Obama and Africa – When times are tough, do we turn our backs on the world’s poor?

“When world leaders break a promise, it is a sin, but when governments break a promise to the poorest people on the planet, it is nothing short of a crime,”

On Air today: Talking to South Africa’s next generation of voters.

South Africa is voting today and the ANC is facing the biggest challenge to its grip on power since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. But there’s little doubt it will win.

Talking Points for 24 November

Is Africa addicted to aid? Why haven’t all those millions of dollars lifted the continent out of poverty?

Sorious Samura is an award winning journalist from Sierra Leone, he’ll be in the studio today taking your questions. Read Chloe’s blog and post your questions here.

Somalia – how can the reporter help?

Isa Ali Gedi lives in the Somalia capital Mogadishu. He told us: “I’ve lost 50% of my life. I’ve lost some of my kids. I’ve lost my house, my job. I live like the cats and dogs. I live in a hopeless place.” After we thought the interview had finished, Isa said he wanted to ask us some questions. “What can the BBC do for me?” “What can I tell my three kids?” So what is the role of the journalist? To help or to report?

Talking points 20 August.

Hello, Kate with you again this morning. Thanks to Will for moderating last night.

Both Nelson and Will suggested topics relating to homosexuality that have got you all talking on the blog.

Has AIDS hijacked the world health agenda?

Is the illness getting the funding it deserves, or are illnesses like TB and Malaria suffering?

Here are a few facts:
*TB kills an estimated 2 million people each year and is the leading cause of death for people with AIDS.
*At least 1 million people die from malaria each year, mostly children in Africa.
*AIDS is the world’s fourth leading cause of death.

Talking Points July 15

Special thanks to Steve in Virginia for the overnight thread handling.

Don’t forget, tonight’s show comes direct from this church in Johannesburg.

On air: Has Mandela turned the tide against Mugabe?

Just a few words, but what difference will they make? Last night Former South African President Nelson Mandela used a London dinner marking his 90th birthday to criticise Robert Mugabe’s regime he spoke of the “tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe.”

On air: Is it time for Africa to be weaned off aid?

Two topics on the agenda today. First aid to Africa, just three years after the G8 pledged to double aid the group which was set up to monitor their promises has found donor countries are $40bn behind schedule. And a year after Hamas seized control of Gaza we’re bringing together 6 young people to talk about how their lives have changed.

Will sub-Saharan Africa prosper?

A piece in the Financial Times this week says that the focus on the bad news stories in Africa is distracting from more positive developments across the continent. Francis Beddington says a combination of economic stability, new technology and the African entrepreneurial spirit is fuelling economic growth and creating a business environment ripe for investment.