James Coomarasamy discusses on Weekend today's news and one story we are looking at this week is the 200th anniversary of the birth of German composer Richard Wagner, he is one of the world's greatest musicians but still controversial because of his views and the fact he was Hitler's favourite. Can you celebrate the music but not the man?Bavaria southern Germany - Bayreuth Wagner Anniversary 2013bbc.inWith an interesting and diverse cultural program in 2013, Bayreuth will be honoring a citizen of the world whose musical genius, life and work still shape the city today.

Do you have a tattoo? What does it say about your life story? On Boston Calling, we hear how immigrants living along the US-Mexico border “get inked” in order to help them express who they are and where they came from:(PHOTO: Brad Doherty)

Nigeria's military has imposed a 24-hour curfew in parts of the north-eastern city of Maiduguri in an offensive against Boko Haram militants. Are you in the city? What are you seeing and hearing? Join me Julian Marshall with Newshour at 20 hours GMT.Nigeria army imposes curfew on citybbc.in

How much transparency do we need in banking? This week on the Forum, we discuss radical approaches to financial reform. Joining Bridget Kendall are Stanford University professor of Finance and Economics Anat Admati, economic historian Felix Martin and film-maker Zachary Formwalt. Perhaps the first step to getting a financial system that serves us better is to strip away the mystique and deliberate obfuscation which so many financiers delight in?BBC World Service - The Forum, Does finance have to be invisible?bbc.inwith Anat Admati, Zachary Formwalt and Felix Martin

What should come first for immigrants: citizenship or the right to vote? A legislator from one of the most ethnically diverse districts in the United States makes the case that citizenship shouldn’t be a precursor to voting. That story and more on this week's Boston Calling:(PHOTO: Monica Campbell)

The man in charge of the UN's project on the postwar reconstruction of Syria is former deputy prime minister Abdullah al-Dardari. In his first broadcast interview he tells Newshour's James Menendez about his optimism for the country's postwar future, but also about the scale of the wartime devastation: 3,000 factories lost to production, 5 million people below the poverty line, and GDP down by 40%. 'Syria's future is bright' says UN's Syria reconstruction chiefbbc.inThe man in charge of the UN's project on the postwar reconstruction of Syria is the ex deputy prime minister Abdullah al-Dardari. In his first br...

Do you block the ads on the web pages you read? Would you be willing to accept ads if it meant you didn't have to pay for your news and information sources? This is Dan Damon with World Update - I'm talking to Katharina Borcher, CEO of Spiegel Online, the German news site, which has asked readers not to use an adblocker, a downloadable programme that stops ads appearing on web pages. She says she is keen to keep her site free of charge, but already they have noticed 25% of their readers are blocking ads and that is bound to hit revenue. She wants readers to accept some advertising, as long as it's not intrusive, otherwise they might have to put up a paywall. How much online advertising can you stand? What will happen to online journalism if it's not advertising supported? Is there a different model for development of the Internet and World Wide Web that does not include pop-ups and banner ads?Adblock Plus - Surf the web without annoying ads!adblockplus.orgAdblock Plus is the most popular adblocker available for Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Android. Block all annoying ads all over the web: remove video ads on YouTube, block Facebook ads, get rid of pop-ups and much more. On Google Chrome, Adblock Plus is one of the fastest growing extensions ever. Our a...

A quarter of gay people say they have been subjected to attacks or violent threats in the past five years, according to the biggest ever study carried out by the EU. 93,000 people were interviewed for the survey, which found that more than half of those who said they had been attacked did not report the incident to the authorities, because they thought nothing would happen. Are you surprised by the findings? Is there anything governments can do to reduce discrimination against gay people? Newsday is live (http://bbc.in/YNNJz7) with full coverage of the story.EU poll highlights homophobic abusebbc.in

David Beckham has announced that he's retiring from football at the end of this season. Becks is 38, and he's just won the league playing for Paris Saint-Germain, adding to his league titles for Manchester United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy. He's had a hugely successful career, but there are many who would say he wasn't the most naturally gifted player to grace the game. And yet he's one of the most famous men in the world and worth over $250 million. So how do you explain the phenomenon of Brand Beckham, and what will be your lasting impression of him? Newsday is live at 0300 GMT. We'll be hearing from two die-hard Beckham fans in Nigeria and Ghana to get their reaction.David Beckham to retire from footballbbc.inFormer England captain David Beckham is to retire from football at the end of the season, at the age of 38.

