World Questions

This month’s World Questions come to Ghana and tackles some of the big questions facing different countries across the globe - defence, the environment, religion, relations between women and men. In the capital Accra, Jonathan Dimbleby brings politicians, business leaders and other guests together to answer questions from the public in an exceptionally lively and exciting debate. These tough questions cover US military aid, the legal status of homosexuality and whether women should still be expected to cook for men in modern Africa, or anywhere for that matter!

BBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

Image: Port full of people in Ghana, Africa, Credit: Getty Images

Unlike its regional neighbours, Lebanon appeared to be entering a period of political and economic stability. But tension is mounting as Saudi Arabia escalates its power struggle with Iran. As Iran continues to exert its influence and defend its interest across the region, there is growing concern about how the conflict might affect the stability of the fragile coalition in Lebanon and the impact on the wider Middle East.

BBC World Questions is in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia - a pivotal country between East and West - for a heated debate at Bitef Theatre.

Jonathan Dimbleby discusses Kosovo, the European Union, Russian sanctions and Serbian democracy with a diverse panel: Nebojša Stefanović, Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia; Marija Janjušević, Member of the National Assembly for the right wing party Dveri; Writer and human rights activist, Miloš Ćirić and Gordana Čomić of the Democratic Party, Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly.

BBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

After an historic election, Nepal has chosen a communist coalition to run the country. Could this landslide victory for the Left Alliance mark a turning point for the country, and deliver a long awaited period of political stability and peace?

But the new government faces many challenges – will the coalition remain united? How will it deal with Nepal’s two giant neighbours – China and India? And how can the country reduce its pollution levels?

The BBC’s Anu Anand is joined by: former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, government representative Pradeep Gyawali, writer C. K. Lal and journalist Subina Shrestha in a debate led by questions from a public audience to discuss the big issues facing Nepal.

BBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

(Photo: Supporters of the Communist Party of Nepal, Credit: Getty Images)

BBC World Questions comes to Madrid to discuss the future of Spain at a moment of high crisis. As the new parliament of the province of Catalonia takes its seats, Jonathan Dimbleby and a panel of politicians and thinkers debate the prospect of Catalonia breaking away from Spain. They also address the role of the monarchy and how the country addresses its past history of violence with a public audience in the centre of the capital.

The Panel:

(Photo: Spain flag on broken brick wall and half Catalan flag, Credit: Getty images)

With a general election on the horizon, Mexicans will soon decide who will become their new President - and which direction the country should now take. How should Mexico engage with the USA and President Trump? Will the wall between the two nations ever be built? What will happen to the Nafta trade agreement? And what positions will the presidential candidates take on drugs issues, inequality, corruption and violence?

Jonathan Dimbleby discusses these issues with a Mexican panel:

Armando Rios Piter - Independent Presidential candidate and Senator

BBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

(Photo: People holding Mexican flag. Credit: Getty Images)

BBC World Questions comes to Nairobi to discuss the future of Kenya after two disputed elections.

Kenya has the largest economy in Central and Eastern Africa. It is a proud democracy with a liberal economy, but the country is going through troubled times. After months of divisive legal and political processes it is experiencing its worst crisis for a decade.

The panel:

BBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

(Photo: Kenyans gather in small queues to vote just after dawn at a polling station in Huruma, Nairobi on October 26, 2017.Photo credit: Getty Images)

Charleston, South Carolina – a city steeped in American history. The first shots of the American Civil War were fired here and roughly half of all enslaved African’s passed through Charleston’s port. A year ago this state decisively voted for Donald Trump to be the US president and what a year it has been. What do voters in the South make of President Trump's first year in office.

BBC World Questions comes to Moscow to discuss the future of Russia 100 years after the Russian Revolution of 1917.

From the Digital October building, in the heart of the capital, BBC presenter Allan Little and a panel of politicians and thinkers debate the key issues facing the nation, with a lively audience. The state of democracy in Russia, Russia’s role in the world, the 2018 Presidential elections and more. All questions come directly from our public audience.

Our panel comprises of the former Russian Prime Minister and current leader of the People's Freedom Party (PARNAS), Mikhail Kasyanov, the director of Institute of Democracy and Cooperation, Natalia Narochnitskaya, the President and Founder of the American University in Moscow, Dr Edward Lozansky and the human rights campaigner Polina Nemirovskaia .

(Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Photo credit: Getty Images)

BBC World Questions, comes to Beirut to discuss the future of Lebanon and at a crucial moment in the history of the Middle East.

From the American University of Beirut a panel of politicians and thinkers debate the key issues facing the nation, with a lively audience. The ongoing legacy of sectarianism and the civil war, how the nation can best achieve political change, Lebanon’s role in the Syrian conflict, environmental degradation, the role of Hezbollah within Lebanon and more. All questions come directly from our public audience.

Our panel comprises of Deputy Prime Minister, Ghassan Hasbani MP, AUB Neighborhood Initiative Director and Beirut Madinati member Mona El Hallak Ghaisbeh, former Health Minister, Wael Abu Faour MP, the Vice President of the Free Patriotic Movement, Nicolas Sehnaoui and economist and political analyst, Kamel Wazne.

BBC World Questions is a series of international events created in partnership with the British Council.

(Photo: Lebanese flags hang from a car on the Corniche waterfront promenade in Beirut. Photo credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)