The Inquiry

For decades Russia and Japan have been locked in a dispute over the Kuril Islands, which sit between Hokkaido in Northern Japan and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. At the end of World War Two, the island chain was annexed by the Soviet Union, who deported around 17,000 Japanese residents. Japan claims four of the southernmost islands and refers to them as the Northern Territories. Attempts to resolve the dispute have made little progress so far. Then in August of this year, Russia’s President Putin visited the Kuril Islands for the first time since taking office. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticised the visit as “absolutely unacceptable”. So, considering the current situation, is a deal on the Kuril Islands ever possible?Contributors: Tessa Morris-Suzuki, professor emerita of Japanese history, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia John Nilsson-Wright, professor of Japanese politics and international relations of East Asia, Cambridge University, UK James DJ Brown, professor of politic

The balance of power in the world is changing. The United States and China continue to be the dominant forces in international affairs, but other countries are looking for new ways to protect their interests and shape events on the global stage.Countries often described as middle powers are seeking new ways to work together and exert influence. Canada is one example. Prime Minister Mark Carney has argued that the old rules-based international order, shaped by US dominance, is changing. Canada is strengthening its ties with Europe, while countries in the Gulf and Indo-Pacific are also seeking new partnerships.If middle powers can cooperate, they could have a greater role in shaping events beyond their borders. Are middle powers able to reshape the world? Contributors: Asa McKercher, associate professor in public policy and governance at St Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada Imran Bayoumi, deputy director at the GeoStrategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council, Washington DC, US Dr Amy Verdun, profes

Nepal is still reeling from the devastation caused by recent flash floods. More than a thousand people are reported to have lost their lives and thousands more are still missing. The physical impact is extensive with many hydropower stations, providing the country’s main source of energy, either damaged or destroyed. The floods have also severely impacted Nepal’s other major industries including tourism. The concern now is that the billions of dollars required for Nepal to get back on its feet go way beyond its own resources. And reconstruction will mean elevating those measures required for monitoring and responding to future geological hazards and climate change. But right now, the country’s road to recovery appears long, costly and almost impossible. So just how can Nepal’s economy rebuild after floods?Contributors: Dr Neera Shrestha Pradhan, water and disaster risk reduction lead, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Patan, Nepal Dr Dinesh Paudel, professor of sustainable development,

Italy has long been associated with political instability, with governments on average lasting just over a year.Current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has broken that pattern. Her government has become the longest continuously serving administration in post-war Italian history, surpassing the previous record for a single uninterrupted period in office. Meloni has presented the stability of her own right-wing coalition as one of her government’s major achievements.A general election must take place next year. As that approaches, she faces fresh challenges, including the emergence of new opposition on the right.Meanwhile, the current government’s longevity record raises a bigger question about whether Italy has entered a new era of political stability, and what has made that possible. So how did Italian politics become stable?(Photo: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivers her speech to celebrate the government's record-breaking longevity at Porto di Bari on September 4, 2026 in Bari, Italy. Credit: Anton

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 Gene

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

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 actio

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, seni

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 possi

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 Sa

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. Howe

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 Counc

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, wh

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. This week on The Inquiry, we're asking: Are we closer to gene therapy for sickle cell disease being accessible?Contributors 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 Professor Baba Inusa, consultant pae

Last year Kenya’s President William Ruto established a task force to investigate the escalating cases of gender-based violence including femicide. The task force travelled around the country gathering information and at the beginning of this year published its recommendations, which are now being debated in parliament. One of those recommendations is the legal recognition of femicide as a standalone crime. UN Women, the United Nations agency which promotes the empowerment and rights of girls and women, have been working with grassroots organisations in Kenya on male engagement strategies, to change perceptions of the role of men and women. But the UN Women’s representative in Kenya, acknowledges that challenges remain. In the meantime, women continue to march in protest and the country waits to see if President Ruto will implement the task force recommendations. So, is Kenya serious about ending femicide?Our guests this week include Shyleen Momanyi, executive director, Young Women’s Leadership Institute, Nair

Flesh-eating parasitic flies have been found in the US state of Texas for the first time in decades. Known as the New World Screwworm, officials have now put plans in place to try and contain its spread. The fly feeds off warm-blooded animals, like cattle, dogs and horses, but if detected early enough, with treatment, the animals can make a full recovery. It can also infest humans, but human deaths are rare and it poses no food safety issues. The New World Screwworm is not a new problem; it is considered endemic in South America and some parts of Central America, towards South America. But despite the United States declaring itself screwworm free in the 1960s, the country has since seen several outbreaks. Officials have been tracking this latest case since late 2024. To date, the most widely used method to try and control the spread of the screwworm is the Sterile Insect Technique, whereby millions of flies are hatched and exposed to radiation, before they are released into the wild. And the idea here is th

This year, technology has more influence in officiating sports than ever before.At the men's World Cup, the role of virtual assistant referee technology (VAR) has been extended to include two more on-pitch scenarios while in tennis, umpires use electric line calling systems (ELC) to make final decisions.Both bits of kit aim to improve the accuracy. It’s become easier to consider match-defining moments through these tracking and review systems’ specialised cameras. But, this information takes human officials valuable time to analyse.Football fans criticise VAR for this reason, saying it delays match momentum. Top ranking tennis players Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev have also complained as these systems are not yet infallible. If technology is as imperfect as a human referee or umpire and can interrupt the fan experience too, why do elite sports rely on it?This week on The Inquiry we’re asking, ‘Is technology ruining sport?’Contributors Carlo de Marchis, independent advisor in sports and media technology

A new directive strives to narrow the 11% hourly wage gap between men and women in the EU.Around the world, the gender pay gap has been shrinking as women gain access to higher education and better employment opportunities. Though varied hours, industries and care responsibilities make this inequality a difficult problem to tackle with one universal policy.Member states have just passed their deadline to implement measures that will hold employers to account for pay disparities in the workplace so will pay transparency solve the persistent gap?Contributors: Emma Duchini, assistant professor of economics, University of Essex, UK Marianne Bertrand, professor of economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, US Adamnesh Bogale, head of gender, African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), Ghana Marina Tverdostup, economist, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, AustriaPresenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Evie Yabsley Researcher: Amelia Cox Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer:

In May 2026, the World Health Organization declared an Ebola outbreak in western Africa a public health emergency of international concern. Within days, hundreds of cases had been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising fears that the virus could spread further across the region.Ebola has been causing outbreaks for nearly 50 years, but despite advances in vaccines and treatments, the disease continues to return. But why is it so difficult to treat and contain? This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: “Why does Ebola keep coming back?”Contributors: Syra Madad, infectious disease epidemiologist at the Harvard Belfer Centre, US Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko, professor of tropical medicine at the University of Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo Amanda Rojek associate professor of health emergencies at the University of Oxford, UK Julienne Anoko, risk communication and community engagement officer at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, KenyaPresenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: M

In 2001, Portugal decriminalised the possession and use of all illicit drugs. It was a move designed to mitigate the country’s public health crisis, which at the time meant Portugal had one of the worst rates of overdose deaths in Europe, as well as the highest rate of HIV among drug users. Whilst drugs remained illegal, users did not receive a criminal record but were instead referred to rehabilitation and treatment programmes. It was an approach that proved so successful, that it has remained in place for a quarter of a century. But just over 10 years after its introduction, Portugal’s drugs policy started to come under strain as the country’s economic crisis and subsequent austerity measures led to budget cuts for drug services. More recently the rising cost of living has diverted people’s attention from investment in this field. On top of this, the trafficking of cocaine and newer substances into the country along with changing demographics is putting decriminalisation under strain. So, on The Inquiry thi