Indian cities are on a state of high alert after 18 people were killed and dozens injured when three bombs exploded across Mumbai during the evening rush hour.

India's Home Minister P Chidambaram has said he believed the blasts were "a co-ordinated attack by terrorists", as the explosions occurred within minutes of one another.

But he said it was too early to speculate on who might have been behind the attack.

It's the worst attack to hit Mumbai since the terrorist attacks of November 2008, when gunmen killed 165 people in a three-day raid.

Pakistani-based militants were blamed for the 2008 attacks - and the government in Islamabad was quick to condemn the latest attacks.

After the attack in 2008, pledges were made by the indian government to set up a special terrorism unit and an extensive CCTV network across the city .

But ikaveri tweets

"I wonder what resilient means, seems close to denial. 10,000+ CCTV cameras in London, 100+ in Mumbai."

Why can't the Indian government protect it's commercial hub? Is it doing enough?

..."attacking its much touted financial and entertainment capital, you deal a body blow to India and get global media attention. That is only a small part of the story."

This blogger says she's angry and saddened at the attacks

"India cannot afford to be complacent. Terrorism is very, very real and it is not going away so this head-in-the-sand attitude isn't working. Just because terrorist attacks were foiled twice after the 2008 attacks, doesn't mean they're going to stop trying. Bombay is the heart and soul of India. It's India's City of Dreams. Don't the city and its people deserve better than this?"

See listeners' comments about this programme

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It's now a month since the BBC reporter Urunboy Usmonov was imprisoned in Tajikistan by the security services.

The authorities have charged him with association with the banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. The BBC says the allegation is unfounded.

His family have been allowed to visit him and are concerned about his health, saying he looked frail and lost weight. His wife Malohat Abduazimova, said she hardly recognised her husband. Urunboy suffers from diabetes and has a heart condition.

"......the charges against Urunboy Usmonov have been fabricated purely as punishment for his journalistic work and for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression,"

There have also been other calls for his release.

Fortune in Harare posts on facebook.com/worldhaveyoursay

l hope he will be released soon and continue reporting stories that the government doesn't want us to hear.

Cletus in Zambia sends this message

Please release him: he has done nothing wrong to be detained, he was only doing his job.

As we have done since he was captured, we'll be reading your messages of support for Urunboy. But we'll also hear from his friends and colleagues, some who have visited him inside prison, and find out what efforts are underway to try and secure his release.

You can post your messages here

This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 12 July, 2011. Listen to the programme

As I write the AFP news agency is reporting that the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the assassination of President Hamid Karzai's younger half brother, calling it "one of our biggest achievements" in nearly a decade of war. The group said they had recruited a gunman to kill Ahmed Wali Karzai, a hugely powerful and controversial figure in the south of Afghanistan.

There are conflicting reports that a body guard killed him, other says it was a guest to his home.

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says,

"It is hard to overstate how important he was in the south of Afghanistan and in Nato's efforts to combat the Taliban in their stronghold there".

What does it tell us about the state of Afghanistan?

At a time when the both the US and the UK are scaling down the numbers of troops in Afghanistan, the US by 33 thousand next year and the UK 500, is now the right time for the international community to be pulling out? Will the Afghan army be in a position to provide security?

And what has been achieved during the international mission in Afghanistan?

We'll be speaking to people inside the country, getting their reactions and about life and security.

This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 11 July, 2011. Listen to the programme.

The US has decided to hold back $800m of aid from Pakistan, around a third of it's annual commitment, because some of the recent moves made by Pakistan. Ever since the killing of Osama bin Laden by US Navy seals on Pakistan soil back in May, the relationship has been strained.

People in Pakistan have told us on World Have Your Say many times over the past few months that they have sacrificed a lot in the campaign against terror, is this a fair way to repay them? White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley even admitted that the people of Pakistan have "been the victim of enormous amounts of terrorism".

Pakistan's former ambassador to the US, Meleeha Lodhi, told the BBC the US move would be counterproductive. She said:

"Washington is going to be left without any influence with the Pakistan army and with the people of Pakistan because this will be seen as an action that will punish Pakistan rather than provide an incentive for cooperation."

