The Inquiry

BBC

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ACTUALITÉ : ANALYSES
CHAQUE SEMAINE

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

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What does the national election mean for the future of Bangladesh?

Bangladesh will hold a national election in February, after years of political turmoil and the ousting of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. Her rule of more than a decade delivered strong economic growth but was also accompanied by tighter political control and repeated confrontations with protesters. Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, has been banned. This has brought renewed focus on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s leader Tarique Rahman, who is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, as well as several emerging challengers. Following years of unrest, the vote is seen as a test of whether Bangladesh can move towards political stability. This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: What does the national election mean for the future of Bangladesh? Contributors: Shaheen Mamun, Executive Director of the Jargoron Foundation, London, UK Zia Chowdhury, journalist, Dhaka, Bangladesh Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka, Bangladesh Constantino Xavier, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, New Delhi, India Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey This programme has been updated since the original broadcast. (Photo: A woman casting her ballot during the 2024 national election in Bangladesh. Credit: Ahmed Salahuddin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

24 min
27 JANV.

What's behind the rise in shoplifting?

Boosting, swiping or the five finger discount - many countries around the world are seeing a rise in retail theft. From Japan to the UK, the USA to Germany, retailers are struggling to tackle shoplifting - but the factors fueling this trend are as varied as the people carrying out these crimes. Poverty, opportunism, thrill-seeking - and technology - are some of the factors experts say are to blame. But a more costly problem is the rise in organised crime, as gangs of thieves strategically target shops and steal to order, turn to online marketplaces to anonymously sell on stolen goods for big profits. Charmaine Cozier reveals how the justice system and surveillance technology are being used to combat this rising crime wave, as The Inquiry asks what’s behind the rise in shoplifting? Contributors: Dr Nicole Bögelein, sociologist at the University of Cologne, Germany Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss, national lead for retail crime at the UK National Police Chiefs Council Tony Sheppard. Vice President of Retail Risk Solutions at Think LP, USA Khris Hamlin, Retail Industry Leaders Association in the USA Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Phoebe Keane Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey (Photo: A warning sign in Canada. Credit: NurPhoto/Getty Images)

24 min
22 JANV.

Is history repeating itself in Iran?

Iran has been shaken by protests on a scale not seen since its 1979 revolution. Demonstrations that began in the country’s capital over the state of the economy have spread to multiple cities, with wider calls for political change. The government has called the demonstrations "riots" backed by the nation’s enemies. Thousands have been killed. For some, the scenes bring back memories of the uprising that toppled the monarchy more than four decades ago. Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, has emerged as a figure that could challenge the existing order. This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Is history repeating itself in Iran?’ Contributors: Naghmeh Sohrabi, modern Middle East historian, director for research at the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University, United States Azadeh Kian, author of ‘Rethinking Gender, Ethnicity and Religion in Iran’, emerita professor of sociology and gender studies at the University of Paris Cité, France Sara Bazoobandi, non-resident research fellow at the Institute for Security Policy of Kiel University, Germany Siavash Ardalan, BBC Persia senior reporter, United Kingdom Presenter: Daniel Rosney Producer: Megan Lawton Technical producer: James Bradshaw Editor: Tom Bigwood Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: Car on fire on a street in Iran. Credit: WANA/Reuters/BBC Images)

24 min
13 JANV.

Is nuclear disarmament set to self-destruct?

In February 2026, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty bilateral between Russia and the United States is set to expire. The aim of the New START agreement was to reduce and limit the number of strategic nuclear warheads, but once this treaty comes to an end it means there will no longer be rules on the cap of these nuclear weapons. The legal provisions in the treaty for a one-time five-year extension, were used in 2021. The multilateral Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is still in place, to which 190 countries are signatories. The general idea behind the NPT was for nuclear countries to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons, with the goal of complete disarmament. Whilst those countries without nuclear weapons would commit to not pursuing them. In 1995 the members agreed to extend the treaty indefinitely, but it is not without its challenges. Four nuclear powers sit outside the NPT and there are rifts between the non-nuclear and nuclear states. So, on The Inquiry this week we’re asking, ‘Is nuclear disarmament set to self-destruct?’ Contributors: Hermann Wentker, Professor of Modern History, University of Potsdam and Head of Berlin Research Department, The Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History, Germany Alexandra Bell, President and CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, USA Mike Albertson, arms-control expert, former negotiator on New START arms reduction treaty, USA Nathalie Tocci, Professor of Practice, Johns Hopkins SAIS (School of Advanced International Studies), Italy Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Editor: Tom Bigwood (Photo: Deck of the nuclear submarine Saphir. Credit: Alexis Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

24 min
6 JANV.

