Texas passes law banning abortion after six weeks

A law banning abortion from as early as six weeks into pregnancy has come into effect in the US state of Texas. It bans abortions after the detection of what anti-abortion campaigners call a foetal heartbeat, something medical authorities say is misleading. We'll hear about the debate around the new law, and what it means for women in Texas.

Also, a day after the final withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban have said that they are preparing to announce a government. The deputy head of the Taliban’s political office told the BBC that a Taliban government could be announced in the next two days and would be inclusive - with a role for women at lower levels but not in high positions. We'll get the latest and speak to Afghans who have left the country to hear whether they will return.

And, every day we are joined by a health expert to answer listener questions about Covid-19. Today our guest is Dr Maria Sundaram - infectious disease epidemiologist at ICES Ontario in Toronto.

(Photo: A protest outside the Texas state capitol on May 29, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Credit: Sergio Flores/Getty Images)