The Inquiry

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.
This week we’re asking, Can China’s polar silk road transform global trade?
(Photo: The icebreaker Kronprins Haakon sails through sea ice. Credit: Oliver Morin via Getty Images)
Contributors:
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 Geoeconomics Society, Finland and Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland
Katarzyna Zysk, professor of international relations and contemporary history at Norweigan Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway
Karen van Loon, research fellow in Security and Defence programme at Clingendael Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands
Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Evie Yabsley
Researcher: Amelia Cox
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Technical Producer: Nathaniel Danter
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey

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