World Questions

Could a new amnesty law on Catalan independence threaten Spain's unity? The nation is also facing complaints about corruption, a critical water shortage and a growing inequality between the old and the young. Jonny Dymond asks Spanish people how they see the future of their country.On the panel: Juan Fernando López Aguilar, MEP for the[...]

Gaza, the West Bank and women's rights in Jordan. As war continues in neighbouring Israel, members of the public from around the Kingdom of Jordan raise questions for political leaders and key figures to debate. Jonny Dymond presents.The panel: Senator Alia Hatoug Bouran: Former Ambassador to the United States Hadeel Abdel Aziz: Director of the[...]

Jonny Dymond presents a debate from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. A large and lively audience ask questions about Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, constitutional reform, divorce laws, poverty, transport and the record of their President, "Bong Bong" Marcos JnrPanel - Justice Antonio Carpio - former Supreme Court judge Rafaela David -[...]

After a bitter election, a new government takes power in Poland promising to de-politicise the state. But after courts are ignored, key people are sacked and opposition politicians are arrested in the Presidential Palace, is democracy being restored or undermined? Jonny Dymond chairs a panel of leading politicians as they debate the big issues put[...]

What next for this oil rich country which is experiencing a cost of living crisis and debate over its high levels of public spending? Jonny Dymond is joined online by a panel of leading Norwegian politicians and activists taking questions from the public across the country.The panel: Hadia Tajik: Labour MP Henrik Asheim: Conservative MP[...]

It is rich in emeralds and copper, and home to Mosi oa Tunya, or Victoria Falls. It has a youthful population and one of the most stable democracies in Africa, but Zambia faces big challenges: High food prices, persistent poverty and claims that political rights are under threat. What are the country’s priorities in a[...]

Ecuador was once a relatively peaceful country, perhaps best known for its rich biodiverse landscapes, Amazonian rainforests and the world-famous Galapagos Islands. But the murder rate has quadrupled between 2018 and 2022 – an increase caused largely by the drug trade and the violence it brings. Now the country is in the grip of an[...]

The Republic of Korea is one of the twentieth century’s economic miracles. Poor at the time it split from its neighbour to the north, it now has the fastest internet on the planet and is a world-leading exporter of electronics, cars and culture. Much of what is best in the world can be found in[...]

World Questions is in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Leading politicians and academics take questions from a public audience. Membership of the European Union, relations with neighbouring Russia and the environment are all up for discussion in a unique debate chaired by Anu Anand.The panel: Mariam Lashkhi: MP for the governing party, Georgian Dream Party[...]

Open elections, freedom of speech, international meddling, and national reconciliation all come up in a wide-ranging debate with questions raised by Rwandans around the world to a selected panel: Victoire Ingabire: Opposition activist and Founder of Development and Liberty for All Party Albert Rubatsimburwa; Political commentator and writer for the New Times Gonzaga Muganwa; Journalist,[...]

It is the most prosperous country in the Caribbean with a rich culture, a tropical island environment, a stable democracy, and an economy based on rich resources of oil and gas. But Trinidad and Tobago is facing a surge in violent crime. The near collapse of its big neighbour Venezuela, a porous border, tens of[...]

Bangladesh is now something of a global development poster child. Born out of war more than 50 years ago, it has hauled itself out of poverty to become one of the fastest growing economies in the Asia Pacific region. But the nation still faces many challenges - climate change threatens to overwhelm its low lying[...]

World Questions is in Chile with a public audience and a panel of politicians and thinkers to debate the future of the country. They address the big issues: the rewriting of the nation’s constitution, immigration, crime and policing, economic growth, social justice – and the legacy of the Pinochet era. The panel: Lorena Fries: Member[...]

Saddam Hussein was toppled as Iraq’s head of state in 2003 after US-led forces invaded the country. World Questions is in Iraq with a public audience and a panel of politicians and thinkers to mark the 20th anniversary. They address today’s issues and there is passion and excitement as Iraqis debate openly whether life is[...]

Iceland is known for its rugged wilderness, booming tourist industry and a high standard of living. But this small nation in the North Atlantic is not immune from the challenges facing the rest of the world. Rising inflation is making it harder for young people to afford a home of their own. And as the[...]

