The Inquiry

Artificial Intelligence's energy demands are explored, posing challenges for sustainability. AI's impact spans healthcare, climate change, and global challenges. The rise in living standards globally increases electricity demand, with AI influencing energy grids. Renewable energy for AI centers and regulations may be key for sustainability.

Kenya is leading a UN-backed security force in Haiti due to armed gang violence, while facing internal security issues and economic challenges. The podcast delves into Kenya's historical involvement in peacekeeping missions, its global partnerships, and the complexities of being in Haiti. It also explores the historical US-Haiti relationship and Kenya's humanitarian efforts, highlighting the implications of this international mission.

A hidden camera recording shows a man gifting an expensive handbag to the South Korean First Lady, sparking a political storm. The incident raised bribery and corruption concerns, affecting the country's parliamentary elections. The fallout included societal divisions and the First Lady's retreat from public life.

On the 28th of May, in a small country on the easternmost reaches of Europe, a new law came into effect.For the vast majority of people around the world, this new ruling, in a nation of fewer than 4 million inhabitants, went largely unnoticed.However, for many of the citizens of Georgia it marked a setback, throwing off course the country’s prospects of joining the European Union and aligning it more closely with Moscow.This week on The Inquiry we’re asking, ‘Is Georgia turning its back on Europe?’Contributors:Megi Kartsivadze, DPhil student, Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, University of Oxford, and an invited lecturer at the University of Tbilisi, GeorgiaProfessor Stephen Jones, Director of the Program on Georgian Studies at the Davis Center at Harvard University, Cambridge, MADr. Lia Tsuladze, Executive Director of the Center for Social Sciences and an Associate Professor of Sociology at Tbilisi State University, GeorgiaMaia Nikoladze, Assistant Director in the GeoEconomics Center, Atlantic Council, Washington DCProduction team: Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Lorna Reader Technical Producer: Craig Boardman Researcher: Matt Toulson Production Coordinators: Ellie Dover & Tim Fernley Editor: Tara McDermottImage Credit: David Mdzinarishvili/Epa-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock

Discover the journey of the world's largest iceberg, A23a, from its 'calving' to its recent refloat. Explore its impact on the ecological environment, acting as a fertilizer and carbon sink for the ocean. Learn about the implications of melting glaciers on marine life, global sea levels, and the fragile future of ice ecosystems.

Myanmar faces a crisis as the military enforces conscription to combat civil war. Experts discuss the country's history, economic reforms, and geopolitical influences. The resistance movement, territorial control, and challenges in unification are explored in depth.

Historically, Turkey has always had a strong women’s rights movement, stemming from the days of the Ottoman Empire through to the emergence of the Republic of Turkey into the present day. At the top of the movement’s agenda now is the fight to protect women against violence from men. It’s three years since Turkey pulled out of the Istanbul Convention, the Europe wide treaty on combatting violence against women and girls. The Turkish Government has its own version of domestic violence law, but there are concerns that this doesn’t offer the same protection as the Convention. Campaigners say that femicide and violence against women continues to plague society and that there is an increasingly anti-gender rhetoric within mainstream politics. So, this week on The Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Is Turkey getting more dangerous for women?’Contributors: Dr. Sevgi Adak, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, The Aga Khan University. Professor Seda Demiralp, Işık University, Turkey. Dr. Ezel Buse Sönmezocak, International Human Rights Lawyer, Turkey Dr. Hürcan Aslı Aksoy, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Berlin.Presenter: Emily Wither Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Katie Morgan Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey Image credit: Cagla Gurdogan via REUTERS from BBC Images

The war in Ukraine has reached a pivotal moment. After months of an apparent stalling on the frontlines, Russia has recently made a series of critical breakthroughs.Now the race is on for Kyiv to get newly approved military aid to the front line before Russian forces attack Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv.The 60 billion dollar bill passed in America’s congress at the end of April allows for Ukraine to push back against Russian forces and prepare to mount an offensive next year.But a gap in the supply of missiles has left Kyiv dangerously exposed and huge questions remain about how Ukraine’s President will act next. So, on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Has US military aid come in time for President Zelensky?’Contributors:Gustav Gressel, senior policy fellow with the Wider Europe Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations’ Berlin office. Max Bergmann, Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in the US. Dr Marina Miron, post-doctoral researcher in the War Studies Department and an honorary researcher at the Centre for Military Ethics and the Department of Defence Studies, Kings College, London. Professor Olga Onuch, Professor (Chair) in Comparative and Ukrainian Politics at the University of Manchester, UK.Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Lorna Reader Researcher: Matt Toulson Production Co-ordinator: Liam MorreyImage credit: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via Reuters via BBC Images

The podcast discusses Texas' controversial border control law, SB4, allowing local police to arrest undocumented migrants. Governor Abbott's Operation Lone Star aims to secure the border. Legal battles surround SB4, highlighting state vs. federal control. The episode explores the implications of Texas seeking autonomy in immigration law.

Beyonce has released an album that has gone straight to the top of the country music charts. The 27 tracks include the work of many collaborators from the world of country music, including Black country artist Linda Martell and Dolly Parton’s 1974 song Jolene.It has been so well received it has become the fastest selling album of the year. Beyonce is usually known for her pop and RnB. Her success in the country music genre has opened up a wider debate about where country music originates from, who it belongs to and its political associations. This week on the Inquiry we are asking, who is country ?Contributors: William Nash, Professor of American Studies and English at Middleburgh College Francesca Inglese, assistant professor in the Department of Music at Northeastern University Taylor Crumpton, music critic and culture writer from Dallas, Texas Charles Hughes, associate professor at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee and co-founder of the No Fences ReviewPresenter: Tanya Beckett Producers: Louise Clarke and Lorna Reader Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Production Co-ordinator: Liam MorreyImage credit: Reuters