World Questions

Opposition parties have pushed for a vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma, and later in the year, the ANC will vote on who will replace him as party leader. While President Zuma may have narrowly survived this week - South Africa's political future is far from settled.

BBC presenter Nancy Kacungira is joined by a panel of leading politicians and a lively audience in Johannesburg to discuss the major issues facing South Africans today - social and economic transformation, black economic empowerment, corruption, land redistribution, and of course, the future leader of the ANC.

Our panel comprises of Sihle Zikalala of the ANC, Leigh-Ann Mathys of the opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, Adam Habib vice chancellor of Wits University and Sipho Pityana, leading businessman and convenor of the Save South Africa campaign.

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

(Picture: A woman with a South African flag pinned to her headscarf Picture credit: RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP/Getty Images)

Hong Kong, on China’s Pearl River Delta, is one of the most densely populated territories on earth. It regularly ranks as the most developed financial centre globally, and the world’s most economically competitive place.

Twenty years on, as a new Chief Executive takes over the running of the Hong Kong Government, what are the great issues facing the territory today?

World Questions Hong Kong was staged in partnership with the Journalism and Media Studies Centre of the University of Hong Kong.

(Photo: Hong Kong street scene with neon signs at night. Credit: Getty Images)

From automated cars to mobile science drones and the Mars Rover, Paul Newman, Ayanna Howard and Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu – world-leading roboticists of automated movement, in partnership with the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, shine a light on the exciting complexities of modern robotics, and the profound effect it will have on all of our lives.

The Association of South-East Asian Nations is deeply diverse. Each of the 10 countries is different in terms of development, political systems, economic structure, language and culture. Whilst the region develops and grows for some, a younger and more educated generation is questioning whether the ASEAN Way is a block to human rights, political representation and quality of governance. political and business leaders from ASEAN countries to discuss the future of the region.

BBC World Questions comes to Paris following a dramatic presidential election.

Support for the traditional parties of the left and right melted away and French voters were left with the stark choice between the politics of the Front National and the new centrist movement En Marche - led by 39-year-old former Socialist minister Emmanuel Macron. They chose Macron. But can he solve France’s many pressing economic and social problems – unemployment, the terror threat and cultural divisions?

Jonathan Dimbleby and a panel of leading politicians and thinkers debate questions raised by a large lively audience at Radio France in Paris. The panel includes: Sylvie Goulard MEP and En Marche member, Olivier Tonneau, parliamentary candidate for Jean Luc Melenchon’s France Insoumise party, Front National councillor Aymeric Merlaud and journalist Pascale Tournier.

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

(Photo: Emmanuel Macron Celebrates His Presidential Election Victory At The Louvre Photo credit: David Ramos/Getty Images)

Immigration, national identity and the role of the EU continue to divide Dutch society. The ruling party held back a surge of support for what they called the “wrong kind of populism” and a wave of small parties did well in the election, but immigration and assimilation are still matters of great debate. Jonny Dymond and a panel of leading politicians and thinkers debate questions raised by a politically engaged audience.

BBC World Questions is in Amsterdam in the aftermath of a fiercely fought election.

Immigration, national identity and the role of the EU continue to divide Dutch society. The ruling party held back a surge of support for what they called the “wrong kind of populism” and a wave of small parties did well in the election, but immigration and assimilation are still matters of great debate. Jonny Dymond and a panel of leading politicians and thinkers debate questions raised by a politically engaged audience.

The panel includes: Han Ten Broeke, Member of Parliament, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Annabel Nanninga, journalist and commentator, Sylvana Simons, television presenter and founder of political party Artikel 1 and Petra Stienen, author, Arabist and Senator for Democrats 66 (D66).

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

(Photo: The 'Womens march for a united Netherlands' demonstration in Amsterdam. Credit: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

Jonathan Dimbleby hosts a panel discussion as President Trump’s administration starts to reshape the American political landscape.

To his supporters, his promise to make America great again means more jobs, more security, controlled immigration and a foreign policy based upon putting America first. To his critics, he is plunging the country into an era of isolationism and prejudice. The country remains deeply divided.

Jonathan Dimbleby, a panel of politicians and opinion formers, and an audience at George Washington University discuss the USA’s most pressing challenges and what “Trumpism” might mean for the rest of the world.

The panel includes the Republican Congressman Tom Cole, Democratic Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Diana Furchtgott-Roth of the Manhattan Institute and author Carol Anderson.

(Photo: President Trump Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

BBC World Questions comes to Warsaw as Poland is in the midst of a new era of political change.

Poland’s opposition leaders claim the ruling party, Law and Justice, is restricting democratic freedom and hobbling the nation’s highest court, the Constitutional Tribunal. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the party's leader, says the opposition refuses to accept his party's victory in the 2015 election and its continuing popularity throughout the country. There have been occupations of parliament, demonstrations in the streets and a determination by the government to implement its mandate for sweeping reform. Jonathan Dimbleby and a panel of politicians and opinion formers discuss Poland's new era of change before politically charged audience.

The panel includes the film director Agnieszka Holland; the Editor of online newspaper 'wSieci' Jacek Karnowski; MP Rafal Trzaskowski from Civic Platform; and MP Dominik Tarczyński from the governing Law and Justice Party.

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

(Picture: Polish pro-government demonstrators mark the 35th anniversary of the martial law in Warsaw Picture credit: JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

BBC World Questions comes to Rome to discuss the future for Italy at a key moment in its history.

Paolo Gentiloni has recently been appointed as Italy's 7th Prime Minister in 10 years, but it is not only political stability that threatens the country. A banking crisis and economic conditions have the potential to impact the lives of all Italians and could even destroy the Euro. Youth unemployment is extremely high. Italy is also at the frontline of the wave of migration from Africa to Europe. Early elections are possible and with the euro-sceptic Five Star Movement riding high in the polls, a referendum on Italy’s place in Europe could be just around the corner.

Jonathan Dimbleby hosts a lively debate to discuss the challenges facing the nation. He is joined by a panel of leading politicians and opinion formers with all questions raised coming directly from the audience.

The panel includes Alessandro Gozi, Undersecretary to the Prime Minister with responsibility for European Affairs; Deborah Bergamini, Member of the Chamber of Deputies and former spokesperson for Forza Italia; Nathalie Tocci, Chief Advisor to Federica Mogherini High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Manlio di Stefano of the 5 Star Movement, who is a Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.

This international series of events is created in partnership with the British Council.

(Picture: Roman Forum Picture Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)