The rights of indigenous peoples, the practicalities of imposing a ban on sex outside marriage, public education and how Indonesia can boost its economy to reach its full potential are some of the issues brought up for discussion by the Indonesian public.Indonesia, which is made up of over 17,000 islands stretching from Asia to Australia,[...]

Georgia Meloni has been sworn in as Italy’s first female Prime Minister and leader of a new right-wing government. She has committed to reducing immigration, helping families in difficulty with high energy prices and supporting Ukraine with arms and aid. Jonny Dymond, with a public audience and panel of leading politicians debate big issues facing[...]

Fuel shortages, electricity cuts, food security, climate change and corruption: Jonny Dymond presents a public debate in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, on these issues of national importance.Malawi is one of the poorest nations on earth with over half the population living on less than a dollar a day. How to move the country forward?The[...]

China’s claims that the ‘breakaway’ island of Taiwan has always been part of its territory, has led some to believe that Beijing will be emboldened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and will move to annex the island. With President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on freedoms and democracy in Hong Kong, the Taiwanese are becoming more nervous[...]

An assassination attempt on the Vice President, the impact of legalising abortion, sky-high inflation and the Falkland/Malvinas question: the big issues in Argentina are debated by an enthusiastic audience firing challenging questions at a panel of experts and political insiders in the capital. Jonny Dymond presents on location in this vibrant and vocal Latin American[...]

Devastating floods, political instability, economic turmoil… as Pakistan grapples with enormous challenges, Jonny Dymond hears from a young panel of activists, academics and politicians debating questions raised by under 30s across the country. They discuss the government’s reaction to the floods, climate change, the role of women, relations with India, the role of the army[...]

Is the Commonwealth of Nations still relevant?

World Questions debates the future of Taiwan. Jonny Dymond presents the programme with a panel of leading politicians and questioners from across the region discussing relations with China, migrant workers, the legalisation of cannabis and the province's low birth rate.The panel: Jason Hsu, Senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and former Kuomintang Party (KMT) legislator[...]

The war in Ukraine has proved a turning point for German policy makers who have pledged to increase defence spending and wean themselves off their dependence on Russian gas and oil. But at what cost to the German public? How deep is the new consensus in Berlin? How will Germany face these new challenges in[...]

Freedom of speech, youth and politics, child marriage and how to tackle drought - Jonny Dymond presents a public debate of national issues in Morocco’s capital Rabat, where a panel of senior politicians and civil society leaders answer questions on subjects posed directly by an audience. The panel: Younes Sekkouri MP: Minister for Economic Inclusion,[...]

Estonia is a parliamentary democracy, a member of the European Union and a post-Soviet success story right on the Nato frontline. As the war following Russia’s invasion continues in Ukraine, Estonians ask - How defensible is their country? Can it rely on Nato? And how loyal is the Russian speaking minority within its own borders?[...]

World Questions offers a rare chance to hear a new Syrian generation debate its future. The programme is presented by the BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, and features a panel and questioners of young Syrians from within the country – and those living abroad. Up for debate: economic sanctions, education, civil war, foreign intervention,[...]

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.[...]

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[...]

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,[...]

World Questions looks at the environment, with a special programme from Australia. 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. The panel includes: Malcolm Turnbull - former Australian Prime[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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.

Rivalry between Trump’s United States and Xi’s China is rampant: from disagreements on trade tariffs, on Hong Kong and the Uighurs and, of course, the source of Covid-19. But underlying it all is the growing tech war between these two economic superpowers, with giants like Huawei on the battlefield. For its part, China denies access[...]

The terrible choice between hunger and infection, police imposing lockdowns with brutality and the unexpected positives to come out of the pandemic in Africa. Presenter Toyosi Ogunseye in Lagos examines these issues with panellists Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa; Bright Simons, social entrepreneur based in Congo and president of mPedigree, Ghana; Sabina[...]

How has Latin America 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. Presenter Jonny Dymond is joined by Dr Denise Dresser, political scientist,[...]

The impact of Covid-19 on Asia is explored 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?

World Questions responds to the global Coronavirus crisis with a special programme focussing 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:[...]