What's the biggest lie you've ever told? Did it spiral out of control? This week on The Why Factor, Mike Williams explores why we lie. Learning to do it is an important developmental stage for children, but for some people lying becomes an addiction. So is every lie bad? And what's the difference between a white lie and a blue lie? Find out on the BBC World Service tomorrow 18:30 GMT or download the podcast viaBBC World Service - The Why Factor, The Lie bbc.inThis week, why do we lie?

Is retirement unhealthy? This is Dan Damon with World Update. I'm talking to Philip Booth from the Institute of Economic Affairs in the UK, who was part of a team that researched the impact of giving up work. Among their findings: retirement increases the probability of suffering from clinical depression by about 40%. And it seems getting up and going to work, and mixing with work colleagues, is stimulating not just mentally but physically too: retirement increases the probability of having at least one diagnosed physical condition by about 60%, says the IEA. Have you retired and can count the benefits? Or do you regret giving up work when you did? If you're still in work, what are your retirement plans? And if you are getting close to retirement, what do you plan to do with yourself?

An investigation by the BBC has found strong indications of a chemical attack in northern Syria. Eyewitnesses and victims claim that government helicopters dropped at least two devices containing poisonous gas on the town of Saraqeb. Doctors say one woman died and seven others suffered side effects. Both Britain and America have spoken of growing evidence that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons. Rebel fighters have also been accused of using them. Ian Pannell and his cameraman Darren Conway are the first journalists to visit the site. Ian will be live on Newsday (http://bbc.in/WSlive) in the next hour to discuss his investigation. Send us any questions you'd like to put to him.Newsday: BBC's Ian Pannell reports on evidence of possible chemical attack in northern SyriaAn investigation by the BBC has found strong indications of a chemical attack in northern Syria. Eyewitnesses and victims claim that government hel...

Scientists in the United States say they have created a human embryo through cloning. The cloned embryos were used as a source of stem cells, which can make new heart muscle, bone, brain tissue or any other type of cell in the body. Many believe the breakthrough could revolutionise medicine. Advocates of the new technique say that the embryos created from this technique could never become viable human beings. But opponents say it is unethical to experiment on human embryos and have called for a ban. What do you think of this new development? On Newsday from 0300 GMT (http://bbc.in/WSlive), we'll be speaking to the man who led the research.Milestone in medical human 'cloning'www.bbc.co.ukHuman cloning is used to produce early embryos, marking a "significant step" for medicine, say US scientists.

What do you want to know about the conflict in Syria? On Newshour we're devoting the whole programme to the war as it plays out in the battle for Syria's biggest city, Aleppo. We'll be joined by the BBC's Paul Wood, who's reported many times from Syria, and hear from residents, exiles and a businessman whose family has been making soap there for generations. Once a centre of culture and trade, the devastation of Aleppo has been compared to the destruction of Tokyo after World War II. So what does the future hold for the city, its citizens and the rest of Syria? How far does the instability threaten the whole region? Join Tim Franks for this Newshour special live at 19/20GMT'in assault on Aleppo prison'bbc.in

Have social media created more hate? People who post on Facebook and Twitter seem to say harsher things than they would face-to-face, and cyber-bullying is a real problem in schools. Dr Monica Stephens at Humboldt University in Southern California has led a project mapping hate speech on Twitter. Her team can tell from what's called geo-tagging where the tweets come from. Have you received insults on social media? Have you written things you might not have said if someone was there in front of you? Have you suffered cyber-bullying at school - there are some anonymised sites that seem to make that much easier now? And do the advantages of social media - easy to keep in touch with friends around the world - outweigh the disadvantages?