Can Kenya answer the call for employment?

Kenya is facing rising public discontent over allegations of political corruption, economic stagnation and a shortage of good quality jobs, particularly for the country’s Gen Z. One of the government’s flagship responses is an ambitious push into digital outsourcing. It argues that call centres, coding work and other IT-enabled services can position the country as a global hub and generate a million new jobs within five years. The model has worked before in countries such as India and the Philippines, but the global landscape is shifting. Advances in artificial intelligence are already transforming the very roles Kenya hopes to attract, raising questions about whether this strategy can deliver long-term employment at scale. Tanya Beckett asks whether Kenya’s vision for digital outsourcing can provide stability and opportunity for the country. This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: Can Kenya answer the call for employment? Contributors Joy Kiiru, senior lecturer at the Department of Economics and Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya Marcus Larsen, professor at the Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark Deepa Mani, faculty member and deputy Dean for academic programmes at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India Boaz Munga, research consultant at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, Nairobi, Kenya Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Craig Boardman Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey (Photo: President of Kenya William Ruto. Credit: Luis Tato/Getty Images)

24 min
30/12/2025

How did music megatours become such a money spinner?

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, redefining what’s possible and confirming a new era in the business of touring. As streaming transformed how we listen to music, selling records is no longer the financial centrepiece it once was for artists. Instead, exclusivity has been transferred to the live experience. But staging shows on this scale requires enormous investment and complex production. At the same time, ticket scarcity fuels extraordinary demand and rising prices, which mean big ticket prices. Tanya Beckett explores how technology, fandom and economics turn modern concert tours into multi-billion-dollar ventures. This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: How did music megatours become such a money spinner? Contributors Kevin Kim, Head of Asia at music distribution company Route Note, Seoul, South Korea Serona Elton, professor at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, United States Adam Behr, Reader and Head of Music at Newcastle University, United Kingdom Poppy Reid, music journalist and founder of Curious Media, Sydney, Australia Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producers: Maeve Schaffer and Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey Technical Producer: Craig Boardman Editor: Tom Bigwood (Photo: Taylor Swift during The Eras Tour. Credit: Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images)

24 min
23/12/2025

Will there ever be a single global language?

Christmas is a time of year when many families and friends come together for a period of joy, peace and goodwill. The story of the birth of Jesus Christ has been translated into thousands of languages over thousands of years. And while you may hear it differently, the message is the same. From carols to conversations, Christmas reminds us how united we can be. But there’s still one thing that sets us apart and prevents us from truly understanding one another - language. Esperanto, created in the late 1800s, was the most ambitious direct attempt at creating a singular way of speaking. Its struggle to spread beyond a committed community shows us how deeply languages are tied to identity, power and history. This week on The Inquiry we’re asking: Will there ever be a single global language? Contributors: Esther Schor, author Bridge of Words: Esperanto and the Dream of Universal Language, professor of English at Princeton University, United States Patrick Foote, author Immigrant Tongues: Exploring How Languages Moved, Evolved, and Defined Us, YouTuber, United Kingdom Salikoko Mufwene, professor of linguistics at the University of Chicago, United States Celeste Rodriguez-Louro, associate professor, chair of linguistics, director of language lab at the University of Western Australia Presenter and Producer: Daniel Rosney Researcher: Evie Yabsley Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey Technical Producer: James Bradshaw Editor: Tom Bigwood (Photo: Earth. Credit: Planet Observer/Getty Images)

24 min
16/12/2025

How can Nigeria stop its kidnap crisis?

