Although Somalia now has a quota system for female lawmakers, women are frequently held back from pursuing leadership roles due to pervasive cultural and social barriers.

In this edition of the show, we examine the so-called "McKinsey Affair", an issue that French President Emmanuel Macron's opponents have described as a scandal. The incumbent is under fire for paying expensive fees to management consultants for their services in the public sector. Macron's opponents say he should have given precedence to France's highly trained civil servants. Could this issue hurt his presidential campaign?

Annette Young talks to Louisahhh, a Paris-based American techno artist about the musicians and DJs taking a stand to end a culture of sexual harassment and violence in the industry. Despite being outlawed by the government; female genital mutilation shows no sign of abating in Guinea. We take a look at the battle to end a deeply-rooted tradition. Plus born to be free; the Tunisian female bikers taking to the road to challenge stereotypes in the North African country.

An anti-discrimination campaign to promote acceptance of the hijab has been canceled by the Council of Europe following outrage in France and across Europe. Some are furious it was even made, others that it was pulled.

Vaccination fatigue and anti-vaxxer movements have slowed down vaccination programs in EU countries like Germany and France, but not so in Spain. After a slow start, the country’s inoculation campaign is now running smoothly. Only 6% of Spain’s population has refused to get vaccinated.

While the Taliban have said only that female students must observe hijab, without giving more details, women dressed in black robes at a pro-Taliban rally in Kabul September 11 raised fears that the Islamist group will reintroduce mandatory wearing of head-to-toe garments. This week we spoke to two Afghan women who told us more about the Taliban's dress code – and the women who are fighting against it in the streets and online with the hashtag #DoNotTouchMyClothes.

Israel launches its campaign to give over-60s coronavirus booster shots, becoming the first country to widely offer a third dose of a western vaccine to citizens.

The Brig Back Our Girls Movement has launched "Until All Are Free" campaign to demand the release of all Nigerians in captivity.

Chad President Idriss Deby Itno kicks off his campaign for a sixth six-year term in power, calling for unity after rival protests were banned and broken up.

For the third time in two weeks, Myanmar's junta has shut off the internet to restrict the flow of information for protesters. A new cybersecurity law would permit officials to arrest the military's online critics.

Parsa Namaki, the son of the Iranian health minister, is the first person to be vaccinated in Tehran as Iran begins its vaccination campaign against Covid-19 to fight the Middle East's deadliest outbreak of the illness.

The number of new coronavirus cases, including asymptomatic ones, has reached a record high in Turkey. Doctors are warning of overcrowded intensive care units. After months of pressure by health experts and opposition politicians, the government has reintroduced stricter rules to combat the rise in deaths and infections.