bbc World Service podcasts

As US carmaker General Motors struggles to weather the storm did it misread what the public wants to drive? Or could no-one have foretold the scale of the credit crisis and the huge rise in oil prices. And the diesel hybrid - is it an answer to the motor industry's prayers?

Does it now feel as if the voters, and for that matter the rest of the world, have all decided that Barack Obama WILL be the next guy in the White House? Why doesn’t anyone criticise this man? We speak to political pundits, comedians and our callers around the globe to find out if Barack Obama is getting an easy ride from the media.

* Sudan's president promises peace as he visits Darfur for the first time since the ICC threat to arrest him for alleged war crimes. * Fears of more violence in Somalia after a split in the country's main opposition group. *And Nigeria's parliament begins to look into dodgy oil deals - but will the investigation have any impact?

Bashir visits Darfur / Karadzic to conduct own defence / Santas' gathering

Callum Robertson looks at the language we can use when describing a process; for example describing how to make the perfect omelette. Learn the language and the recipe this week.

In May violence against African immigrants exploded across South Africa. Two months on thousands are still displaced, living in camps and shelters. Robert Walker travels to one of the townships in Johannesburg where the attacks started and asks whether the violence could happen again.

Jill McGivering explores whether China is doing enough to provide healthcare to 1.3 billion people and what it can learn from the struggles of the developed world.

Karadzic arrest/Pakistan's "enforced disappearances"/Magic versus science

Is Japan doing enough to attract the foreign money it needs to pay for its growing army of elderly people? And have you seen the video of kids using cell phones to pop popcorn? How about the basketball star leaping over a moving car? They're fakes and are the latest trend in online marketing.

He had a long white beard, called himself Dragan and practised alternative medicine. He also knew that the hunt for him was still on. And yesterday, just after we came off air, we got the news that Radovan Karadzic’s 13 years on the run had ended with arrest in Belgrade. How did you feel when you heard the news?

Karadzic arrest / US drought / Wiki kids.

Zimbabwe’s premier performance dub-poet, Albert Nyathi, performs some of his praise poetry. Wire-walker Philippe Petit on his 1974 stunt walking between New York's twin towers. And Canadian director Guy Maddin on his latest film, My Winnipeg.

*South Africa explains why it’s deporting Africans affected by xenophobic attacks. *Alarm over some 14 million East Africans needing food aid. The UN wants action. *And, Zimbabwe wakes up to the day after the night before.

If so many athletes get away with doping, is the only fair way forward to make many performance-enhancing drugs legal? We speak to athletes, scientists and fans about the future of doping in sport.

Wikimania hits Egypt, but can wikipedia conquer the Arabic speaking world? Satellite technology that will help tourists find the remains of the Berlin wall and the latest news and sport to your mobile phone; how traditional broadcasters are playing catch-up. All this and more with Gareth Mitchell and Bill Thompson on Digital Planet.

Karadzic arrested/Zimbabwe's historic agreement/Tanzania albino witchcraft murders

Some clever people think that global warming offers a huge business opportunity for companies who can find new ways of tackling climate change. Peter Day hears from a few small start up companies who seem to have few fears about embarking on projects which may have a huge impact on our world ... or might just fizzle out.

The chairman of Citigroup - which has lost billions through the credit crisis - warns that house prices in America may fall for another two years.

Zimbabwe agreement / Congo violence / Pope apology / Eco-building.

*Zimbabwe's main political rivals sign an agreement on talks to end the country's political stalemate. *A BBC investigation in Tanzania reveals some politicians are involved in the murder of Albinos for money. *As ministers discuss a new world trade agreement, we ask what this really means for African farmers. *And anger in Nairobi as sexual and gender violence is discussed.