AJ Longreads

As the economic crisis grinds on, Lebanese navigate soaring food costs and fuel and medicine shortages.

Written by Arwa Ibrahim.

Read by Loveday Smith.

Nearly 500 asylum seekers held a two-month-long hunger strike in a bid to obtain the right to live and work legally in Belgium. But what has been achieved and what comes next?

Written by Sarah Murphy Madia. 
Read by Michael Paul. 

How one woman is determined to stay despite the uncertain future that women like her face in the country.

Nadima, in her own words. 

The first commercial flight has taken off from Kabul, Afghanistan. It had been closed since August 30th when the US ended operations to evacuate diplomats, foreigners and Afghans considered at risk from the Taliban.

One of them was Sharif Safi. The Afghan activist reflects on how he fled to safety, and the hopelessness he feels for his country and its people.

Read by Ben Mitchell. 

Al Jazeera asks writers to reflect on the environment they grew up in and how it has shaped their lives.

In  "The land we came from" series, Terese Marie Mailhot writes about how she hates '"to think the place I played in as a child might someday become unrecognisable, but I still give thanks."

Read by Sheila Sharma.

Why one Afghan woman refuses to leave her home - even in the face of fear and uncertainty as the Taliban resume control.

By Nadima

It's been seven months since Poland introduced a near total ban on abortions, including cases where there are severe foetal defects. The procedure is now only allowed in cases of rape, incest or when the pregnancy threatens the mother's life.

Al Jazeera checks in with women whom are struggling with the emotional toll of the ban.

Written by Ylenia Gostoli.

Read by Lisa Brandt.

This reporting was supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.

This week on AJ Longreads we’re in Kashmir where residents are bucking the trend for lavish weddings. 
This is The Kashmir village that outlawed dowries by Sharafat Ali.

Read by Mohita Namjoshi.

As assisted dying becomes legal in a growing number of US states, are people being given a right to choose how they die - or are they dying before their time?

Written by Allison Wallis

Read by Lisa Brandt

Throughout history, women have been held responsible for upholding the ‘honour’ of their families.

Written by Rana Husseini

Read by Yousef Abdel Nabi