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BBC World Service

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

The Inquiry

Conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global shipping routes including the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. China is now turning to Russia for support in developing an alternative trade path: the Northern Sea Route. 

On 15 August, China sent its first ship on its newly commercialised, regular shipping route, navigating north around Russia’s coastline. The maritime trade path connects eastern Chinese ports including Ningbo to Europe, offering a quicker way to EU markets which account for 20 per cent of China’s exports. 

Ships must be specially designed to break ice and open up frozen waters. Global warming could increase access to this path. South Korea among other nations are beginning to discover its potential. Can China’s polar silk road transform global trade? 

Our panel this week are Dr Marc Lanteigne, professor of political science at the University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway; Nan Hao, researcher in economic security at Helsinki Geo-economics Society, Finland and Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland; Prof Dr Katarzyna Zysk, professor of international relations and contemporary history at Norweigan Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway, and Karen van Loon, research fellow in Security and Defence programme at Clingendael Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands 

(Photo: The icebreaker Kronprins Haakon sails through sea ice. Credit: Oliver Morin/Getty Images)

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier 
Producer: Evie Yabsley 
Researcher: Amelia Cox 
Sound engineer: Nathaniel Danter 
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Can China’s polar silk road change global trade?

Just under 20 years ago Kenya pioneered the use of mobile money. Since then, other countries in Africa have carved out a share of the digital market for themselves, from gaming in Morocco to artificial intelligence in Tunisia. But the picture is not the same across the whole continent. A lot of governments face too many socio-economic challenges and limited resources to spend money on digital infrastructures. Instead, foreign countries like the United States and China are investing in the African tech market. 

The bulk of South Africa’s data centre investment comes from American providers of cloud, networking and storage services. And while this may provide a boost for local economies and create local jobs, it also creates some risks, as data resides outside of the country. 

There are efforts at the continent, national and regional levels to reposition the continent from being a consumer to a creator in the digital marketplace, but there are concerns that there isn’t enough joined up thinking to allow Africa to take control of its digital future?

(Photo: A robotic waiter stands on standby at Robot Café in Nairobi, Kenya, the country's first restaurant to employ humanoid robots as waiters. The robot, equipped with a serving tray, is positioned among curved blue seating, modern lighting, and café tables, with the café counter visible in the background. The image was taken on August 27, 2024. Credit: Tony Karumba via Getty Images)

Contributors:
Mark Kaigwa, data and AI specialist, founder and CEO, Nendo, research and marketing agency, Nairobi, Kenya
Juanita Clark, co-founder and chief executive, Digital Council Africa, Pretoria, South Africa 
Teki Akuetteh, founder and executive director, Africa Digital Rights Hub, Accra, Ghana
Dr Seydina Moussa Ndiaye, head of ALIVE (AI Living Lab for Innovative and Viable Ethical Policies and Systems) research group, Université Numérique Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Dakar, Senegal

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Technical producer: Toby James 
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Can Africa take control of its digital future?

River systems around the world are under stress from various factors ranging from pollution, to agriculture, to extractive industries. In some parts of the world there are regulations to help protect rivers, but in a lot of cases these are just preventative measures for a system already seriously degraded. 

Another way to protect rivers which has been receiving attention is to give them legal rights, like those we associate with being a person. These rights could include the right to flow freely and the right to regenerate. Corporations have long been recognised as legal persons and increasingly this has been extended to environmental entities. There are different pathways to secure legal personhood, from changing a country’s constitution, to changing local law or to implementing a new ruling on an existing law, but as to whether any of these provide protection in practise, often depends on the way humans respond to the river. If a river can have rights and responsibilities, could they in turn face legal action from humans for failing to meet their own legal duties? Should rivers have personhood? 

(Photo: A wide view of the Turag River in Dhaka, Bangladesh, lined with small boats in the foreground and a densely populated riverside settlement on the right bank. Homes and market stalls sit on raised wooden structures above the water, while the shoreline shows piles of debris and exposed earth. The water appears dark with scattered floating vegetation, and trees and buildings fade into a hazy background. Credit: Md Manik/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Contributors: 
Prof Nick Mount, geographer and river scientist, UK 
Dr Erin O’Donnell, author, senior lecturer and ARC research fellow, University of Melbourne Law School, Australia 
Pier-Olivier Boudreault, director of conservation for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, a founding member of the Alliance Muteshekau-shipu, Quebec, Canada 
Author and professor Naveeda Khan, Department of Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA

Presenter: William Crawley 
Producer: Jill Collins 
Researcher: Katie Morgan 
Technical producer: Craig Boardman 
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey 
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Should rivers have personhood?

In July 2026, tens of thousands of students took to the streets in India’s capital, demanding reforms to education. The protests followed the leak of medical entrance exam papers but quickly grew to reflect wider concerns about job opportunities for graduates.