He was one of Brazil's goal scoring aces, but recently Romario has reinvented himself and became a member of parliament. Now he is criticising some of the country's 2014 World Cup projects. He told about his motives to the BBC's Tim FranksFootballer Romario turns into politician with a critical voice - on NewsdayBrazil is getting ready to host the 2014 World Cup. But the preparations have become marred in controversy. Leading the campaign against over-budg...

He was one of Brazil's goal scoring Gods, but recently Romario has reinvented himself and became a member of parliament. Now he is criticising some of the country's 2014 World Cup projects. He told about his motives to the BBC's Tim FranksFootballer Romario turns into politician with a critical voice - on NewsdayBrazil is getting ready to host the 2014 World Cup. But the preparations have become marred in controversy. Leading the campaign against over-budg...

Ever wondered why teenagers are moody, turn rebellious and think the world is against them? Cambridge University researchers are studying what makes the teenage brain unique. They say it undergoes some big changes during adolescence making it lacking of social judgement and self-control. It may not be completely mature until we hit our twenties. So what kind of teenager were you?Study to understand teenage brainwww.bbc.co.ukResearchers in Cambridge have begun a study to understand the teenage brain

How much should members of parliament be paid? MPs in Kenya are amongst the highest paid in the world, but want a rise to about $10,000 a month - six times the average wage. As we'll hear on Newshour with Tim Franks at 19/20GMT, protestors in Nairobi say that's far too much. So what's the best way to determine the rate of pay for MPs? Set it high so they don't need other jobs or sources of income - or low, so that they don't appear greedy? What's an MPs' job worth?Pig protest over Kenyan MPs' paybbc.in

Are you a fan of our history programme Witness? Last night the team were ecstatic to win gold at the Sony Radio awards for best speech programme. More details here:You can browse the Witness archive or subscribe to their free podcasts here:Fotos de la biografía

Angelina Jolie has revealed she has had a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of contracting breast cancer. In an article in the New York Times she explained that tests have revealed she was highly likely to contract breast cancer,­ a disease which killed her mother at 56. Newsday spoke to Emma Parlons, who has undergone the same procedure voluntarily. Here is why:

The best-known astronaut of recent years has returned to earth from the International Space Station. Commander Chris Hadfield from Canada did not become famous for a particularly daring space-walk but for his use of social media like Twitter - and for singing in space. After 146 days on the ISS he and two of his colleagues have landed back on Earth in a Soyuz capsule - which parachuted the last few hundred metres onto the steppe in Kazakhstan. So what exactly are they going through so soon after their landing? Professor Jeffrey Hoffman, a former astronaut told Newsday about it.How does it feel to land after 5 months in space? Former astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman tells NewsdayShortly after landing Commander Hadfield and his fellow astronauts from the international space station have been recovering after their return to ...

He has one of the best win ratios in the English Premier League. He brought success and trophies to Manchester City for the first time in 35 years. But Roberto Mancini has lost his job. Many sports writers are pointing to his man-management style. They say the way he confronted his superstar players meant there was only going to be one winner. We're talking about Mancini's sacking on Newsday. Send us your thoughts. Did he let himself down or did his players let him down? style cost Mancini'www.bbc.co.ukRoberto Mancini's man-management style was to blame for his exit as Manchester City manager, according to Danny Mills.

Is it ever ok to pay a bribe? The May edition of 'Your Money', the BBC World Service's personal finance programme, will be talking to the founder of an anti-bribery website ipaidabribe.com which seeks to highlight the extent of bribery in everyday life and business and try to change mind-sets. Where do you draw the line? BBC World Service - Your Money, Your Money in India bbc.inFood & fuel inflation, investing in gold, access to banking & a collapsed savings scheme.

