World Questions

Europe faces a tidal wave of Covid infections and many countries have brought in new social measures to try to cope. There are passes that give different rights to those who are vaccinated from those who are not, some countries have curfews or lockdowns and from 1st February, Austria will make vaccines compulsory for everyone. There have been protests throughout the continent. World Questions deba...

As a new space race develops between different nations and as private companies start to explore the possibilities of space tourism, how do we regulate and govern what happens in space? Is there a danger that the environment on earth and in space could damaged by these activities ? And what are the challenges and opportunities of space exploration? Jonny Dymond brings together an expert panel to a...

Climate catastrophe threatens our planet with devastating consequences. It is in that knowledge that delegates from 197 countries came to Glasgow for the UN’s Climate Conference, COP26. Has their agreement left the world on a safer path, or is it an opportunity missed? From coal emissions to deforestation, money for developing economies and clean cars, the BBC’s Science Editor David Shukman chairs...

The BBC’s Shaimaa Khalil looks ahead to the COP climate change conference in the UK with a panel of guests to discuss the world’s most pressing issues from the perspective of the southern hemisphere. She is joined by Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian Prime Minister; Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA); Mbong Akiy, spokesperson for Greenpeace Afri...

Presenter Sana Safi in London brings together a panel of young Afghan academics and campaigners to debate the country’s current crisis – and its future. The panel answers questions from young Afghans which cover the big issues of the day including how the Taliban will rule, the fate of women and political opponents and the type of international relationships Afghanistan will have with the rest of...

More than a billion people are disabled - that’s 15 percent of the world’s population. With a panel of leading disabled academics, campaigners and politicians, World Questions examines the challenges and opportunities facing disabled people across the globe right now. Presenter: Scout Bassett, US Paralympic athlete Panel: Ambassador Catalina Devandas: Costa Rican ambassador to the United Nations (...

As G7 wealthiest democracies gather in the UK to discuss the world’s big issues, World Questions convenes its parallel ‘summit’ tackling questions from the public all around the world. A powerful panel representing each of the seven countries discusses the threat to democracy, climate change, and whether China is a challenge to a rule-based world order. Jonny Dymond presents. The panel: Senator Ru...

World Questions discusses the future of Turkey with young people from across the country. Jonny Dymond chairs a debate featuring a youthful panel of academics, lawyers and campaigners. The questioners come from across the country to debate the big issues of the day – unemployment and insecurity, student unrest on university campuses, the rights of women and the LGBT community, foreign policy and f...

Life has changed in many ways in the year since the pandemic hit. Countless millions have been forced to work from home, offices have closed, livelihoods have disappeared and videoconferencing and online shopping have made huge inroads into everyday life. What will be the long term impact on the world of work? Katya Adler explores the future of work with a high level panel facing questions from th...

World Questions tackles the global issue of Covid-19: not just the disease itself but the information surrounding the pandemic. What should we have known and what questions should have been asked? Sharing information - and understanding the basis of the decisions of the scientists and the politicians - has never been more important or more difficult. So, do we always get the best information? How...

What works - and at what cost - in the fight against Covid? Jonny Dymond brings together top flight decision-makers with the public feeling the brunt of those decisions around the world. How some countries get ahead with vaccines, what the world has learned about preventing the next pandemic and whether vaccine passports are an assault on human rights - a few of the political questions on which a...

Europe Editor, Katya Adler, presents a debate focusing on the European Union post Brexit. Politicians from across the region and the political spectrum discuss tough questions put to them by the public on issues such as the EU's environmental record, migration, Brexit, bailouts, the handling of the pandemic and the future of the Union. The panel: Katja Leikert: Deputy Chair of the CDU Parliamentar...

As Coronavirus figures rise sharply in Africa, World Questions hears from the public across the continent and tackles some of the big social and political questions raised by the pandemic: The terrible choice between hunger and infection, police imposing lockdowns with brutality and the unexpected positives to come out of the pandemic. Presented by Toyosi Ogunseye in Lagos with panellists and ques...