The movement became known as the Cockroach Janta Party. What began as an online campaign developed into a youth-led protest movement, attracting prominent activists and drawing international attention.

As the protests grew, they posed a challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the governing Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been in power for more than a decade. The movement has brought together people from different parts of Indian society and highlighted dissatisfaction over job opportunities and prospects for young people. So, how has the Cockroach Janta Party changed India’s politics and what does it mean for its future?

Our expert panel this week include Ruchi Gupta, executive director of the Future of India Foundation, India; Sadanand Dhume, senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, US; Rahul Verma, fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, India and Dr Chietigj Bajpaee, senior research fellow for South Asia in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, UK.

(Photo: Students celebrate the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in Amritsar, 25 July, 2026. Fourteen students all protesting with one arm in the air making peace signs. They are holding multiple placards and an Indian flag. Credit: Narinder Nanu/Getty Images)

Presenter: Tanya Beckett 
Producer: Matt Toulson 
Researcher: Evie Yabsley 
Technical producer: Cameron Ward 
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas 
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey 
Editor: Tom Bigwood

How has the Cockroach Janta Party changed India’s politics?

In September, Morocco’s citizens will go to the polls for the country’s general election. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, with a multi-party-political system. A new head of government will be appointed by King Mohammed VI, from the winning party, to form a ruling coalition. 

But whilst these elections may be seen as an opportunity for Moroccans to shape the next phase of their country’s political landscape, there are concerns about potential voter apathy and wider discontent. Only last year, nationwide protests led by Moroccan youth called for less state spending on infrastructures like the new World Cup stadium and more funding to improve economic opportunities and public services. 

Whilst efforts were made to respond to their calls, including proposals to get young people involved in formal politics and increased funding for education and health, there is a sense that there is still little change to people’s daily lives. High unemployment rates and regional inequalities remain as issues. So, is it possible that these elections can restore Moroccans faith in their country?

(Photo: A picturesque view of Rabat, Morocco's capital city. Sunshine with blue skies with a view of Bouregreg River. Credit: Sergio Formoso via Getty Images)

Contributors:
Dr Mohammed Masbah, founder and president, the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis, Rabat, Morocco
Merouan Mekouar, full professor of development studies and social sciences, York University, Toronto, Canada 
Intissar Fakir, senior fellow, the Middle East Institute, Washington DC, USA
Ahmed Jazouli, author and independent policy expert in governance, democracy and development, Rabat, Morocco

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Technical producer: Richard Hannaford
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Can elections restore Moroccans’ faith in their country?

The House of Representatives has voted to make daylight saving time permanent in the United States. If the measure is approved by the Senate and becomes law, most Americans would no longer spring forward in March or fall back in November.

For more than a century, changing the clocks has been used to make better use of daylight, but the practice has long divided opinion. Supporters of the bill argue it boosts productivity and removes the disruption of changing the clocks twice a year. Critics warn that permanent daylight saving time could affect health and road safety as people face darker winter mornings.

Around the world, governments have taken different approaches. Some have scrapped seasonal clock changes altogether, while others continue to observe them. We examine why daylight saving time was introduced and whether the case for changing the clocks still stacks up today. Is daylight saving time working?

Contributors:
David Prerau, author of Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time
Jennifer Evans, professor of biomedical sciences at Marquette University, US
Till Roenneberg, professor of chronobiology at the University of Munich, Germany
Joan Costa-Font, professor of health economics at the London School of Economics, UK

(Photo: The turquoise Art Deco clock tower with white clock hands of the Eastern Columbia Lofts in downtown Los Angeles. Credit: (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Presenter: Tanya Beckett 
Producer: Matt Toulson 
Researcher: Evie Yabsley 
Technical producer: Cameron Ward 
Production co-ordiantor: Phoebe Lomas 
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey 
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Is daylight saving time working?

New Zealand’s government is making big changes to its education system. The aim is to reverse declining student achievement and give more opportunities to disadvantaged children. The subjects of reading, writing, maths and science form the core of the new curriculum. But there are concerns particularly among the Indigenous community that the Māori language, culture and identity have not been considered as an integral part of the reforms. And that in the longer term, a lack of access to Indigenous teaching might have repercussions beyond the classroom, in wider society. 

This is not just an issue for New Zealand. Decisions on heritage-based learning are of concern for Indigenous populations across the world. In Canada’s public school system, whilst courses in Indigenous knowledge are not mandatory, there are concerted efforts to include Indigenous perspectives in the curriculum. In the province of Ontario, children from kindergarten age up to the age of 15 to 16, learn about their Indigenous communities. However, it is not the same story everywhere, so is Indigenous education at risk?

To help answer this question are our panel of leading educators: Dr Mere Skerrett, associate professor, school of education, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand; Dame Elizabeth Rata, professor of education and social practice, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Dr Lindsay Morcom, professor and Canada Research Chair in language revitalisation and decolonising education, faculty of education, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Dr Liana MacDonald, associate professor of peace studies and co-director of The National Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand.

