The asylum seeker went to the east Africa country under a scheme separate to the forced returns scheme.

Some asylum seekers earmarked for Rwanda could abscond before they are detained, the Home Office admits.

Painless and easier to store than injections, it remains early days for microneedle-patch technology.

Hot flushes, mood swings, medication and the good experiences too all come up, as we explore the menopause and perimenopause. The physical and mental symptoms vary in severity and between individuals. The way different cultures view this life change also varies from country to country. For some it’s still a taboo issue.

Sophia hears about a parliamentary inquiry in Australia. Scaachi finds out about a grassroots group in Zimbabwe that has been helping women understand what’s happening to their bodies and creating a sense of community.

Guests: Sonya Lovell, host of the podcast Dear Menopause; and Primrose Hove, cofounder of Let’s Talk Menopause. Let us know what you think. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459

You can read the full privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pj25vkld7tZ2Lq2d0Z3YjT/where-to-be-a-woman-privacy-notice

#WheretobeaWoman

Further information: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Menopause/Terms_of_Reference https://www.swanstudy.org/

The Tory MP made headlines when appearing confused by the relationship of the two African countries on Question Time.

The Question Time audience were surprised when Chris Philp answered an audience member's question about DR Congo.

The wrangling between the Commons and the Lords continues, as MPs and peers vote on the Rwanda bill.

The deaths come hours after the UK Parliament passes its Rwanda bill, which aims to deter small boat crossings.

There are an estimated 7,000 languages around the world, and experts think being a polyglot – someone who speaks more than one language - is good for us. So where in the world is multilingualism flourishing? And what are the social, emotional and cognitive benefits of speaking multiple languages? Whether it’s Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Irish, French, Kashmiri, Pedi, Swazi or Afrikaans - should we all start learning a new one?

We hear from an organisation supporting multilingualism among children in Ireland. And we learn about the twelve official languages - and many more - being used every day in South Africa.

Guests: Suzanne McCarthy from the organisation Mother Tongues, and social linguist Dr Lorato Mokwena.

Let us know what you think. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459 You can read the full privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pj25vkld7tZ2Lq2d0Z3YjT/where-to-be-a-woman-privacy-notice

Peers maintain stand-off with government over flagship controversial Rwanda deportation plan.

The UK is reported to have held talks with other countries to replicate the scheme if it is successful.

What can we learn about loneliness, and how to avoid it, from two countries in two different continents? As Sophia Smith Galer and Scaachi Koul continue their quest for true women’s wellbeing, this time they’re exploring social connections from a global perspective.

They hear from Sweden about how an appreciation for the arts, particularly singing, could be helping women feel more connected. Meanwhile in Egypt, large networks of extended families and friends help many women avoid loneliness.

Guests: Dr Eva Bojner Horvitz, professor of music and health at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and Alexandra Kineas, an author and gender equality advocate.

Further information:

https://www.gallup.com/analytics/509675/state-of-social-connections.aspx https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2910600/

Let us know what you think. Share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459

You can read the full privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pj25vkld7tZ2Lq2d0Z3YjT/where-to-be-a-woman-privacy-notice

Where in the world are women living sustainably? Are any countries actually carbon negative? And what is “ecofeminism”? In this episode, we’re exploring sustainability from a global perspective. From the air we breathe, to how we source our food, our own health is intrinsically linked to a having a healthy environment to live in. First we hear from Bhutan, the world’s first country to become carbon negative and a country that measures national growth through a General National Happiness Index. Social entrepreneur and climate educator Thinley Choden explains how spirituality and respect for nature mean sustainability is embedded in Bhutanese culture.

Meanwhile, in Madagascar, climate activist Marie Christina Kolo explains ecofeminism and how it impacts her world view and daily life. She explains how Madagascar is one of the world’s most bio-diverse and lowest polluting places, yet it’s also one of the hardest hit by climate change. Scaachi and Sophia consider the insights offered by these two women from two very different countries and the lessons we can all learn from them, before deciding whether one, both, or neither of their characteristics deserves a spot in their female fantasy land. Because we can’t build a better place for women if we can't imagine it.