What did you want to be when you grew up? How does that differ from what your children or the young people about you today? How about 'astronaut'? On World Update, we're talking about the way space travel went from cool to dull and now, thanks to Canadian Chris Hadfield (see below) is back on the road to being a desirable career. What were your childhood dreams and how did they turn out? What do young people where you live aspire to - celebrity, wealth or service to the community? What are the realistic hopes for the next generation?

"A terrible, sulphurous smell, like rotten eggs" was what Paul Templer could recall when he realised he was being swallowed by a hippopotamus. Mr Templer was then 27 and worked as a river tourist guide near Victoria Falls, along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. He's been telling BBC Newsday about his narrow escape from the jaws of death.. Click on the link to listen:

Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut better known by his twitter handle as @Cmdr_Hadfield is leaving the International Space Station. On BBC Newsday he talks about how it feels to take photos of planet Earth and to celebrate his last day in orbit, he has recorded a revised version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity". From space. Will you be out to wave good bye to him?

Why are so many children in European or American cultures unhappy? That's the question that writer, Jay Griffiths, attempts to answer in her new book. She'll be talking to me, Julian Worricker, on 'Weekend', as she puts forward her belief that too often children in these cultures are cooped up indoors and prevented from playing or wandering freely. Do you think she's right? Let us know..... The Riddle of the Childscape by Jay Griffiths – reviewwww.guardian.co.ukSentimentality clouds an otherwise sharp diagnosis of child unhappiness, writes Mary Beard

Is there a historical figure you’d like to be for a day? For American Mark Schneider, it’s Napoleon Bonaparte. "I’ve been preparing for this role my entire life." Hear Schneider’s spot-on impersonation, and more, on Boston Calling:

Democracy, anarchy, consensus, and what makes a good leader in the 21st century: this week’s Forum explores the art of political decision making. Bridget Kendall is joined by international relations scholar Joseph Nye, one of the leaders of the Occupy Wall Street movement David Graeber, dialogue facilitator Martijn de Liefde, who takes his inspiration from Botswana, and Oxford politics Professor Stephen Whitefield. If you could create an ideal system of governance, what would it be?BBC World Service - The Forum, The Art of Political Decision Makingbbc.inwith Joseph Nye, David Graeber, Martijn de Liefde and Stephen Whitefield

Hello, I'm Julian Worricker with news of 'Weekend' at 0500 GMT. Voting is under way in crucial elections in Pakistan - it's the country's first transition from one civilian government to another. I'll have expert guests with me, and my colleague Owen Bennett-Jones , who's in Pakistan, will join us live....what are your hopes for these elections? What question would you like to put to Owen? Let us know..... poised for crucial electionwww.bbc.co.ukPakistanis are set to vote amid tight security in elections that mark the country's first-ever transition from one civilian government to another.

What do you hope to still be doing in your senior years? On the next Boston Calling, we remember the late ballet sensation Frederic Franklin, who died last weekend at the age of 98. Franklin was still delighting audiences well into his 90s:(PHOTO: Alex Gallafent)

Do you judge a book by its cover? The novelist Maureen Johnson has touched a raw nerve by drawing attention to the way publishers try to market women writers in a 'girly' way, with book jackets featuring pink hearts and other fluffy imagery. She says she's heard from men urging her to choose less girly covers so they feel able to read her books. Her anger has been echoed by several other leading female writers. Newshour's James Coomarasamy speaks to one of them, Polly Courtney, who left her publishers after a disagreement over book covers. Do you think book jackets are gender-stereotyped? And if you're a man, would you avoid reading a pink book with love hearts on the cover, even if you thought it might be interesting? Listen live at 19/20GMTWhat Happens If You Flip The Gender Of Book Covers?bbc.inYesterday, author Maureen Johnson had a great idea. She tweeted "I do wish I had a dime for every email I get that says, "Please put a non-girly cover on your book so I can read it.

Owen Bennett Jones, a former BBC correspondent in Pakistan, returns to the country to report on the issues shaping this month's election campaign. It will be the first time in recent memory a civilian government hands over to another civilian government.Newshour in PakistanOwen Bennett Jones, a former BBC correspondent in Pakistan, returns to the country to report on the issues shaping this month's election campaign. It will be the first time in recent memory a civilian government hands over to another civilian government.

