Recent Posts
Recent Posts Tagged With 'first thing'
On Air: Should psychological violence in a relationship be a crime?
If you insult your partner repeatedly, and live in France, you could face a jail sentence in the near future. France may become the first country to ban psychological violence in relationships where couples are married or living together. HereR...
What should the Indian government do to protect its students?
Australia is a major travel destination for Indian students studying abroad. In return they generate good revenue for Australia. Surely, these students have a right to feel safe whilst there. But after an Indian graduate was stabbed to death ...
If a bank goes bust is it obliged to pay everyone off?
The Dutch want answers and the Brits - well they just want their money back. But it looks like they’re both just going to have to wait if Iceland has anything to do with it. The President of Iceland has refused to sign a bill to repay more th...
On Air: Who’s more intelligent, the intelligence services or the terrorists?
In yesterday’s programme many listeners commented that profiling at airports would not work because the people who resort to terror would simply change their profile and stay one step ahead. The calls for these extra security measures at airpo...
Should you be able to call your God whatever you want?
God’s just been to court. Well in Malaysia anyway. The Malaysian government has filed an appeal against a court ruling that allows non-Muslims to use the word Allah to refer to God. Protests by Muslim groups are breaking out across the coun...
On Air: Can profiling stop terrorism?
If you are from one of 14 countries – including Nigeria, Afghanistan and Cuba, and flying into the US you will now face enhanced screening, including body pat-down searches and carry-on baggage checks. These countries have been selected beca...
A community of communities ?
This may surprise you but we’re always thinking of ways to make WHYS better, more effective and truly reflective of your views and opinions. It’s right that we are in a state of permanent evolution, though it does mean sometimes we bite o...
Is marriage a step too far for gay rights?
It was the tale of two weddings. On Tuesday, two gay rights activists made history when they became the first couple to tie the knot in Argentina. Meanwhile in Malawi, Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were also married in a traditional ceremony...
On Air: Send your message to hostages around the world
Peter Moore will start 2010 as a free man. After his capture in May 2007 by 40 armed men dressed as Iraqi police officers and a 31 month hostage ordeal, he finally has cause to celebrate. As reported today ,he phoned home to tell his stepmother that...
Good year bad year?
Today is New Year’s eve and it’s the time of year we look back on how we’ve done, if the year that went by was good for us, for our family and our friends. For me 2009 was a busy year, it was the year I joined WHYS and back in Apr...
On Air: How do you stop radicalisation?
Five days after the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253, lots of questions remain unanswered and one in particular : ‘how do you stop radicalisation?’ Lots of factors are blamed for the transformation of regular guys to suicide bo...
Selective protesting ?
Robert Fisk – a contributor to WHYS – has written an article today which is already getting you going. It’s an issue which comes up time and time again when we discuss this . All your ...
On Air: Should all drugs smugglers be executed?
China has defended the execution of British man Akmal Sheikh, the first European citizen to have been executed in over 50 years. Despite much global condemnation , China’s decision to stand it’s ground has also attracted praise - fro...
Who do you blame for the “syringe bomber” ?
His family contacted security agencies two months ago to raise concerns and his teachers say he was showing signs of extremism from a young age. He was even on a terrorism watch list. So how did Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, the Nigerian man susp...
Why isn’t the world supporting the democratically elected government of Iran ?
Anti-government protests in Tehran over the weekend have left at least eight people dead and over 300 people arrested. The bloody images splattered across the world’s media say it all. This is Iran’s next revolution in the makin...
On Air: Christmas away from home?
WHYS is getting festive. Whether you’re a troop in Afghanistan, a migrant worker or an international student, we’d like to hear from you. This Christmas day, we’re aiming to get WHYS listeners talking to their loved ones live...
On air: Does Facebook improve your life?
In our meeting today we all were able to come up with a story regarding Facebook. From the case of Anthony Stancl the American teenager who blackmailed fellow students at his secondary school into having sex after using their Facebook images . And to...
Should we stop giving at Christmas?
Moving on from my earlier blog post on the meaning of Christmas, I wonder if The Grinch has got to Ghanaian President, John Atta Mills this Christmas? He’s refusing to accept Christmas presents from well-wishers this year, because he says they ...
What does Christmas mean to you?
As I write this, the UK’s shopkeepers are bracing themselves for the last minute stampede of shoppers in search of last minute Christmas gifts. Amidst this annual spending frenzy come the accompanying complaints that we’ve lost the true s...
Is fidelity overrated ?
She’s half of Hollywood’s most famous couple , but Angelina Jolie doesn’t believe fidelity is “absolutely essential” for a relationship. She’s not talking about dishonesty, she says open romances can work just as w...
Facebook is it a force for good?
In our meeting today we all were able to come up with a story regarding Facebook. From the case of Anthony Stancl the American teenager who blackmailed fellow students at his secondary school into having sex after using their Facebook images . To a...
Ear for an ear does the punishment fit the crime?
A Pakistani judge has ordered two men to have their ears and noses cut off, as punishment for doing the same to a woman who refused to marry one of them. The government prosecutor Ehtisham Qadir said the punishment had been awarded in accordance with...
On air: Is it ever OK to shoplift?
This is a British story that has suddenly gone global in the past 48 hours. Rev Tim Jones is a parish priest in the north of England and he believes that society’s attitude to those in need “leaves some people little option but crime̶...
Christmas away from home?
WHYS is getting festive. Whether you’re a troop in Afghanistan, a migrant worker or an international student, we’d like to hear from you. This Christmas day, we’re aiming to get WHYS listeners talking to their loved ones live...
Can Israel’s Gaza blockade be justified?
Aid agencies have released a report criticising the world for not doing more to stop the Israeli blockade of Gaza. It’s been picked up around the world by bloggers and mainstream media. All of this rests of course on the belief that the blockad...
The pressing questions from Copenhagen
The blame game is getting more pointed and passionate by the hour. Krupa’s already posted about China’s role in reaching the accord. I’d add these questions into our discussion. - Do you think the world’s leaders took the thre...
Did China hijack Copenhagen?
Whilst talks on who’s to blame for climate change might be over for now, talks on who’s to blame for Copenhagen failing are just beginning. “China is at the heart of Copenhagen’s failure,” says the editorial in Le Monde ...
Should you get pregnant in the army?
“I have female soldiers in absolutely critical specialties and becoming pregnant takes them out of the fight…And so that’s my message to the females – think before you do something, because I need you.” That’s the ...
What does the Grand Ayatollah’s death mean for Iran’s opposition?
Thousands of Iranians are gathering in the holy city of Qom to mourn the death of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri . Many of you have been getting in touch with the BBC to share your feelings on his death. This is from Mani in Esfahan, Iran. ...
What’s going to happen in 2010?
In a couple of weeks on Newshour we’ll be looking ahead to some of the likely big stories of next year. So, gazing into your crystal ball – what do you think is going to happen in 2010? Will the economy recover ? Do you expect to be bette...
