The Inquiry

BBC World Service
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The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

  1. vor 14 Std.

    Is technology ruining sport?

    This year, technology has more influence in officiating sports than ever before. At the men's World Cup, the role of virtual assistant referee technology (VAR) has been extended to include two more on-pitch scenarios while in tennis, umpires use electric line calling systems (ELC) to make final decisions. Both bits of kit aim to improve the accuracy. It’s become easier to consider match-defining moments through these tracking and review systems’ specialised cameras. But, this information takes human officials valuable time to analyse. Football fans criticise VAR for this reason, saying it delays match momentum. Top ranking tennis players Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev have also complained as these systems are not yet infallible. If technology is as imperfect as a human referee or umpire and can interrupt the fan experience too, why do elite sports rely on it? This week on The Inquiry we’re asking, ‘Is technology ruining sport?’ Contributors Carlo de Marchis, independent advisor in sports and media technology in Italy Dr Otto Koblinger, former sports scientist, Munich Technical University, Germany and senior data manager, Saudi Pro League Professor Odilon Roble, sport philosopher and psychoanalyst, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil Matt Moore, associate dean, University of Kentucky’s college of social work, US Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Evie Yabsley Researcher: Amelia Cox Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: VAR check. Credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

    23 Min.

  2. 16. Juni

    Can Brussels crack the gender pay gap?

    A new directive strives to narrow the 11% hourly wage gap between men and women in the EU. Around the world, the gender pay gap has been shrinking as women gain access to higher education and better employment opportunities. Though varied hours, industries and care responsibilities make this inequality a difficult problem to tackle with one universal policy. Member states have just passed their deadline to implement measures that will hold employers to account for pay disparities in the workplace so will pay transparency solve the persistent gap? We are joined by Emma Duchini, assistant professor of economics, University of Essex, UK; Marianne Bertrand, professor of economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, US; Adamnesh Bogale, head of gender, African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), Ghana and Marina Tverdostup, economist, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Austria. Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Evie Yabsley Researcher: Amelia Cox Technical Producer: Toby James Editor: Tom Bigwood Production management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: A woman typing)

    23 Min.

  3. 9. Juni

    Why does Ebola keep coming back?

    In May 2026, the World Health Organization declared an Ebola outbreak in western Africa a public health emergency of international concern. Within days, hundreds of cases had been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising fears that the virus could spread further across the region. Ebola has been causing outbreaks for nearly 50 years, but despite advances in vaccines and treatments, the disease continues to return. But why is it so difficult to treat and contain? This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: “Why does Ebola keep coming back?” Contributors: Syra Madad, infectious disease epidemiologist at the Harvard Belfer Centre, US Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko, professor of tropical medicine at the University of Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo Amanda Rojek, associate professor of health emergencies at the University of Oxford, UK Julienne Anoko, risk communication and community engagement officer at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Kenya Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Tom Bigwood Production management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: Ebola awareness banner in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Credit: Glordy Murhabazi/Getty Images)

    25 Min.

  4. 2. Juni

    Is Portugal’s drugs policy in need of reform?

    In 2001, Portugal decriminalised the possession and use of all illicit drugs. It was a move designed to mitigate the country’s public health crisis, which at the time meant Portugal had one of the worst rates of overdose deaths in Europe, as well as the highest rate of HIV among drug users. Whilst drugs remained illegal, users did not receive a criminal record but were instead referred to rehabilitation and treatment programmes. It was an approach that proved so successful, that it has remained in place for a quarter of a century. But just over 10 years after its introduction, Portugal’s drugs policy started to come under strain as the country’s economic crisis and subsequent austerity measures led to budget cuts for drug services. More recently the rising cost of living has diverted people’s attention from investment in this field. On top of this, the trafficking of cocaine and newer substances into the country along with changing demographics is putting decriminalisation under strain. So, on The Inquiry this week, we’re asking ‘Is Portugal’s drugs policy in need of reform?’ Contributors: Joana Teixeira, President of the Board of Directors, Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD), Lisbon, Portugal Luís Mendão, Director General, Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos (GAT), Lisbon, Portugal António Leitão da Silva, Chief of Police, Braga, Portugal Keith Humphreys, Esther Ting Memorial Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, California, USA Presenter: David Baker Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Toby James Editor: Tom Bigwood Production management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: Discarded syringes and drug paraphernalia. Credit: Andy Buchanan/AFP)

    23 Min.

  5. 26. Mai

    What’s the future for monetary unions?