"How 'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?" was a popular song after WW1. All over the world, there are small, rural communities facing the problem of young people for whom life in the countryside is not exciting enough. In the original song the problem was "After They've Seen Paree" because soldiers were coming back from the bright lights of Europe. These days the question should be "After They've Logged On To The Internet." This is Dan Damon - I've been talking to the director of a film about the remote Inuit settlement of Niaqornat in north-west Greenland, where the traditional fishing and hunting traditions are a hard way to earn a living, and young people are keen to leave for the city. How do rural communities survive where you are? Is the farming life to much like hard work for young people? Or are you someone who's young and likes the village life? How do you keep yourself entertained? Do you miss the clubs and crowds you could find in town?

Do you believe in miracles? A woman is pulled alive from the wreckage of a garment factory after being buried for 17 days, with no significant injuries. More than a thousand people died when the building in Bangladesh collapsed, so how did she manage to survive? Was it luck or something more? Tune in to Newshour at 12/13GMT for more. Do you know of someone who's survived a brush with death in extraordinary circumstances?'Woman found alive' in Dhaka rubblebbc.in

The Africa Progress Panel chaired by Kofi Annan has released a report critical of the way mining deals have diverted cash out of Africa. Mr Annan told Newsday’s Lerato Mbele that transparency is the key to ensuring ordinary Africans share in the wealth they generate.BBC Newsday: Kofi Annan says Africans are not getting their fair sharesoundcloud.comKofi Annan at the World Economic Forum for Africa in Cape Town, tells Lerato Mbele that ordinary Africans are not benefiting from the continent's r...

15 desperate unemployed Danes are literally putting themselves in the shop window in their efforts to get a job. The well qualified group will take turns to present themselves to the public and tempt potential employers. How far would you go to get a job?

Can India make your money grow? 'Your Money' is the monthly personal finance programme on BBC World Service Radio which tackles your questions about the money issues that matter to you. In next week's programme (14/5/13) top tips on how to make your money work harder. We'll be looking at the best options for personal investing in India...where are you putting your cash? Are you considering bonds or mutual funds? Gold or land? How risk averse are you? Do you live outside India and have money invested there? How do the returns compare with other countries? Paul Lewis and Rupa Jha will be talking to Monika Halan, Editor of Mint Money who'll answer your investment questions. So get posting so we can include in the programme.BBC World Service - Your Money, Your Money in Indiawww.bbc.co.ukFood & fuel inflation, investing in gold, access to banking & a collapsed savings scheme.

Tomorrow on The Why Factor, Mike Williams tries to overcome his disgust at the idea of eating insects, which made us wonder - what's the most disgusting thing you've ever eaten? BBC World Service - The Why Factor, Disgust bbc.inWhy do we experience disgust?

America is, for now, still the world's superpower, so does it matter who occupies the White House? You might think that's a rather pointless question. But some presidents do matter more than others - and not necessarily the ones you might think - according to Professor Joseph Nye, who served as Assistant Secretary of Defence in the Clinton administration and now teaches at the Kennedy School at Harvard University. Is it the office of the president or the qualities of the individual that matter more? Will the role of the US President diminish faced with China's rise? Hear more on Newshour at 12/13GMT with James Coomarasamy. Listen live:

Are psychiatrists damaging their profession by defining normal human moods as abnormal? Are drugs companies pushing out too many anti-depressants for profit? This is Dan Damon. On World Update. I've been speaking to a therapist who says psychiatrists have defined too many normal human emotions as disturbed that 1-in-4 of us are diagnosed as suffering a mental disorder. But a psychiatrist says early diagnosis saves lives by lessening the chance of conditions getting worse and becoming fatal. How useful are psychiatric services where you live? Are doctors too keen to hand out anti-depressants or have they really helped someone you know? Is depression a disease of the wealthy and privileged, or is treatment for mental disorder only available to those who can afford it? And if you work in the mental health industry or in pharmaceuticals, your opinion would be valuable.

