Are we getting dumber?

Susan Jacoby says we are in her book ‘The Age of American Unreason’. She argues her point in this article in the Washington Post. She’s ready to come on to the programme on Monday to talk about her views.

Is a resurgent Russia good for the world?

The Russian presidential elections are this Sunday. President Putin’s preferred candidate, Dmitry Medvedev, is almost certain to win. We’re planning to discuss Russia’s role in the world on Friday’s programme.

Stories for Friday 29 February

Good morning, it’s the end of a good week (at least we think so, and hope you agree). We’ve discussed breaking news, taken a news story and broadened the question, and we’ve talked about something completely unrelated to the day’s news. Today, we’re going to hit for the cycle (it’s a baseball term, Ros) and preview an upcoming news event – Sunday’s presidential election in Russia.

Can power sharing work in Kenya?

We’ve just heard the news that the international mediator Kofi Annan has said that a deal has been reached on power-sharing in Kenya. Mr Annan was speaking after talks between President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition leader Raila Odinga to end the crisis over the disputed presidential elections.

Personal data held by the state

A landmark case is being heard in the European Court of Human Rights today. Two British men who were arrested for a crime but later released without charge are challenging the police’s legal right to keep samples of their DNA and their fingerprints on file.

It’s a huge debate here in Britain this week since DNA evidence was crucial in securing the conviction of two murderers.

Stories for Thursday 28 February

Good morning everyone, sorry for the unexciting headline, but in order to make the processes of the programme clearer, and to help you tell us what you want to talk about, we’ll be using this format every morning from now on.

So what’s on our radar today? Something we’ve been talking about in the office for a day or two is Turkey’s re-examination of the Hadith – a collection of sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and the second most sacred text in Islam.

Can women be honest about the downside of motherhood?

‘It’s still taboo for women to express mixed feelings about motherhood, but many don’t find the idyll they’d been led to expect.’ If you’re a mother, does that ring true for you?

Sign that things in Iraq aren’t going well

Hi. I’m Dwight. I’m a regular here on the WHYS blog and would like to run my thoughts on Iraq by you. I’d welcome your comments.

Do anti-depressants work?

A study has concluded that most patients don’t benefit from some of the most common anti-depressants like Prozac and Seroxat. In severe cases, the researchers found there may be some benefits to taking anti-depressants.

It’s based on the findings of 47 trials submitted to the Food and Drug Administration in the US, details of which were made public in some cases and not in others.

Do you, a friend or a relative take anti-depressants? Have they affected how you or they feel?

Should Islam allow women to conduct marriages?

Hi, I’m Mohamed Gade. I’m doing work experience with WHYS at the moment. I’d like to ask you about this story. An Egyptian 32 year old called Amal Solayman Afifi has become the first female to be given permission to conduct Islamic marriages in Islamic history. Do you agree with the appointment?