World Questions examines the impact of Coronavirus on Latin America. How has it dealt with the pandemic? The lockdown, the needs of the economy, cash pay-outs to the poor, culture, tradition and safety in a time of crisis are all discussed with an expert panel and questions from the public across the region. The programme is presented by Jonny Dymond and the panel of experts includes Dr Denise Dre...

World Questions explores the impact of Covid-19 on Asia with a panel of leading public health experts, politicians and analysts from across the region. What can be done to slow down the spread of the virus? And how should countries balance the needs of their economies with the need to save lives? The programme is presented by Jonny Dymond and the panel includes: Manish Sisodia: Deputy Chief Minist...

World Questions responds to the global Coronavirus crisis with a special programme focusing on the pandemic in Europe. Jonny Dymond will explore the challenges posed by and the consequences of the outbreak of COVID-19 as he is joined by a panel of experts from across the continent who answer questions from the public. The panel: Dunja Mijatovic: Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Euro...

Coronavirus , multibillion dollar debt, inflation, poverty - the new government faces a host of challenges. Will President Fernandez’s team be able to turn the tide, and see the highly-educated, resource-rich, vast and fertile Republic of Argentina return to prosperity? What about Falklands/Las Malvinas? And plans to legalise abortion in the Pope’s home country? Jonny Dymond and a panel of politic...

Nigeria is one of the world’s largest oil producers, but national infrastructure, youth unemployment and insecurity are huge challenges for its civilian government. Jihadist attacks and separatist movements threaten to tear the country apart and despite being the biggest economy south of the Sahara, extreme poverty is very high. What next for Nigeria? The BBC’s Toyosi Ogunseye is joined by a panel...

This month, World Questions is in Lisbon to bring together leading politicians and the public to discuss the issues that matter to Portuguese people: housing, tourism, the environment and how best to grow the economy. The BBC’s Manuela Saragosa presents the programme recorded in front of an audience at the CCB Cultural Centre in Lisbon. The panel: Pedro Siza Vieira, Minister of State for the Econo...

Gun rights, racism, climate change, impeachment ... World Questions is in downtown Houston to debate some of the big issues convulsing the United States. Congressman Joaquin Castro, Judge Lina Hidalgo, Congressman Randy Weber and State Senator Joan Huffman join Jonny Dymond to debate questions raised by the audience in Houston. BBC World Questions is a series of international events created in par...

Botswana is an African success story: a stable democracy with a healthy economy based on diamonds and tourism. But despite many free elections since independence in 1966 only one party has ever won power. This October that could change, as a newly united opposition is fielding a single candidate for president in the forthcoming election. Worries about jobs, inequality, waste, corruption and issues...

Anu Anand and a panel of leading correspondents from around the world discuss the big political trends of the year. The rise of populist political parties, Brexit, powerful leaders and immigration are just some of the big issues up for discussion. Panellists include Ethiopian journalist and editor of The Addis Standard, Tsedale Lemma; Susan Glasser from the New Yorker; and BBC Europe correspondent...

World Questions comes to Finland at a time of political change. In elections this April, the left wing Social Democratic Party won a narrow victory over the nationalist Finns Party. What does the result mean for the country? Jonathan Dimbleby is joined by leading politicians and a public audience at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki to find out. The panel: Ville Skinnari: Vice Chairman, Social Democratic...

World Questions comes to Ethiopia at a crucial time in the country’s history. Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has initiated a series of unprecedented reforms in his first year in office. He's made peace with Eritrea, freed 60,000 political prisoners, unbanned opposition groups and appointed women to half his cabinet. He's pledged free elections in 2020 and now faces one of his biggest chall...

The deep divisions of Brexit Britain are explored with a raucous London audience and an expert panel. A further referendum? The Prime Minister's withdrawal deal? How has voting to leave the European Union affected Britain’s standing in the world? BBC World Questions is in the capital to debate some of the contentious issues that are still dividing the UK. Jonathan Dimbleby chairs the debate. His p...