The celebrated physicist Stephen Hawking has announced that he will support an academic boycott of Israel and has cancelled his attendance at a conference in Jerusalem. Are intellectual and cultural boycotts a valid tactic, or is it more important to keep communications open ?

Ghana's first commercial oil began flowing in December 2010, 60km offshore. The government said oil money would fund new roads, ports and railways. But two-and-a-half-years on, what difference has it made to the lives of people in the once run-down port of Takoradi, the hub for the new industry?

What's the secret of Sir Alex Ferguson's success? On Newshour with James Menendez we'll be looking at how the Manchester United manager, who's just announced he's stepping down, managed to turn a club that hadn't won a major title for a quarter of a century into one of the biggest in the world. What are your memories of Sir Alex Ferguson? Who should succeed him? What's the future for Man U? Join us at 12/13GMT bbc.in/WSliveFerguson to retire at end of seasonbbc.inMan Utd confirm manager is stepping down after 26 years to become director and ambassador.

Three women freed from a kidnapping ordeal in Cleveland, Ohio have been spending time with their families for the first time in 10 years. Three brothers have been arrested and are expected to be charged in the coming hours. A picture is slowing emerging of what went on at the house in Seymour Avenue, Cleveland. The BBC's Jonny Dymond has been speaking to one of its residentsShocked neighbours paint a benign portrait of the #Cleveland suspect on BBC NewsdayAs police are preparing to charge three brothers with kidnapping and imprisoning a group of women rescued from a house in Cleveland, Ohio, the BBC'...

Earlier this year Vladimir Tretchikoff's portrait Chinese Girl, often referred to as The Green Lady, was sold for almost £1m ($1.5m) at auction in London - a reflection of its status as one of the most popular prints ever made. The model, Monika Pon-su-san, recalls what it was like to be thrust into the limelight.Fotos de la biografíaIn 1950 an artist Vladimir Tretchikoff approached a teenager in a Cape Town laundrette and asked to paint her. Last year that painting - Chinese Girl - was sold for almost £1m at auction. Monika Pon-su-san explains what it is like being the Green Lady in the painting.

How optimistic are you for the future of Somalia? For two decades, Somalia sat at or near the bottom of pretty much every index on development and corruption, - the result of civil war, an Islamist insurgency and famine. Newshour at 1400 GMT asked the British prime minister, David Cameron, who's co-hosting a Somalia conference in London, if enough is being done to help the fragile state at the Horn of Africa. Newshour: Can Somalia be fixed? An interview with David Cameronbbc.inHow do you go about fixing a failed state? Somalia - in the Horn of Africa - needs fixing more than most. For two decades, it's sat at or near the...

Is your pet killing the planet? Why do we keep and cherish some animals and kill others? This is Dan Damon with World Update. I'm talking to Chris Solomon, a science writer who has been investigating the damage caused to wildlife by pet diseases and waste. He's been interviewing scientists who think an increasing number of deaths of creatures like dolphins, sea otters and orcas - so-called killer whales - is linked to effluent and biological waste from pets and pet products. Investigations continue. But the question is raised: why do some cultures lavish so much time and money on keeping some animals in pampered luxury while doing little to lessen the impact on other animals of loss of habitat and environmental damage? Why are some creatures more "precious" than others?

An extraordinary story has unfolded over the past few hours in the US state of Ohio. Three women who vanished about a decade ago have been found alive in a house in Cleveland. One of them, Amanda Berry, was 16 years old when she went missing in 2003. She managed to escape with the help of a neighbour after he heard her screaming for help. Three brothers have been arrested in connection with the case, and police have said that one of them lived in the house where the women were found. Speaking to Newsday, local reporter Jen Steer said there were "scenes of pure joy" outside the hospital where the women have been taken for observation.Vanished US women 'in fair health'www.bbc.co.ukThree young women who vanished about a decade ago in the US state of Ohio have been found and are in fair condition in hospital, officials say.