ashley talks about her experience of people commenting on her size. We also hear how skinny shaming impacts men, like 27-year-old Solomon Buchi from Nigeria. And we learn about the mental health effects of skinny shaming from Ugandan psychologist Leona Buhenzire.

Plus, why has news disappeared from Instagram in Canada? The BBC’s Nadine Yousif explains. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6

Presenter: Hannah Gelbart with Ashley Lime Producers: Mora Morrison, Adam Chowdhury and Julia Ross-Roy Researcher: Dan Eboka Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Parts of Hawaii have been devastated and Canada is having its worst wildfire season on record. Are wildfires getting worse? Are they happening more frequently? BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard explains. Thomas Grübler, founder of Orora Tech, explains how they use AI to detect wildfires more quickly, to prevent them spreading. With speculation on Tiktok that lasers started the wildfires in Hawaii, BBC climate disinformation reporter Merlyn Thomas does some fact-checking. Plus, Jacqui Wakefield looks into a curious story about blond twitter bots fan-girling the United Arab Emirates.

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

South African runner Caster Semenya won’t be at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. It’s because she has differences of sexual development - or DSD - and isn’t allowed to compete in any track events without taking testosterone-reducing drugs.

But what is DSD? And why is it stopping Caster from competing? Celestine Karoney from BBC Sport Africa explains.

Plus, we’re joined by Frances Mao who talks us through recent 'Mudjima' knife crimes in South Korea.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6

Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler, Mora Morrison and Julia Ross-Roy Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

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.

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6

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

Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6

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