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[...]

The recent upsurge in violence against foreigners, mostly from elsewhere in Africa, is raising fears that xenophobic attacks in South Africa are on the rise. Political leaders from across party divides have been accused of tapping into existing anti-African sentiment and have helped create a hostile environment and stoked anti-immigrant sentiment for political gain rather[...]

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[...]

This month, World Questions comes to Lisbon to bring together leading politicians and the public to discuss the issues that matter to Portuguese people: education and public health services, the environment, housing, tourism and how best to grow the economy. The programme, which will be presented by the BBC’s Manuela Saragosa, will be recorded in[...]

Gun rights, racism, climate change, impeachment are some of the big issues convulsing the United States. In downtown Houston, 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 the last few days Turkey has launched an air and ground offensive in Northern Syria and this unilateral decision has been widely condemned that’s been widely condemned with the European Union urging Turkey to end its offensive. What implications does this have for Turkey’s future role as a power in the region? Zeinab Badawi[...]

In a world already facing the challenges of exploding population growth and climate change, will super-rich global elites foster resentment, dangerous discontent and political populism? Zeinab Badawi discusses the issues with a high-profile panel at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers event in New York

Worries about jobs, inequality, waste, corruption and issues such as the country's elephant population and the decriminalisation of homosexuality give the sense that Botswana is at a turning point, and the opposition and the government are both promising change. World Questions comes to Botswana for a vibrant debate in the heat of an election campaign.[...]

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[...]

Multiculturalism was once the dream of many countries around the world, encouraging ethnically diverse cultures to live side by side in harmony. But critics say that dream has failed: that too many communities live separately – pursuing segregation rather than integration, fuelling dangerous resentment. Can you have a multi-racial, multi-faith society, without forcing people of[...]

What does the left wing Social Democratic Party's narrow victory mean for Finland?

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. The BBC’s Jonathan Dimbleby is[...]

As European leaders meet to discuss Britain’s request for more time to leave the European Union, a special edition of Europe, Have Your Say with Chloe Tilley joins radio stations throughout Europe to hear what people are making of the Brexit dilemma.

China’s extraordinary economic boom is finally cooling. And it’s locked into a damaging trade war with the United States. Is the Chinese economic miracle grinding to a halt? If so, what will be the impact on the global economy? Could it even trigger another financial crisis?

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[...]

Following a popular and peaceful uprising last year, the country’s new Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, won over 70% of the vote at recent elections. He says his political bloc will now lead an economic revolution that will help pull many of its people out of poverty. How will the new government deliver this transformation? Will[...]

Some believe Europe is more divided than ever. After years of austerity and migration, populists are on the rise in countries like Italy, framing politics as a battle between ordinary voters and a corrupt European ‘establishment’. But the continent is also divided over how to move forward in a world where rising economic powerhouses threaten[...]

The cannabis industry, reparations for slavery, how to tackle the fourth highest murder rate in the world: World Questions is in Jamaica to debate the big issues of a country which despite its problems has a host of successes in fields as diverse as academia, athletics, literature and reggae music.

Brazil’s burning issues are discussed with an audience of Brazilians at the Cultura Inglesa in São Paulo. Jonny Dymond and a panel of leading politicians and commentators tackle the recent election of President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, the environment, racism and crime.

India’s key issues are hotly debated with a Delhi audience at the British Council’s HQ. Anu Anand and a panel of leading politicians and commentators tackle jobs, pollution, fake news and the controversy over spending $430m building the world’s tallest statue.

Following a swing to the right in elections last year, Austria is governed by a coalition between the ruling Conservative People’s Party and the far-right Freedom Party. It has taken over the presidency of the Council of the European Union with the motto, “A Europe that protects”, with a focus on efforts to prevent illegal[...]

After 70 years of independence Global Questions travels to New Delhi to assess India today, where it stands on the international stage, and its fast growing economic strength, which some say could help it rival China as a global powerhouse. Join Zeinab Badawi at Bikaner House in the heart of New Delhi as she brings[...]

