World Questions BBC World Service
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- News
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The public's questions about issues affecting their country, recorded in a different global location each month
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World Questions: Michigan, USA
Anu Anand presents a lively debate over the lack of affordable healthcare, access to clean water, racial disparities, the war in Gaza and the upcoming Presidential election in the swing state of Michigan, USA.
The panel:
Sarah Anthony – Democrat State Senator
John Damoose – Republican State Senator
Professor Matt Grossmann – Michigan State University
Kaitlyn Buss – Assistant Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News
Jennifer Root –Executive Director of SEIU union, Michigan
Producer: Helen Towner -
World Questions: Spain
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 Socialist party which leads the government.
Javier Zarzalejos, MEP from the People’s Party.
Alfred Bosch, writer, historian and a long term member of the pro Catalan independence party Esquerra Republicana.
Gabriela Bustelo, writer and political columnist.
Producer: Steven Williams -
World Questions: Jordan
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 Centre for Legal Aid in Jordan
Senator Mohammed Al Momani: Former Government Spokesman
Oraib Al Rantawi: Director of the Al Quds Centre for Political Studies
Producer: Charlie Taylor
Audio for this episode was updated on 17th April 2024 -
World Questions: the Philippines
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 Jnr
Panel -
Justice Antonio Carpio - former Supreme Court judge Rafaela David - President of the Akbayan Citizens Action Party Richard Heydarian - author and journalist Roberto Galang - Dean of School of Management at Ateneo de Manila University -
World Questions: Poland
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 to them by the public in the Royal Castle of Warsaw.
The Panel:
Mateusz Morawiecki, MP: Former Prime Minister of Poland, Vice President of Law and Justice Party
Senator Magdalena Biejat: Deputy Marshal of the Senate, Co-leader of Razem.
Agnieszka Pomaska, MP: Vice Chair EU Affairs Committee, National Board member of Civic Platform
Krzysztof Bosak, MP: Co-leader of the Confederation and Independence Party
(Photo: Participants in the Poland's Independence Day march organised by nationalist groups in Warsaw. Photo by Wojtek Radwanski / AFP / Getty Images)
Producer: Charlie Taylor -
World Questions: Norway
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
Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen: Sami musician and environmental campaigner
Nils August Andresen: Economist and historian
Producer: Helen Towner