    At the beginning of this year Bulgaria, considered as one of the poorest countries in the European Union, became the latest to officially join the eurozone. Bulgaria’s legal tender since 1881 had been the lev, but since the mid-1990s it had been pegged to other European currencies, first to the German deutschmark and now to the euro. But it remains to be seen if the country’s economic policy can take advantage of the opportunities that joining the single currency can afford, in terms of trade and economic development. Monetary unions are not a new concept, some like the Scandinavian monetary union date back to the 19th Century, involving Denmark, Sweden and Norway. It established a fixed exchange rate system based on the gold standard, whilst member countries still had their own currencies before it was gradually dissolved from the outbreak of World War One onwards. Today, the biggest monetary union is the eurozone, used by around 358 million people across 21 European Union countries. It has one monetary authority for all the members and a standardised currency and coinage. And now the Economic Community of West African States, known as Ecowas is actively planning a monetary union with a common currency called the eco and pegged to the euro. The ambition is for greater economic sovereignty and regional economic integration. But with the US dollar as the world’s dominant global reserve currency, even though it is not part of a global monetary union, is there an argument for one currency across all borders and if so, what should it be? Contributors: Assoc Prof Ralitsa Simeonova-Ganeva, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria Prof Barry Eichengreen, University of California, Berkeley, USA Prof Mohamed Ben Omar Ndiaye, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal Dr Judy Shelton, Senior Fellow, The Independent Institute, California, USA Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producers: Daniel Rosney and Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Sound engineer: Toby James Editor: Tom Bigwood Production management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: Euro and US dollar banknotes)

    23 Min.

  6. 19. Mai

    Are the Himalayan glaciers at a tipping point?

    The Himalayan glaciers are melting more rapidly as global temperatures rise, raising concerns about the future of ecosystems and communities across the Himalayan mountain range. Glaciers store more than two thirds of the world’s freshwater and help regulate global temperatures by reflecting the sun’s rays. Across South Asia, melting ice is contributing to the formation of unstable glacial lakes and increasing the risks of floods, droughts and avalanches. The Himalayas are a vital source of water for millions of people, supporting agriculture, energy production and livelihoods from tourism. Experts warn that continued glacier loss could have significant consequences for people living in the region and the mountainous ecosystem, but what can be done to respond to these changes? Contributors: Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, Canada Pam Pearson, director and founder of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, US Matthias Huss, glaciologist and senior scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland Alton Byers, faculty research scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado, US Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researchers: Evie Yabsley and Amelia Cox Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Mitch Goodall Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: Trekkers walk to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Credit: Kriangkrai Thitimakorn/Getty Images)

    25 Min.

  7. 12. Mai

    What is the future of the European Union?

    The recent election result in Hungary has been seen as a welcome relief within the European Union. The bloc of 27 nations has, at times, felt frustrated with the country for blocking what the other 26 members have agreed to do, especially regarding financial support for Ukraine. Now the EU has been able to push through a loan to Ukraine of more than US$100bn, and some observers believe the union’s turbulent years are behind it. As it marks 10 years since the United Kingdom voted to leave, and with Montenegro expected to soon join, this week, what is the future of the European Union?’ Contributors: Dr Monika Sus, professor at the Polish Academy of Sciences and at the Robert Schuman Centre of the European University Institute in Florence, Italy Michael Geary, professor of European history at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway Catherine E. de Vries, author How Europe Survives: The Adaptability and Resilience of a Continent in Peril, vice dean of the school for politics, economics and global affairs at IE University of Madrid, Spain Dr Andi Hoxhaj, lecturer in law and director of the European law and LLM programme at King's College, London, UK Presenter: Daniel Rosney Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: James Bradshaw Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: European Union flags. Credit: Reuters)

    24 Min.

  8. 2. Mai

    Are countries really running out of jet fuel?

    Global oil markets have been affected by the US Israel war with Iran, leading to higher jet fuel prices and increased attention on supply risks. But how serious is the situation? While some experts point to tightening supply chains and regional bottlenecks, others say there is no clear evidence so far of immediate shortages. Even so, the refining and distribution of jet fuel remains a potential vulnerability, as disruption can have notable impacts even when crude oil itself is available. With air travel crucial to trade and tourism, the resilience of fuel supply is a growing concern for economies and travellers. Can alternative suppliers and fuel sources help limit the impact of future disruption? Contributors: Zach Aman, professor of chemical engineering, the University of Western Australia Ahmed Mehdi, senior fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and managing director at Renaissance Energy Advisors, UK Dumebi Oluwole, lead economist at Stears, Nigeria Li Qiao, professor of aeronautics and astronautics, Purdue University, US Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical producer: Mitch Goodall (Photo: Airline worker attaching fuel pipe to plane to refuel. Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

    24 Min.
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The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

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    2014 - 2026
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