World Questions

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 democracy.The Panel: Delfina Rossi: Economist and Director of Banco Cuidad Emmanuel Ferrario: Vice Chief of Government for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires Ana Iparraguirre:, Political Analyst and Senior Vice President of GBAO Consulting Agostina Mileo: Environmental Scientist and Feminist Activist

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 in politics and what their future vision is for Pakistan, a country with the fifth largest population in the world.The panel: Maria Malik: Director of Research, Balochistan Think Tank Network, Quetta Rehan Zeb Khan: Chairman, Tribal Youth Forum Pakistan and member of the Prime Minister’s National Youth Council of Pakistan Ailia Zehra: Former Editor, Naya Daur Media and The Friday Times Ammar Ali Jan: Founder and President of Haqooq-e-Khalq Movement

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 Wen Lii, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Country Director, Matsu Islands Emily Wu, Podcaster and journalist Professor Kerry Brown, Director, Lau China Institute at King's College London

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 foreign policy and energy and inflation problems at home? German politicians and opinion formers take questions from a live audience at Berlin's Humboldt University in a debate chaired by Jonny Dymond.The panel: Nils Schmid: SPD MP and foreign affairs spokesperson Johann Wadephul: CDU MP and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Daniela Schwarzer: Political scientist and Open Society Executive Director for Europe Franziska Brantner: Green Party MP and Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic AffairsBBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council, which connects the UK and the world through arts, culture, education and the English language.

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, Small Business, Employment and Skills Khaoula Lachguar: Member of the National Council of the USFP (Socialist Union of Popular Forces Party) Manal Alattir: Social Entrepreneur and President of the Womenomics Institute Mustapha El Khalfi: Former Government Spokesperson and Minister of CommunicationsProducer: Charlie TaylorBBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council, which connects the UK and the world through arts, culture, education and the English language.

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? Jonny Dymond is joined by a panel of Estonian politicians and opinion formers who field urgent questions from across the country.The panel includes: President Kersti Kaljulaid: Former President of Estonia Marko Mihkelson MP: Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Yana Toom MEP Kristi Raik: Director of the Estonian Foreign Policy InstituteBBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

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, the plight of refugees and how best to achieve a lasting peace.The panel includes: Karim Khwanda: Businessman and analyst Masa Akbik: TV Presenter, Syrian Satellite Channel Ismail Alabdullah: Volunteer with the Syria Civil Defence Omar Alshogre: Human rights activistBBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

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 debates the response to the pandemic with political leaders and questioners from across the continent.Panel: Karoline Edtstadler: Federal Minister for the EU and the Constitution in Austria Thierry Baudet MP: Leader of Forum for Democracy in the Netherlands Professor Agnes Wold: Chief Physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Gothenburg University, Sweden Eva Kaili, MEP: Chair of the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and TechnologyPresenter: Jonny DymondBBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

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 answer questions posed by World Service listeners from all over the globe. The panel includes: former astronaut and commander of the International Space Station Chris Hadfield, Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space (UNOOSA), Jane Poynter, US aerospace executive and founder of Space Perspective, a luxury space travel company and David Valentine, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Minnesota. (Photo: The Ariane 5 rocket lifts off from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Credit: JODY AMIET/AFP via Getty Images)