On air: Is Iran the most misunderstood country in the world?

You may not be aware of this (I wasn’t) but today is Iran’s national nuclear day. For a moment I considered suggesting ‘why can’t we all have national nuclear days?’ but I’ll leave that debate for another time.

Anyway it is today, and as part of a ceremony to mark it, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to announce advances in his country’s nuclear programmes….

Talking Points: 9 April 2009

The US, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain have said they want talks with Iran. But is it worth it? Some bloggers are worried that the West is too soft on Iran.  But is it? If the world powers don’t take a harder stance do they risk getting taken for granted?

There’s also an interesting article by the New York Time’s Roger Cohen which questions whether attitudes towards Iran need to change. Check it out here.

So who is actually afraid of Iran? Does it really pose a threat to world order? Or do some countries just misunderstand it?

On air: Have you lost the argument if protests turn violent?

“If I’m surrounded by police, then I shouldn’t be there”.
This was posted on our blog last night by Mark, a British soldier, after a video emerged of an apparently unprovoked attack by riot police on a man at last week’s G20 protests. The man now died and there are calls for an inquiry into the police’s actions. (Read Mark’s full post here) It comes after a very busy 24 hours for riot police across the globe.

Of course Africans would like to leave Africa…

From Lammi from Liberia:

A few days ago I listened to a BBC World Have Your Say broadcast which centered on the botched attempt by the pop star Madonna to adopt another Malawian child.

On air: Are some people inherently evil?

Are some people destined to do harm to others? Is there something in their psychological make-up from their birth which is dictating their behaviour? Or do those who carry out pre-meditated murder, rape or torture do so because of their experience in life? Is it as much about circumstance as anything else? There are several reasons we’re picking up on this today.

Feeling the buzz

What is the hippest part of your home town? Where does all the cool stuff happen? A recent American study “The Geography of Buzz” has looked at what makes a place hip and happening, and Michael on The World Today  wants to hear what you think makes your favourite neighbourhood THE place to be.

Talking Points: 7 April 2009

15 years on: Rwanda still an open wound?

15 years ago the genocide in Rwanda had started and since then,  millions of Tutsis and moderate Hutus have been killed. In this article, Ellis Cose writes about his recent trip to Rwanda and speaks to people there about their painful memories and aspirations to a better future.

Sports World Have Your Say has landed

Our host Russell Fuller writes : 

 What a breathtaking strike. I am not a Manchester United fan – Woking will always be closest to my heart – but for me, Federico Macheda’s injury time winner for United on Sunday was the most thrilling moment of the season so far.

He’d never even been on the bench before, and would have been in Italy for the weekend if

On air: Is religion the biggest obstacle to gender equality?

There are several stories that are driving this discussion. This video is one of them.

Thousands of you have watched this video of a Pakistani girl being flogged for a relationship she’s alleged to have had.

Talking Points for 6 April

North Korea’s rocket didn’t quite hit the outer reaches of space, but it has certainly made everyone sit up and take notice: one place remains firmly outside the current world order.

Is the world powerless when it comes to North Korea? Is it worth worrying about?