Since it gained Independence in 1956 Sudan has had at least 2 major civil wars. The last one resulted in Southern Sudan becoming an Independent state in 2011. The latest civil war broke out last April between two rival factions of the military government, the Sudanese Army Force (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF. Thousands have been killed and the country is on the verge of a humanitarian crisis. Why aren't we hearing more about it? James Copnall, former BBC Sudan Correspondent finds out what exactly is going on from historians, personal testimony, government and humanitarian aid agencies.

Presenter: James Copnall Producer: Julie Ball Editor: Tara McDermott

Where are women more likely to be paid the same as their male colleagues? Are there good examples of attempts to close the pay gap? Belgium has one of the lowest gender pay gaps in the world. Scaachi Koul and Sophia Smith Galer find out how that has happened. Liberia has further to go on reducing the pay gap, but is making fast progress in shifting mindsets and creating more economic opportunities for women.

What, if anything, will Scaachi and Sophia choose to put into the female fantasy land? Helping Scaachi and Sophia are Hildegard Van Hove, coordinator of statistics at the Institute for Gender Equality in Belgium, and Vivian Innis, gender and development specialist in Liberia.

You can share your thoughts on this episode and suggest ideas for a new one by sending us a voice note on WhatsApp: +44330 123 9459

For more information: Gender wage gap data: https://data.oecd.org/earnwage/gender-wage-gap.htm Global Gender Gap Report 2023: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2023/

Conspiracy theories about viruses and vaccines have exploded in recent years. At the same time, something arguably stranger has spiralled…groups online who don’t believe germs which cause disease exist at all. They believe that there’s no such thing as viruses and that all diseases are caused by living an unhealthy life, particularly our diet and environmental toxins. It goes hand in hand with a rejection of vaccines and other forms of conventional medicine. The BBC's health and disinformation reporter Rachel Schraer investigates how germ denial has grown and spread on social media. In South Africa, a small group of germ deniers, influenced by American conspiracy theorists, is awaking painful memories. Presenter and prodcer: Rachel Schraer Editor: Flora Carmichael

On 23 March 2021, the Ever Given – one of the largest container ships ever built – ploughed into the sandy bank of the Suez Canal, blocking the entire waterway. It stopped all traffic in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world for almost a week, causing a ‘ship jam’ of over 300 vessels and delaying deliveries of billions of pounds of vital food, fuel and medical supplies. The disruption to the global supply chain lasted for months.

How did such an advanced ship crash in one of the most closely monitored shipping lanes in the world? How did a team of engineers free the ship in just six days? And who or what is to blame?

Using never-before seen footage, testimony from witnesses speaking for the very first time, and expert analysis, this documentary aims to uncover the inside story of the Ever Given accident. And with over 2,500 shipping incidents a year, the film also asks if this was just a freak accident or whether it reveals a serious weakness in the world’s critical supply chain.

With a population that's grown from 2.5 million to 20 million since 1950, Cairo is among the most congested cities in the world, and its inefficiency costs Egypt 4% of its GDP every year. The bold solution - to build an all new administrative and residential capital, totally from scratch, 45km away from Cairo in a place where before there was only desert.

Jonathan Glancey travels from Old Cairo to this new and as yet unnamed metropolis, touring the enormous ghost town as it springs into life.

The numbers are impressive. The so-called Sisi’s City will cover 270 square kilometres - the same size as Singapore island, house 6.5 million inhabitants, boast a 10km green area larger than New York’s Central Park. The new city will house all of the Egyptian governments 34 ministries, as well as the stock exchange and central bank.

While other cities have risen out of the desert, the likes of Las Vegas and Doha still did so somewhat organically. Here we have an entirely pre-planned city. But can such a project possibly predict and satisfy the needs of its inhabitants? Will the Egyptians have learned the lessons of the past 100 years of urbanism and be able to build a truly functioning city from scratch?

Presented by Jonthan Glancey Produced by Dom Byrne A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4

This is the story of two young animals forced to grow up fast.

In Africa's savannah, a baby elephant shrew learns how speed is the secret to survival amongst the largest animals on earth. And in America, a young grasshopper mouse confronts the Wild West's deadliest creatures to stake a claim of his own.

Described as combative and courageous, Helen Suzman fought for democracy in South Africa. She took a place on the Independent Electoral Commission for the first elections for all South Africans.