Can engineering solve the world’s problems? Three of the world’s greatest bio engineers discuss climate change, crop failure and infertility at a special event staged in partnership with the Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Professor Madeleine Van Oppen of the Australian Institute of Marine Science is developing heat resistant corals; the Ethiopian[...]

BBC World Questions is in Copenhagen to host a debate on Denmark's future. It has a reputation for being one of the happiest places on the planet but for many that has always felt like a bit of a myth. Increasingly the challenges of immigration, integration, and high taxes are causing some Danes to question[...]

From Zimbabwe to Hong Kong, Washington to Seoul, World Questions showcases the views of a vast array of panellists and audiences from around the world. No two programmes are the same – yet the questions asked are often similar. Immigration, the environment, the rise of populism, wealth distribution and corruption - the themes are of[...]

Lagos - Nigeria’s biggest city and its commercial centre. It’s a noisy, vibrant, hectic place, one of the world’s fastest-growing cities and the most populated in Africa. Like most of Africa, the majority of Nigeria’s population is aged under 30. That’s more than 100 million people. And yet, the young are barely visible in the[...]

In a highly charged debate, an audience of Zimbabweans debates the upcoming presidential elections, land reform, the economic crisis and the legacy of the former President, Robert Mugabe. The panel includes Paul Mangwana of Zanu PF, Welshman Ncube of the MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere – independent parliamentary candidate, and Trevor Ncube – the journalist and[...]

A Korean audience debates unification, nuclear weapons and the cancellation of war games in the wake of the Singapore Summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim

Allan Little brings politicians and commentators together to answer questions from the public. There was heated debate about billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis who has been struggling for months to form a coalition government. Which political direction should the country now take on issues like immigration, the health service, membership of the EU and foreign[...]

What can be done to counter the spread of false and misleading information on social media? Sir David Spiegelhalter, Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk at Cambridge University, has been travelling to classrooms around the world for a World Service documentary examining new strategies to combat the phenomenon. Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of[...]

Ghana was the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to break free of colonial rule, and remains one of the most stable democracies in West Africa. It relies on gold, cocoa and more recently oil as cornerstones of its economy and has rich resources of fish, timber, bauxite and industrial diamonds. Despite those riches, poverty is[...]

Unlike its regional neighbours, Lebanon appeared to be entering a period of political and economic stability. But tension is mounting as Saudi Arabia escalates its power struggle with Iran. As Iran continues to exert its influence and defend its interest across the region, there is growing concern about how the conflict might affect the stability[...]

BBC World Questions is in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia - a pivotal country between East and West - for a heated debate at Bitef Theatre. Jonathan Dimbleby discusses Kosovo, the European Union, Russian sanctions and Serbian democracy with a diverse panel: Nebojša Stefanović, Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia; Marija Janjušević, Member[...]

After a historic election, Nepal has chosen a communist coalition to run the country. Could this landslide victory for the Left Alliance mark a turning point for the country, and deliver a long awaited period of political stability and peace? Will the coalition remain united? How will it deal with Nepal’s two giant neighbours –[...]

As the new parliament of the province of Catalonia takes its seats, Jonathan Dimbleby and a panel of politicians and thinkers debate the prospect of Catalonia breaking away from Spain. They also address the role of the monarchy and how the country addresses its past history of violence with a public audience in Madrid.

With a general election on the horizon, Mexicans will soon decide who will become their new President - and which direction the country should now take. How should Mexico engage with the USA and President Trump? Will the wall between the two nations ever be built? What will happen to the Nafta trade agreement? And[...]

Kenya has the largest economy in Central and Eastern Africa. It is a proud democracy with a liberal economy, but the country is going through troubled times. After months of divisive legal and political processes it is experiencing its worst crisis for a decade. From the University of Nairobi with a large audience, Jonathan Dimbleby[...]

Charleston, South Carolina – a city steeped in American history. The first shots of the American Civil War were fired here and roughly half of all enslaved African’s passed through Charleston’s port. A year ago this state decisively voted for Donald Trump to be the US president and what a year it has been. What[...]

BBC World Questions comes to Moscow to discuss the future of Russia 100 years after the Russian Revolution of 1917. BBC presenter Allan Little and a panel of politicians and thinkers debate the key issues facing the nation - the state of democracy in Russia, Russia’s role in the world, the 2018 Presidential elections and[...]