(Photo: Six children sitting on the floor of a classroom with their backs facing the camera listening to their teacher, Auckland, New Zealand. Credit: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Evie Yabsley and Jill Collins
Researcher: Amelia Cox
Technical producer: Nathaniel Danter 
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Is Indigenous education at risk?

Extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent across the globe, not only in countries used to cooler climates, but also in those already familiar with significantly hotter temperatures. 

Intense heat can have an impact on the human body, from heat stroke to dehydration to skin damage. Economies can suffer as drought conditions impact farming communities. Built up urban areas can exacerbate the temperatures caused by heatwaves. And it can further expose already existing inequalities in society. 

There is advice out there on how to protect ourselves. There are tried and tested models of sustainable farming. Some urban spaces are being redesigned to accommodate heat extremes, and some major cities are taking action to address the imbalances caused by extreme heat. But do they all go far enough Can we live with extreme heat?’

Joining us on the programme are Prof Ollie Jay, director of Heat and Health Research Centre, University of Sydney, Australia; Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, animal scientist, chairperson of the Council of the National University of Science & Technology, Zimbabwe; Winston Chow, co-chair, IPCC Working Group II, professor of urban climate, Singapore Management University and Diana Liverman, professor of geography, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.

(Photo: Two people walking with blue umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun in front of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Credit: Tiziana Fab/Getty Images)

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Amelia Cox
Technical producer: Cameron Ward
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Can we live with extreme heat?

Gold has been prized throughout history for its value and its beauty, which has also made it attractive to those prepared to exploit this precious metal for their own ends. The European Union recently banned the purchase, import and transfer of gold from Sudan, one of Africa’s largest gold producers, saying it had become a key source of financing for the country’s civil war. 

And in other parts of the world where there are gold reserves, there can be similar exploitation. Many artisanal and small-scale miners are vulnerable to organised crime syndicates who find the risks of gold mining lower compared to those of drug trafficking. 

And illicit gold is much easier to launder into the legal market, because it can be melted down with legitimate sources of gold and smuggled across borders, making its origins much harder to trace. 

But the challenge for governments trying to enforce the law is how to protect those at the bottom of the chain and provide them with sustainable alternatives to illicit gold mining, whilst clamping down on the criminal groups behind the operation. So, can the illicit gold trade be stopped?’

This week, our panel includes Campbell Harvey, professor of finance, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Dr Dan Watson, research associate, International Institute for Strategic Studies, London, UK; Bram Ebus, consultant with International Crisis Group, founder and co-director Amazon Underworld, Bogotá, Colombia and Louis Maréchal, senior adviser on minerals and extractives, OECD, Paris, France. 

(Photo: Gold nugget and gold coins. Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Presenter: Tanya Beckett 
Producer: Jill Collins
Researcher: Amelia Cox
Technical producer: Cameron Ward
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Can the illicit gold trade be stopped?

Gene therapy has changed what is possible for people living with sickle cell disease. New treatments have shown that the condition can be successfully treated. But the therapy is costly and available to only a small number of patients. 

Millions of people around the world still rely on early diagnosis and preventative medicines, with access to basic care remaining a challenge in many places, including sub-Saharan Africa, which has almost 80% of global sickle cell cases. Are we closer to gene therapy for sickle cell disease being accessible?

We speak to Dr Natasha Archer, director of the Sickle Cell Program at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, US; Dr Alexis Thompson, paediatric haematologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of paediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, US; Dr Leon Tshilolo, professor of paediatrics and haematology at the University of Mbuji-Mayi, DR Congo and Prof Baba Inusa, consultant paediatrician in the School of Life Course & Population Sciences at King's College London, UK

(Photo: Cell lines are prepared in a laboratory in Maryland, US. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Presenter: Daniel Rosney
Producer: Matt Toulson 
Researcher: Evie Yabsley 
Technical producer: Cameron Ward
Production co-ordiantor: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood

Are we closer to gene therapy for sickle cell disease being accessible?

Can scientists develop a vaccine which can combat the coronavirus and all its variants? 

There have been three lethal outbreaks caused by coronaviruses this century: SARS in 2002, MERS in 2012 and now SarsCov2. Scientists predict we will eventually encounter SarsCov3. 

That’s why the race is on to develop a universal vaccine to combat the coronaviruses and variants we know about, and the ones we have yet to confront. But attempts to create a universal vaccine for viruses such as influenza and HIV have been going on for decades - without success. 

Before 2020, proposals to create a vaccine against coronaviruses were not thought important enough to pursue since many just cause the common cold. 

Now that we understand their real threat, can scientists succeed in creating a vaccine to fight this large family of viruses? 

Produced and presented by Sandra Kanthal

(image: Covid vaccines/Getty creative)

Can we create a universal Covid vaccine?

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