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In this edition, we report on how the US midterms, which saw the Democrats make massive gains, also marked a series of historic firsts for women. Also the dark side to Bangkok's booming fertility industry, which attracts thousands of foreign patients seeking assistance from the Thai capital's state-of-the-art private clinics. Plus how an impoverished neighbourhood in El Salvador, once a no-go zone plagued by gang violence, is being transformed by women into a vibrant canvas for street art.

With the US midterms approaching, we examine the power of the women's vote in an election that will shape the balance of power in Washington during Donald Trump’s final two years in office. Annette Young talks to Annie Karni, congressional correspondent for The New York Times and Kelly Dittmar, Director of Research at the Centre for American Women and Politics.

A brutal targeted attack on an Australian female MP, who lost both her legs as a result, has reignited concerns over the rising levels of violence against women in public life. Also Cornell University is facing a no-confidence vote over its handling of an alleged gang rape in 2024. Annette Young speaks to Annie E. Clark, a survivor of campus sexual assault and Dr Sara Wilf of George Mason University about why institutions continue to struggle with sexual assault cases.

This October marks 10 years since French police dismantled the notorious Calais "Jungle" camp. FRANCE 24's Claire Paccalin returns to the region to explore what has changed for migrants over the past decade. She joins Annette Young and Dr Marissa Quie of Cambridge University to discuss migration routes and their growing role in European political debate.

As international aid to Africa dries up, what does it mean for women and children on the ground? We report from Kenya on the impact of cuts to US-aid backed health programmes for women. Annette Young also talks to Nana Zulu from the African Women's Development Fund on what it means for the region as a whole. Plus the bravery of Borneo's female firefighters; as Indonesia endures its worst fire season in 11 years, these women are also facing a sexist backlash.

How allegations of a gang rape at an American Ivy League university have set social media alight, sparking widespread fury over the way colleges and universities handle sexual assault cases. Also the French parliament is currently debating a major new bill aimed at tackling violence against women and children. But does it go far enough? Annette Young asks Dr Andreea Gruev-Vintila, a social psychologist who assisted with the drafting of the legislation. Plus the king of Morocco names Marrakesh mayor, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, as the country's first female prime minister.

In this edition, we focus on Afghanistan, which recently marked the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's return to power. Since then, the exclusion of women and girls has become normalised, with the government systematically dismantling the rights of more than half the country's population.

Another Sydney Sweeney ad goes viral – this time promoting a sports betting application almost naked. The campaign sparked fury among female athletes who said it undermines decades of progress in women's sports. Yet is the outrage itself part of the overall marketing strategy and ‘feminist-baiting’ merely a tool to get clicks?

In a special edition, we examine a case that has gripped the United States and sparked debate over postpartum mental health. Former nurse Lindsay Clancy from Massachusetts stood trial for the deaths of her three children. She said she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time and the court proceedings ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. FRANCE 24's Annette Young speaks to Meghan Cliffel, who experienced postpartum psychosis after the birth of her second child, and Dr. Susan Hatters-Friedman, the psychiatrist who treated her.

In a show to kick off a new season, we explore the rise of women archaeologists – and how they are helping to transform our understanding of ancient societies. In the last 30 years, women have come to make up more than half of the profession. At the same time, advances in technology – from DNA analysis to carbon dating – are allowing archaeologists to build a far more accurate picture of the past. And sometimes, that means questioning assumptions that have existed for generations.

In this edition: how Belgium is leading the way in treating survivors of sexual violence by offering a one-stop centre which provides them with access to medical, psychological and police support. Also, as South Korea is wrestling with a fertility crisis a group of monks at a local monastery are doing their bit to revive romance among the young. Plus, we meet Yoa, a rising star of French music who has turned personal pain into powerful songs – and gained many fans in the process. *The 51 Percent will be taking a break over the European summer and will return in early September with a brand-new season.

While millions follow the World Cup, studies reveal a noticeable uptick in domestic abuse causing women’s rights activists to raise the flag. Annette Young also talks to FRANCE 24's Selina Sykes, who's covering the World Cup, about the issues women journalists face in covering such events.  Also in Pakistan, a small but growing DJ scene is transforming the music industry in this traditionally conservative country with a growing number of women leading the charge.

How a French government inquiry has uncovered systemic judicial failures in investigating a man who's now accused of the murder of an 11-year-old schoolgirl. Her death has prompted mass protests nationwide. Also pregnant women in India are now entitled to 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave. But in a society which still has very traditional values, how many women actually return to work after childbirth? Plus divorce parties are catching on in France as people celebrate the end of one chapter before beginning another.

As we mark 100 years since her birth, the enduring legacy of Marilyn Monroe means she still shapes ideas of what makes an ideal woman. Annette Young talks to Professor Amanda Konkle, a film specialist, as to why this is the case. Also the ongoing impact of Ebola continues to be felt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the spread of a deadly strain of the virus is placing pregnant women at even greater risk.

Not a day goes past without headlines revealing the far-reaching global impact of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. In a special edition, we examine what lessons can be learned from the Epstein files and other similar scenarios; what they reveal about power, accountability and the systems which allowed the late paedophile's crimes to continue for so long.