World Questions

BBC World Service
  • 0.0 (0)
  • NEWS
  • EVERY TWO MONTHS

The public's questions about issues affecting their country, recorded in a different global location each month

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    World Questions: New Zealand

    High rents, rising food costs and a perceived lack of opportunities are driving young people out of New Zealand. Last year, more people left than ever before. What can be done to improve living conditions and stop the loss of young talent? The current government has opened the question of Māori land rights in a quest to exploit New Zealand's natural resources. An attempt to overturn a historic treaty failed last year, but as New Zealand faces an election in the autumn, the issue will not go away. There is much to debate for Jonny Dymond and a panel of political leaders as they face questions from across the country. The Panel: Chris Bishop, MP, National Party and Minister for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure and Leader of the House. Ginny Andersen, MP, Labour Party’s Spokeswoman on Jobs, Income, Police and Treaty of Waitangi negotiations. Shane Jones, MP, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First and Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Marama Davidson, MP, Co-leader of the Green party and Spokeswoman on Conservation, Child Poverty Reduction and Social investment. Producer: Charlie Taylor Sound engineers: Tim Heffer, Ian Mitchell and Joe Lawrence

    49 min

  2. 17 JAN

    World Questions: Hungary

    Jonny Dymond chairs a debate with leading Hungarian politicians and academics who take questions from the public across Hungary. With elections due in April, can the right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been in power for 15 years, hold off his main political challenger? The Panel: Andras Laszlo, MEP, Fidesz Party Timea Szabo, MP, PM Green Party Boris Kalnoky, journalist and analyst. Head of the Media School at Mathias Corvinus Collegium Zsuzsanna Szelenyi, author and research fellow at Central European University Democracy Institute Producer: Helen Towner Sound engineers: Syd Dundon, Kate Barker and Joe Lawrence

    49 min

  3. 06/12/2025

    World Questions: Kenya

    Gen Z have taken to the streets of Nairobi with mass protests that rocked the Kenyan government in recent years and led to multiple deaths. Kenya is a young country where 67% of its youth is unemployed, some of them feel that the new generation is not being listened to. Jonny Dymond chairs a panel fielding questions covering the deaths of women, inequality and whether abductions and killings in Kenya are part of the concerted effort from the state to supress dissent. The panel: Sylvanus Osoro, MP. Majority Party Chief Whip (KNC), National Assembly of Kenya Zaha Indimuli, Human Rights Activist, National Advocacy Lead End Femicide Ke. Canon Evans Omollo, Provost of All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi Martha Karua, former Minister of Justice, Opposition Presidential Candidate for the People’s Liberation Party. Producer: Charlie Taylor

    49 min

  4. 08/11/2025

    World Questions: Greenland

    Independence from Denmark, the costs of mining for rare earth minerals and Inuit people’s rights – some of the challenges facing the autonomous territory of Greenland. A former Danish colony, Greenland is the world’s largest island with a population of just 57,000 people. Jonny Dymond chairs a panel of leading politicians from Denmark and Greenland to debate the future of this fascinating Arctic region – and take some tough questions from the public. The panel: Naaja Nathanielsen – Minister of Industry, Raw Materials, Mining and Energy – Greenlandic Parliament. Louise Elholm - MP in the Danish Parliament. Venstre party spokeswoman on Greenland. Kuno Fencker – MP in the Greenlandic Parliament – opposition Naleraq party. Ulrick Pram Gad – Senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies. Producer: Helen Towner

    49 min

  5. 11/10/2025

    World Questions: Peru

    This South American country has escaped from poverty and paramilitary violence that once threatened the state itself; huge reserves of natural resources have helped boost the economy. But political instability and high crime threaten those hard-won gains, sparking mass protests across the country. President Dina Boluarte was reckoned to be one of the world’s most unpopular heads of state. The programme was recorded on 7th October before her removal by Congress. Jonny Dymond is joined by a panel of leading politicians taking questions from an audience at the Teatro Ricardo Blume in the country’s capital Lima. The Panel: Mercedes Araoz: Former Prime Minister of Peru, Professor of International Economy, University of the Pacific Sigrid Bazán: Congresswoman (Nuevo Perú), former President of the Labour Commission Tarcila Rivera Zea: Founder of the Centre for Indigenous Cultures of Peru, former member of the UN Permanent Forum of Indigenous Issues Diana Gonzales: Congresswoman (Avanza País), Vice Chair of the Energy and Mines Committee Producer: Charlie Taylor (Photo: Protesters clash with police in Peru. Credit: Reuters)

    49 min

  6. 15/09/2025

    World Questions: Greece

    Fixing Greece’s declining population is now the Government’s top priority, so how should it solve the crisis? Is the country at risk of being ruined by tourism? And could migrants from abroad help boost the Greek economy? Jonny Dymond is joined by a panel of leading politicians and analysts taking questions from a large and lively audience at the Megaron Concert Hall in the country’s capital, Athens. The panel: Sofia Zacharaki: Minister of Education Pavlos Yeroulanos: MP, PASOK Xenia Kounalaki: Journalist Yiannis Koutsomitis: Analyst

    49 min

  7. 14/07/2025

    World Questions: Serbia

    Is there a lack of democracy in Serbia? Can the current student-led protests topple the Government? Will this Balkan country ever join the European Union? Allan Little chairs a panel of leading Serbian politicians and analysts who face tough questions from across the nation. The panel: Marko Djuric: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serbian Progressive Party Borko Stefanovic: Deputy Leader, Freedom and Justice Party Danica Ilic: Journalist Filip Balunovic: Research fellow, University of Belgrade

    49 min

  8. 14/06/2025

    World Questions: Malaysia

    Should there be affirmative action to get more women to the top of the media? How about a law to make politicians keep their promises? Jonny Dymond chairs a diverse panel fielding questions from a passionate audience in Kuala Lumpur, as they critique their own laws on freedom of speech. The Panel: Senator Dr Fuziah Salleh: Secretary General of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Deputy Minister for Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Dr Tricia Yeoh: Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Nottingham Malaysia’s School of Politics and International Relations Wan Ahmad Fayhsal: MP, Bersatu Party and Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Dr Vilashini Somiah: Head of the Gender Studies Programme, University of Malaya

    49 min
See All (142)

About

The public's questions about issues affecting their country, recorded in a different global location each month

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    142
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    World Questions

More From BBC

You Might Also Like