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The Inquiry

BBC World Service

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

news news commentary

All Episodes

22:59

Why are boys academically underperforming?

The Inquiry ·

2020/12/31

There’s a problem in education – and it’s probably not what you expect. Around the world, from schools to universities, boys are trailing girls in their academic performance. It’s a complex problem which has divided expert opinion and leads us to complex questions of genetics and social conditioning. David Grossman examines what’s going on and how to fix it.

22:59

Has the time come for a European Super League?

The Inquiry ·

2020/12/17

The idea of a breakaway football league for Europe’s elite clubs has been discussed for decades.It hasn’t happened yet, but could that be about to change?Industry experts say officials from the continent’s biggest and most successful teams are meeting behind-closed-doors to discuss the proposition.So we’re asking - has the time come for a European Super League?

23:59

Has French secularism gone too far?

The Inquiry ·

2020/12/10

The French brand of secularism - laïcité - is central to the country’s national identity. It requires that public spaces – whether state classrooms, workplaces or ministries - be free of religion. But the way the French government is applying the concept has come under fresh criticism. Many French Muslims claiming this cornerstone of French identity is now being used as a weapon against them. This week, Tanya Beckett asks has French secularism gone too far?A boy holds a sign asking 'Liberty,

23:05

Why is Ethiopia’s Nobel Peace Prize winner bombing...

The Inquiry ·

2020/12/03

In Ethiopia, a political battle has sparked a bloody conflict.Federal Forces have engaged in combat with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front - or TPLF.Hundreds have reportedly been killed and tens of thousands displaced.Just last year, Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, won a Nobel Prize for his part in brokering peace with neighbouring Eritrea.So, Charmaine Cozier asks why Ethiopia’s Nobel Peace Prize winner is bombing his own country?

22:58

Do we have a vaccine to end the pandemic?

The Inquiry ·

2020/11/26

Test results from coronavirus vaccines are fast emerging, fuelling hopes that the end of the pandemic is in sight. But are countries ready to share the vaccine fairly? Global efforts to coordinate are already gaining ground - but some are concerned the battle for who gets what will mean some lower income countries could get left behind.

22:58

Will the EndSARS protest change Nigeria?

The Inquiry ·

2020/11/12

For nearly two weeks last month, angry young Nigerians took to the streets in their tens of thousands, blocking major roads in cities across Africa's most populous nation. What began as a protest against the hated police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS, soon became a conduit for a wider anger with the people who have been in charge of Nigeria for decades. in this week's Inquiry, Kavita Puri asks: will the EndSARS movement change Nigeria?

22:58

Why are Thai students risking jail to call for reform...

The Inquiry ·

2020/11/05

Pro-democracy protests have happened before in Thailand, but there’s something new about the latest one - the king is being publicly criticised. It’s a serious criminal offence to do that. This week, Charmaine Cozier asks why people are protesting against the Thai monarchy.

22:58

Can President Trump still win the US presidential...

The Inquiry ·

2020/10/29

National polls ahead of the US presidential election suggest a clear win for challenger Joe Biden. But could they be getting it wrong as they did four years ago? In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but - because of the US electoral system - lost the election. Could history repeat itself? In this week’s Inquiry, Tanya Beckett asks: can President Trump still win?

22:58

How has Trump changed America’s relationship with the...

The Inquiry ·

2020/10/23

When he was elected, President Trump promised to put ‘America First’, but how has he governed? Charmaine Cozier looks at trade, diplomacy, defence and the environment to examine the results of four years of a very different approach to international affairs.(Image: Donald Trump at public address, Credit: Getty Images)

24:44

Should we learn to live with Covid?

The Inquiry ·

2020/10/15

As new students start at universities in many countries around the world, governments are grappling with how to contain a second wave of Coronavirus. Already many universities have put lectures online and students are being told to stay in their rooms. But is this fair? Covid-19 is a deadly virus but not so much for the young. Can or should we keep the world locked down until there’s a vaccine or cure? Or, Tanya Beckett asks: should we learn to live with Covid?(Students wait to start their entrance

22:57

Are shares in Elon Musk’s Tesla vastly overvalued?

