Exchanges - Ideas And Argument Podcast

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. As a new Chief Executive takes over the running of the Hong Kong Government, what are the great issues facing the territory today?

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 Electio

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 comes to Amsterdam as the 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

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

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 i

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

BBC World Questions comes to Bogota, Colombia, as the country seeks a recipe for peace and an end to one of the world's longest running conflicts. President Juan Manuel Santos has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, but the people rejected his deal with the leader of the Farc in a referendum. A new deal has been signed, but will it have legitimacy without a second referendum? BBC World Questions, staged with the British Council at Bogota's Luis Angel Arango Concert Hall, provides an opportunity to discuss the future for Colombia at this key moment in its history. Featuring a distinguished panel of guests including Sergio Jaramillo, Colombia's High Commissioner for Peace; Senator Ivan Duque, of the Movement Democratic Centre; Mariela Kohon, Director of Justice for Colombia and Advisor to the Peace Delegation of The Farc; and Dr María Emma Wills Obregón, who leads the Department of Gender and Women at Colombia's Historical Memory Commission.(Picture: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (L) and the head

In a lively and frank debate at Corvinus University, Budapest, a large public audience debates freedom, democracy and immigration with a panel of politicians and thinkers chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby. Sixty years after the Hungarian Uprising against Soviet control, what is Hungary’s future within the EU?

A string of terrorist attacks in France and Germany dominated the news agenda in summer 2016. Now, some journalists are asking if their approach needs to change. Can a balance be struck between reporting terrorism whilst suppressing terrorist propaganda?

Stay or Leave? A panel in London debate the issues on Britain's EU membership.

As Europe faces some of the greatest crises of modern time, Germany’s leadership in the Europe Union has been put under pressure. In Berlin, Jonathan Dimbleby invites an audience to put questions about Germany and Europe to a panel of opinion-formers and decision-makers.

We're at the National Library of Latvia in the capital, Riga, for the third of our series of debates across Europe. Questions on the challenges and opportunies ahead for this northern European Baltic state - which lies on the EU's border with northern Russia - are answered by a panel of Latvian politicians and thinkers: Nils Ušakovs, the ethnic-Russian mayor of Riga; Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in parliament; and Baiba Rubesa, chair of the new Rail Baltica project, intended to link the Baltic states to the European rail network. They are joined by Magnus Christiansson, a Swedish security strategist specialising in NATO and the Baltic states. Questions come from the audience in Riga, and also BBC World Service social media followers. (Photo: National Library of Latvia) (Credit: Indriķis Stūrmanis)

From his early work with Egyptian mummies to his breath taking achievement of sequencing the genome of our nearest ancient relatives - the Neanderthals - professor Svante Paabo has changed how we think about ourselves. He and his team have found a comparatively small number of changes in the genes between us and Neanderthals, including changes in the brain. Could these differences explain what makes us human?

How the Neanderthals live on in our genes. Robin Ince interviews Svante Paabo in Leipzig.

A once in 10,000 year event gave astrophysicist Thaisa Storchi Bergman her eureka moment

From Athens the BBC's Jonathan Dimbleby discusses Greece and its relationship with the EU with a panel of politicians and thinkers - The Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos; the former Mayor of Athens and former Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis; underwater archaeologist and union official Despina Koutsoumba; and Josef Janning, Senior Policy Adviser at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Professor Sadaf Farooqi looks at why some people put on weight and others don’t