The Inquiry

If you spend time scrolling through social media, you may notice that many influencers sound remarkably similar. Whether promoting skincare, vitamins or home renovation products, their speech often shares the same urgency, emphasis and enthusiastic claims.

This distinctive style, known as ‘influencer speak’ or the ‘TikTok accent’, is designed to connect with audiences and keep viewers engaged. But is it a recognisable form of speech, or a collection of vocal habits?

As millions of people consume social media content, could repeated exposure to these voices be influencing the way we communicate?

What’s behind the rise of ‘influencer speak’, and could social media be changing the way we all speak?

(Photo: Woman sat behind a desk setting up her camera and light ready to start recording her next video. Credit: Sujit Jaiswa/Getty Images)

Contributors Dr Christopher Strelluf, head of applied linguistics at the University of Warwick, UK Valerie Fridland, professor of sociolinguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno, US Elspeth Morrison, dialect and accent coach, UK Dr Andreea Calude, associate professor in linguistics at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Joe Stickler Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood

The concept of the national museum which developed during the 18th and 19th Centuries coincided with the age of exploration, emerging science and empire building. The grand stone structures of these museums reflected a sense of national pride. They were places where members of the public could see specimens and artefacts representing other cultures from around the world.

But since those early days, the provenance of many collections has come under increased scrutiny. Today numerous artefacts taken or looted from different countries, often during times of war or occupation, are at the centre of repatriation disputes. The world has changed dramatically since the birth of the first national museums and what they represented, so can they stay relevant or have national museums had their day?

(Photo: A statue of an elephant with trunk up at the National Museum of Natural History, one of the Smithsonian Institution Museums in Washington DC. USA. Credit: BBC/Alex Segre/BBC Images)

Contributors: Samuel J Redman, professor of history, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA Prof Dr Patricia Rahemipour, director, Institute for Museum Research, Berlin, Germany Dr Julien Volper, curator, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium Dr Mathew Trinca, professor of museum practise, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Mitch Goodall Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood

In January 2027, a new Secretary-General will take the helm of the United Nations, an organisation founded on the principle of international cooperation. The role will involve navigating tensions between its most powerful members, while ensuring the UN can respond to global crises.

The organisation has struggled to influence negotiations in major conflicts, including in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan. Meanwhile, US funding cuts and delays in contributions from major powers, alongside reductions in aid from major European countries, have added to the UN’s financial challenges.

The incoming Secretary-General will face pressure to build consensus among divided member states and maintain support for international cooperation.

What can the new Secretary-General achieve, and can one leader help the UN find common ground in an increasingly divided world?

Contributors Teresa Whitfield, adjunct professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and independent consultant, US Sarah von Billerbeck, professor of International Relations at the University of Reading, UK Daniel Forti, head of UN Affairs at the International Crisis Group, US Dr Abiodun William, the former director of strategic planning at the United Nations, US

(Photo: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria. Credit: Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto/Getty Images)

Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Nicky Edwards Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Tim Fernley

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?

Our guest panel include 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 political science, Temple University, Tokyo, Japan, and Valérie Niquet, senior research fellow and director of the Japan programme, Foundation for Strategic Research, Paris, France.

(Photo: Kuril islands in Siberia, Russia in July, 1993. Credit: Francois Lochon/Gamma-Rapho)

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Nicky Edwards Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Tim Fernley Editor: Tom Bigwood

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, professor of political science at the University of Victoria, Canada Esther Brimmer, senior fellow in global governance at the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington DC, US

(Photo: Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney talks to media at the end of an EU - Canada Summit Credit: Thierry Monassey/Getty Images Europe)

Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Technical producer: Wayne Parkes Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Tim Fernley Editor: Tom Bigwood

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, Appalachian State University, North Carolina, USA Dr Santosh Nepal, researcher in water resources and climate change, International Water Management Institute, Lalitpur, Nepal Ritu Bharadwaj, director climate resilience, finance and loss & damage, International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK

(Photo: An aerial view of houses surrounded by mud, rocks and debris following flash floods in Betravati village, Rasuwa, Nepal. Credit: Ritesh Shukla/Stringer/Getty)

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Evie Yabsley and Jill Collins Researcher: Amelia Cox Technical producer: Mitch Goodall Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood

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: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

Contributors

Rosario Forlenza, associate professor at Luiss University, Italy Nathalie Tocci, professor of practise at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Italy Leila Simona Talani, professor of International Political Economy and Director of the Centre for Italian Politics at King's College London, UK Lorenzo Pregliasco, adjunct professor at the University of Bologna and co-founder of YouTrend polling agency, Italy

Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Amelia Cox Technical producer: Cameron Ward Production co-ordinator: Ellie Dover Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Contributors: Shyleen Momanyi, executive director, Young Women’s Leadership Institute, Nairobi, Kenya Dr Nancy Baraza, former deputy chief justice of the Republic of Kenya, senior law lecturer, University of Nairobi, chairperson of the technical working group on gender-based violence including femicide, Kenya Consuelo Corradi, professor of sociology, Lumsa University, Rome, Italy Antonia Sodonon, UN Women country representative, Kenya

(Photo: Protesters attend a rally in Nairobi demanding an end to femicide. Three women at the forefront, one wears a white T-shirt with "End Femicide" at the front, the middle woman wears a red T-shirt and is shouting, and the third is holding a banner with the slogan "Stop Killing US". Credit: Daniel Irung/EPA-EFE/Rex/Shutterstock)

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

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 that as the females only mate once in a lifetime, any eggs they lay will be unfertilised and will not hatch. There is currently only one facility hatching these flies in operation and there are not enough sterile flies being produced. In addition, there is a concern over a lack of knowledge among new veterinary recruits on how to deal with a problem that many may be experiencing for the first time. So, can the New World Screwworm be stopped?

Contributors: Grace VanHoy, veterinarian and professor, UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, California, USA Thomas Rath, author and assistant professor, History Department, University College London, UK Dr Phillip Kaufman, professor and head of department of entomology, Texas A&M University, chair of the Texas A&M AgriLife New World Screwworm Task Force, USA Rui Cardoso Pereira, head of insect pest control section, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.

(Photo: New World Screwworm poster. Credit: Joel Angel Juarez/Getty Images)

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

This year, technology has more influence in officiating sports than ever before.

At the men's World Cup, the role of video 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?

Contributors Carlo de Marchis, independent adviser in sports and media technology in Italy Dr Otto Koblinger, former sports scientist, Munich Technical University, Germany and senior data manager, Saudi Pro League Professor Odilon Roble, sport philosopher and psychoanalyst, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil Matt Moore, associate dean, University of Kentucky’s college of social work, US.

Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Evie Yabsley Researcher: Amelia Cox Sound engineer: Nicky Edwards Production Co-ordiantor: Phoebe Lomas Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood

(Photo: VAR check. Credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)