In November gunmen seized more than 300 pupils and a dozen teachers from a Catholic school in northern Nigeria. While authorities have rescued around 100 children, many remain missing. Kidnapping has become a recurring reality in many parts of the country, and in late 2025 President Bola Tinubu declared the crisis a national security emergency. He pledged to boost security in remote areas, but rights groups say the true scale of abductions is hidden by widespread underreporting. The sheer number of kidnappings has also drawn international attention. The United States President has spoken of sending troops to assist, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron has offered broader help to tackle insecurity. This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: How can Nigeria stop its kidnap crisis? Contributors Dr Kachi Madreke, politics and international relations scholar, University of Aberdeen, UK Dr Jumo Ayandele, clinical assistant professor at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs, US James Barnett, non-resident research fellow at the Centre on Armed Groups Dengiyefa Angalapu, research analyst at the Centre for Democracy and Development in Abuja, Nigeria Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: James Bradshaw Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey (Photo: Nigeria demonstration about student kidnapping. Credit: Kola Sulamon/Getty Images)

24 min

Tout afficher (582)

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ACTUS DU JOUR
They steal billions: Cyber Hack investigates the alleged cyber gangs and the heists and hacks they’re accused of carrying out. No one is said to be safe. From Hollywood studios, to international banks, from crypto exchanges to small businesses and health care companies, law enforcement agencies say they cause chaos around the globe. Who will be next? And where is the money going? Latest season: Evil Corp. The Russian Evil Corp is accused of being a family crime gang, responsible for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars. Law enforcement agencies say they are “the most pervasive cybercrime group to ever have operated”. No one is off limits – not even a group of nuns in Chicago. Previously on Cyber Hack: The Lazarus Heist. This hacking group is said to be behind the biggest crypto heist in history, stealing billions of dollars in the process. Investigators blame North Korea’s state-backed hackers The Lazarus Group, and say the stolen money is being used to finance its nuclear weapons and missile development programs. Pyongyang denies involvement. Among the Lazarus Group’s many targets are Hollywood’s Sony Entertainment and the Bank of Bangladesh. ATMs are cleaned out of money, while its operatives live double lives in a hacker hotel. But where does the money trail lead?

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CRIMINOLOGIE
Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain tackle listeners' conundrums with the power of science!

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SCIENCES
NEW in The History Bureau - Putin and the Apartment Bombs In September 1999, just weeks after a 46-year-old Vladimir Putin became Prime Minister, four bombs blew up four apartment buildings across Russia, killing hundreds of people while they slept. The attacks plunged the country into panic. Families fled their homes. Residents patrolled their blocks around the clock. An entire nation paralyzed by fear. But who did it? It's a mystery that has fuelled some chilling theories. The government blamed Chechen militants. Many reporters agreed. But then the whispers started. Was something even more sinister going on? Over 25 years later, journalists who covered the bombings still can't agree on who planted the explosives or why. Presenter Helena Merriman returns to the story with the reporters who were there on the ground. What did they get right first time around? And, in the chaos and confusion of unfolding events, what did they miss? The History Bureau revisits the defining stories of our times with the reporters who first covered them.

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HISTOIRE
Join longtime friends Miquita Oliver & Jordan Stephens for their twice a week catch-ups, discussing everything from the highs and lows of their lives to the biggest cultural moments of the week. Every Monday, Miquita and Jordan will throw the show open and invite questions on a theme; indie sleaze, orgasms, lies… Then on Thursdays, they’ll pick apart the world around them with unfiltered conversation on everything from intimacy to interiors, from exercise to elections. Email: missme@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: 08000 304 090 (+44 8000 304 090 from outside the UK) Miss Me? is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds

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JOURNAUX PERSONNELS
Global investigations from the BBC. Uncovering gripping stories from around the world and telling them episode by episode. Delve into a World of Secrets. Latest season: The Child Cancer Scam. Your child is critically ill. It’s the worst news you can get. But to make the situation even more awful, you struggle to afford the care they need. So when someone tells you a foreign sponsor can help raise the money, you’ll do anything. You make a video: your child begs for help from strangers online. But it comes to nothing. You wait and wait for the cash that was donated. It never comes, and all the while your child is fighting for their life. Previously on World of Secrets: Death in Dubai. A woman falls from a tower block and her name starts trending. But behind the online rumours lies an even darker reality. The Abercrombie Guys. Investigating sexual exploitation claims against the former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch. And Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape.

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DOCUMENTAIRE