BBC World Questions, comes to Beirut to discuss the future of Lebanon and at a crucial moment in the history of the Middle East.From the American University of Beirut a panel of politicians and thinkers debate the key issues facing the nation, with a lively audience. The ongoing legacy of sectarianism and the civil war,[...]

Opposition parties have pushed for a vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma, and later in the year, the ANC will vote on who will replace him as party leader. While President Zuma may have narrowly survived this week - South Africa's political future is far from settled.BBC presenter Nancy Kacungira is joined by[...]

Hong Kong, on China’s Pearl River Delta, is one of the most densely populated territories on earth. It regularly ranks as the most developed financial centre globally, and the world’s most economically competitive place. As a new Chief Executive takes over the running of the Hong Kong Government, what are the great issues facing the[...]

From automated cars to mobile science drones and the Mars Rover, Paul Newman, Ayanna Howard and Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu – world-leading roboticists of automated movement, in partnership with the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, shine a light on the exciting complexities of modern robotics, and the profound effect it will have on all of[...]

The Association of South-East Asian Nations is deeply diverse. Each of the 10 countries is different in terms of development, political systems, economic structure, language and culture. Whilst the region develops and grows for some, a younger and more educated generation is questioning whether the ASEAN Way is a block to human rights, political representation[...]

BBC World Questions comes to Paris following a dramatic presidential election. Support for the traditional parties of the left and right melted away and French voters were left with the stark choice between the politics of the Front National and the new centrist movement En Marche - led by 39-year-old former Socialist minister Emmanuel Macron.[...]

Immigration, national identity and the role of the EU continue to divide Dutch society. The ruling party held back a surge of support for what they called the “wrong kind of populism” and a wave of small parties did well in the election, but immigration and assimilation are still matters of great debate. Jonny Dymond[...]

BBC World Questions comes to Amsterdam as the in the aftermath of a fiercely fought election.Immigration, national identity and the role of the EU continue to divide Dutch society. The ruling party held back a surge of support for what they called the “wrong kind of populism” and a wave of small parties did well[...]

Jonathan Dimbleby hosts a panel discussion as President Trump’s administration starts to reshape the American political landscape. To his supporters, his promise to make America great again means more jobs, more security, controlled immigration and a foreign policy based upon putting America first. To his critics, he is plunging the country into an era of[...]

BBC World Questions comes to Warsaw as Poland is in the midst of a new era of political change. Poland’s opposition leaders claim the ruling party, Law and Justice, is restricting democratic freedom and hobbling the nation’s highest court, the Constitutional Tribunal. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the party's leader, says the opposition refuses to accept his party's[...]

BBC World Questions comes to Rome to discuss the future for Italy at a key moment in its history.Paolo Gentiloni has recently been appointed as Italy's 7th Prime Minister in 10 years, but it is not only political stability that threatens the country. A banking crisis and economic conditions have the potential to impact the[...]

BBC World Questions comes to Bogota, Colombia, as the country seeks a recipe for peace and an end to one of the world's longest running conflicts. President Juan Manuel Santos has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, but the people rejected his deal with the leader of the Farc in a referendum. A new[...]

In a lively and frank debate at Corvinus University, Budapest, a large public audience debates freedom, democracy and immigration with a panel of politicians and thinkers chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby. Sixty years after the Hungarian Uprising against Soviet control, what is Hungary’s future within the EU?

A string of terrorist attacks in France and Germany dominated the news agenda in summer 2016. Now, some journalists are asking if their approach needs to change. Can a balance be struck between reporting terrorism whilst suppressing terrorist propaganda?

Stay or Leave? A panel in London debate the issues on Britain's EU membership.

As Europe faces some of the greatest crises of modern time, Germany’s leadership in the Europe Union has been put under pressure. In Berlin, Jonathan Dimbleby invites an audience to put questions about Germany and Europe to a panel of opinion-formers and decision-makers.

We're at the National Library of Latvia in the capital, Riga, for the third of our series of debates across Europe. Questions on the challenges and opportunies ahead for this northern European Baltic state - which lies on the EU's border with northern Russia - are answered by a panel of Latvian politicians and thinkers:[...]