The Inquiry ·

2020/10/08

In 2018, the electric car maker, Tesla, was struggling to get the Model 3 electric vehicle off the production line. Its CEO, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, was working up to 22 hours a day on the factory floor, trying to solve a host of problems on the car he’d bet the company on. It was close to running out of money. Two years later, the company’s doing better. It says it will grow 30-40% this year.No surprise then that Tesla’s share price has gone up. But the amount may surprise you – up eight

23:33

Is Kanye West really running for US president?

The Inquiry ·

2020/10/01

In July, billionaire musician Kanye West announces on Twitter that he’s standing as a candidate in November’s US presidential election. After a scramble to meet the registration deadlines, his name is on the ballot in fewer than 20 states. His manifesto is confusing, his motive unclear.In the past, Kanye West has been a vocal supporter of president Donald Trump. And it seems his campaign is being run largely by those with close ties to the Republican party. The Democrats say his entry in the

23:37

Will the US presidential debates change the course of...

The Inquiry ·

2020/09/24

On the 29th September the two US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden will take part in the first of three 90-minute live televised debates ahead of the presidential election in November. Tanya Beckett asks can the debates affect the outcome of the election?(Composite image of Joe Biden (Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) and Donald Trump (Credit: John G Mabanglo/EPA)

24:09

Can the world stop online fraud?

The Inquiry ·

2020/09/17

Online fraud takes many forms, from deceptive e-mails and websites which trick us into paying money to the wrong bank account, to romance scams and malicious software copying our bank and credit card details. It's regarded by criminals as a highly lucrative and relatively low risk crime, so why is it so easy for fraudsters to manipulate our personal data and steal our money, what can be done to end online fraud?Charmaine Cozier talks to some of those trying to disrupt the scammers and protect the

22:57

Will votes be safe in the US presidential election?

The Inquiry ·

2020/09/10

President Trump says opening up November’s election to more postal voting will make it more vulnerable to fraud and election interference. Many more Americans are expected to avoid going in person to polling stations because of the coronavirus pandemic and will rely on postal voting to ensure their voices are heard. Tanya Beckett examines President Trump’s claims and how the US postal service will cope with millions of ballots. Producer: Sharon Hemans and Diane Richardson (A voter drops off a

22:58

What is “Obamagate?”

The Inquiry ·

2020/09/03

A maverick American general, a call to the Russian ambassador and allegations of spying on Donald Trump’s incoming administration. But what exactly is “Obamagate” and what impact might it have on this year’s US presidential election? With Tanya Beckett.

23:56

What’s gone wrong in Lebanon?

The Inquiry ·

2020/08/27

The massive explosion that tore through Beirut on August 4th left more than 200 people dead, 6,000 injured, and as many as 300,000 homeless. The explosion was caused by a fire that ignited 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the port. When the blast hit, Lebanon was already in the middle of an unprecedented economic and political crisis that has triggered hyperinflation, poverty, and hunger. Many Lebanese feel that the blast was not the cause of catastrophe in Lebanon, but the result of it

23:56

How close are we to a vaccine for Covid-19?

The Inquiry ·

2020/08/20

Researchers around the world are racing to develop a vaccine against Covid-19, with more than 170 candidate vaccines now in development. Most vaccines take years of testing and additional time to produce at scale, but scientists are hoping to develop a coronavirus vaccine at record speed. Several potential vaccines are now in the final phase of testing but it could still be months before we discover if they are safe and can effectively prevent people from being infected. If a vaccine can be found,

23:59

Will America’s 'Big Tech' firms be reined in?

The Inquiry ·

2020/08/13

US lawmakers are deciding whether to act against the country’s powerful tech giants. Some believe the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple are stifling competition. The companies have made huge profits during the Covid crisis and critics believe they will use this cash to buy competitors. With Charmaine Cozier.Clockwise from top left: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook. Getty Images

24:07

Will the pandemic get worse in the winter?

The Inquiry ·

2020/08/06

Winter is coming in the northern hemisphere and traditionally it is time for colds and flu. This has raised fears that coronavirus will surge when the seasons change, possibly leading to a second wave of the disease that is even bigger than the first. However, predicting what a Covid winter will look like is complex and uncertainty reigns - there are reasons both to be worried and to be reassured.Contributors: . Micaela Martinez, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Health

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