bbc World Service podcasts

The Instant Guide is the programme that gives you the background information to a story in the news. This month UN member states are meeting to tackle the problem of the illicit trade of small arms. Today we look at the small arms industry and how weapons change hands outside the legitimate business.

Arianna Huffington has given her name to a website that has taken America's political news-watchers by storm. The Huffington Post has already caused a stir with stories about the candidates in the American presidential race. And its founder says she wants to take journalism in a new direction. So who is she and how much influence will her website have?

In Business Daily We look at how African businesses might benefit from fast internet connections - but is the dream of getting broadband attainable? As companies try to connect fibreoptic cables under the sea to reach east Africa, we look at why the broadband revolution is taking so long - has politics been the bugbear?

Is Democracy for ALL inevitable? Latest figures suggest democracy is spreading and if the trend continues the entire planet should be democratic by the end of the century. Some argue that China's growing economy would inevitably lead to a greater democracy but it doesn't seem to be happening.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe arrives home from the AU summit in defiant mood. *Thousands flee Somalia due to the lack of security there, we hear some of their stories. And, we join our correspondent in Bujumbura where the holiday season is about to begin.

How can talking to a person be like talking to a brick wall? Learn a new idiom in this week's Real English with Neil and Li.

Diamonds from the dawn of time – do they contain the earliest evidence of life on Earth?; new evidence on the causes of sudden infant death syndrome; sensory illusions and the treatment of phantom limb pain; the fast and furious life of a unique chameleon; and the nano-pot that boils quicker.

We're looking at simple passives - are they as simple as we would like them to be? We challenge Jin from South Korea to make correct sentences in the passive voice.

Campaigners for improving maternal health have been lobbying the G8 to get the topic on the agenda for the next meeting in Japan. In programme two of the series Health for All, Uduak Amimo asks is there enough political will to combat maternal mortality?

The programme looks at the problems of sheer size - how do you as a manager make a difference in an organisation with more than a million workers? And we've got a load of old rubbish - how the next big thing is making money out someone else's junk.

Barriers to inter-cultural communication: Marc Beeby looks at how, quite understandably, our own culture is usually the biggest obstacle to inter-cultural communication.

*President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa addresses a ceremony commemorating those who died as a result of the country's xenophobic violence in May. *Confusion over the state of health of Zambian President Mwanawasa. *And Prisoners detained at Rwanda's genocide tribunal are given conjugal rights.

One Planet - The Return to Coal While the oil price continues to rise, energy companies and governments are trying to find new ways to meet their energy needs. Rather than turn to renewable sources, such as wind, solar and wave power, many companies are turning instead to the fuel of the industrial revolution, coal. From Britain to Japan, from Australia to Latin America, coal is making a comeback. But is it an answer to the energy crisis or just stop-gap for the short term? In the first of two programmes on the return to coal, Richard Hollingham, visits South Wales where previously unprofitable mines are being reopened.

The programmes looks at how countries with public health systems are turning to private companies to find the funding to build and run new hospitals. Is it good value for money and are hospitals managed better? And how would you feel if someone threw a latte over your laptop - would it emerge unscathed?

Today, dialogue between Israel and Iran - why hasn't it happened ? CAN it happen? Which side would have to sacrifice WHAT to make sure that any dialogue was productive and permanent. Today on WHYS we're bringing together Israelis and Iranians to have that dialogue.

* Zimbabwe's main opposition leader outlines his conditions for dialogue with President Mugabe. * At least 15 boys dead in South Africa after botched circumcisions. * And we assess the control Islamist insurgents wield over Somalia.

If you argue with someone in a shop or market over the price of something, we call this ‘haggling’. Although it isn't the custom in the UK to haggle every time we shop, it is something we do for very cheap things... or very expensive things.

As the world counts down to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Gerry Northam investigates China's claims of 'vigorous growth in the public practice of religion' but he discovers people are still being persecuted and oppressed for practising religion.

Business Daily talks to two entrepreneurs in west Africa. Their businesses are very different but both are driven by passion as much as profit. They've got the motivation - but is that enough to guarantee success?

Does patriotism poison politics ? Barak Obama thinks yes it does. In a speech to mark independence day in the US, the Democratic contender gave a long speech outlining - for him - what patriotism actually means. What do you think ?