From his early work with Egyptian mummies to his breath taking achievement of sequencing the genome of our nearest ancient relatives - the Neanderthals - professor Svante Paabo has changed how we think about ourselves. He and his team have found a comparatively small number of changes in the genes between us and Neanderthals, including[...]

How the Neanderthals live on in our genes. Robin Ince interviews Svante Paabo in Leipzig.

A once in 10,000 year event gave astrophysicist Thaisa Storchi Bergman her eureka moment

From Athens the BBC's Jonathan Dimbleby discusses Greece and its relationship with the EU with a panel of politicians and thinkers - The Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos; the former Mayor of Athens and former Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis; underwater archaeologist and union official Despina Koutsoumba; and Josef Janning, Senior Policy Adviser at the European[...]

Professor Sadaf Farooqi looks at why some people put on weight and others don’t

Queen of Pain, Prof Irene Tracey shows how the brain can be easily tricked to feel pain

As Europe faces some of the biggest crises of modern times - the mass movement of migrants across its borders, and now the attacks on Paris - Jonathan Dimbleby hosts a discussion on these and other important issues impacting Europe.

Gareth Mitchell and a local audience meet professors Nick White and Francois Nosten, who developed one of the most effective treatments against malaria. However, on the borders of Thailand and Myanmar resistance to the drug has developed and the challenge is to stop resistance spreading to the rest of the world and causing millions of[...]

Professors Francois Nosten and Nick White have worked for 30 years in Thailand treating patients with malaria and researching treatments. They explain how they are now trying a controversial kill or cure plan to deploy their malaria-busting drug, not just to curb the disease but to eradicate it.

Does emotion influence decision making and do we make worse decisions as we get older?

Marine Biologist Mary Hagedorn has an innovative plan to save the coral reefs

NASA engineer Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu discusses the meaning of his work designing robots, including the Mars Rover.

Professor Nazneen Rahman, one of the world's leading cancer geneticists, talks about the latests developments in her work.

Habitat 67 designer on his mentor Louis Khan and the creating of memorial buildings. Architect, urban planner, theorist and author Moshe Safdie's buildings are committed to responding to 'human needs and aspirations'

How second cities around the world can find a new shape and Houben's focus on transport patterns and the way people use public space. Recorded in partnership with RIBA.

The Olympic Cauldron designer Thomas Heatherwick talks about the importance of 'making', getting your hands dirty and asking the right questions when designing a project. Recorded in partnership with RIBA.

David Adjaye has been described as an architect with an 'artist's sensibility'. His internationally renowned buildings are defined by his bold use of innovative materials, and imbued with the stories of people and dynamics of place. In this programme, recorded in partnership with RIBA, David Adjaye talks to Razia Iqbal about his approach to building,[...]

The Psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison is a world leading specialist in bipolar disorder, and suffers from the condition herself. She shares her unique perspective with A.C.Grayling and an audience at Wellcome Collection, London.

Why do locusts swarm? How do ants manage their traffic flow so much better than humans? Iain Couzin talks to Matthew Sweet about what we can learn from collective animal behaviour.

Henry Markram has received the biggest personal grant in the history of science. He has a billion euros to build a super computer which will replicate the human brain. He tells A.C.Grayling and an audience at Wellcome Collection how the virtual brain will reveal revolutionise the treatment of mental disorders.

Bonnie Bassler is the world specialist in how bacteria communicate within the human body. She explains to A.C.Grayling and pupils at Haverstock School, that this process holds the key to solving the problem of failing antibiotics.

Why doesn’t money make us happy? French economist Daniel Cohen explores the paradox of why growing economies do not lead to growing satisfaction with life. He tells Justin Rowlatt, and an audience at Paris Dauphine University that economics focusses us on competition while it’s cooperation and free-giving that makes us happy.

He has been described as a ‘super hero of the mind’ and ‘the hottest thinker in the world; the one-time business trader and full-time philosopher of randomness Nassim Nicholas Taleb joins Justin Rowlatt and an audience at the Grand Amphitheatre of the Sorbonne in Paris for a special event staged in partnership with Paris Dauphine[...]