Elena, BURNING QUESTIONS are things that people "need to know" out of extreme curiosity. Also QUESTIONS are "asked," not "dicussed."

Uly, ok. But "question" has also the meaning of "problem": http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-russian/question_1

Sensitive means "деликатный, щепетильный", но не "острый"

Острая проблема - это злободневная проблема

Elena, I think you're confusing QUESTION with MATTER.

Then it should be "topical issue". I'm Elena :) and I gave you the link to Cambridge Dictionary online where one of the meanings of "question" is "problem"

so темы here means problems?

if anything I would call them CONTROVERSIAL or SENSITIVE

... TOPICS

острые темы - да, то же, что и острые проблемы. Controversial - это противоречивые. Topical issues ?

TOPICAL ISSUES just doesn't sound natural to me here

Елена, я думаю, что Uly имеет в виду, что в английском "question" в значении "проблема" всё-таки имеет более узкий смысл, чем в русском. По-русски мы можем сказать "обсудить вопрос(ы)" имея в виду "обсудить проблемы", а по-английски вопрос можно либо задать (в прямом значении слова "вопрос"), либо "поднять" в значении "проблема", но нельзя обсуждать. Когда говорят об обсуждении проблем, то используют не "question", а "matter/issue/problem" и т.д.

Ольга, т.е. to discuss questions точно нельзя? У нас это везде в учебниках

I've seen Russian textbooks on English and the English isn't always exemplary. If we can get back to this post: I'm assuming that острый here means CONTROVERSIAL or SENSITIVE, no? Then it would be TOPICS, not QUESTIONS.

Yes, Uly, it means "controversial" or "sensitive".

Here I don't agree - controversial - противоречивый, sensitive - деликатный, щепетильный, it's different meanings

well, then SENSITIVE QUESTIONS doesn't work, and neither does CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS (unless someone is asking them). So the only thing left is to DISCUSS CONTROVERSIAL/SENSITIVE TOPICS or even HOT TOPICS

Hot topics - is good, I think

Елена, но ведь один из синонимов "controversial" is "sensitive". Всё зависит от контекста.

Cambridge notwithstanding, the interpretation of "question" as a problem is very rare and restricted in modern English. If the meaning of острые is indeed "controversial/sensitive" then "question" is out of place in this context.

Elena, once again I have to admire your gall. To tell a native speaker "Then it should be topical issue" when just a few comments before you wrote "question HAS ALSO the meaning of problem" Please enlighten me... what does a "hot topic" have to do with a "topical issue?" and on what experience, knowledge or authority do you presume to instruct Uly on his native language? I don't mean to be churlish, but I'm once again confounded.

Olivia, you misunderstand me . I don't instruct. I just said that controversial and sensitive are not translated as "острый". Regarding the meaning of "question" - I was thinking, I checked myself and Uly and Olga persuaded me it can't be "discussed".
You sound very aggressive, however.

Elena, you did say "Then is should be topical issue" - that sounds like an instruction. I don't mean to come across as aggressive - I think your English is very good.

Olivia, I wanted to say that then this is correct, i did't mean the instruction . I didn' t know it sounded like an instruction.

Elena, I knew what you meant, so I didn't take it like an instruction :) When we want to correct something we think is wrong, we say "It should be..., (and not...)" Like Olivia, I also think your English is good. You and I seem to be in the same boat linguistically - we know a lot of grammar and vocabulary, but we're fine-tuning our usage and practical knowledge. That's why I always try to give you tips when I can. I hope you don't mind. By all means, if you see something I can improve in my Russian, please point it out.

Uly, I welcome when mistakes are corrected and when native speakers explain how something is better to say but I don't understand how a teacher (or even not a teacher) can "admire my gall". We are all in the same boat here, we love foreign languages and want to learn more.

Elena, she was reacting to "Then it should be..." But you didn't know how that expression came across, so you didn't mean it that way.