"Stung by the U.S. decision...... It seems Pakistan is willing to have a close relationship with China now. The senior Pakistani official said, "This tightening of U.S. military aid was expected. That's where our long-term relations with China will help to meet this gap."

This article believes holding back the aid won't have the desired effect of compelling the military to fight harder against the Taliban and al-Qaeda linked militants, but instead drive a wedge between them.

Patty in the US on facebook says

"A reasonable move would be my country cutting ALL aid to Pakistan not just military aid, although, this is a start. Pakistan needs to shut down the madrasses, they need to go to their border areas with Afghanistan and get rid of the fundamentalists. They really need to clean house in a major way."

Joshua in South Africa on facebook

" I think it is a good decision. I am hoping that Pakistan will undo some of the changes it has made, which caused this. America is trying to be helpful, yet Pakistan is resisting the help in some areas but wants it in others."

What will be the impact on US Pakistan relations?

Hi this is Ros updating Chloe's earlier post: We're expecting DSK to shift from the flat where he's been living on bail to a Manhattan courtroom at some point later. This may well fall in our hour on BBC World News TV. If it does we'll bring you all the pictures live, and of course any developments in the case. In the meantime, we'll also discuss some of the issues - anonymity, media coverage, US justice system - that Chloe touches on below.

Chloe's original post: One of the most talked about and trending topics is reports coming out of New York that the rape case against the former head of the IMF Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the brink of collapse.

The credibility of the woman who has brought the claims against him, has now been brought into question. Although forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual encounter between Mr Strauss-Kahn and the woman, prosecutors now do not believe much of what the accuser has told them about the circumstances or about herself, according to a New York Times report.

The paper has spoken to two officials who told them

"..the woman had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Mr. Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded. That man, the investigators learned, had been arrested on charges of possessing 400 pounds of marijuana. He is among a number of individuals who made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman's bank account over the last two years."

Our Correspondent in Paris Christian Fraser says it was not only DSK's reputation that was tarnished, but also that of the French nation in the eyes of the international community. The "perp walk", the parading of the accused, the headlines such as "Chez Perv" and "Frog Legs It", were widely perceived as insulting and humiliating.

So as accusations and counter accusations are being thrown around in public, does this case demonstrate the need for both the accused and the accuser to be granted anonymity?

The maid herself, although not named, has had many details about her leaked to the press. It's claimed by the officers speaking to the New York Times that she has associated with drug dealers and has previously lied. Even if that is true, does that mean she can't have been raped?

Publicus posts on NYTimes.com

I was afraid this might happen. What an embarrassment for the NYPD, the Manhattan DA and the United States of America. If you are going to pull someone like him off a plane and perp walk him and seek to hold him without bail, you had better be damned sure of your case.

R Faranji

That case triggered some heavy soul searching from the French concerning male/female relations in their society.
It may be time soon for Americans too to do some soul searching concerning their cultural view of sex.
And maybe a little bit on their justice too..

NYCBob

For those who suggest the accuser only lied about other things (yeah, including drug and lots lots of money), but she may not have lied about the rape allegation, what about the same logic on the accused: Does a French, womanizer, and bully automatically makes him a rapist?

These latest revelations have caused a media frenzy in France

"A "coup de theatre", the left-of-centre Liberation wrote, its story netting some 700 comments by 0830 as readers proclaimed "DSK is innocent!!!" and asked "Who set up DSK?"

Can justice be served when a rape case is so publicly played out?

See listeners' comments about this programme

This topic was discussed on 1 July 2011. Listen to the podcast.

Thousands of public sector workers are on strike today across the UK, in a row with the government over pensions and women being forced to work longer.

Greece has just seen a 48 hour strike over the austerity plans which were voted on by parliament. But they were approved by the Greek government, so what did the strike achieve?

According to the Montreal Gazette

"Protests are becoming increasingly common across Europe in what is turning into a summer of strife." In Poland, the Solidarity trade union has organized a day of protests in Warsaw against the centre-right government. "

Do they ever work? Unite is one of the unions taking action in Britain today, Alan Mcguckin says

"Strikes are the only guaranteed resource that working people can use to defend themselves."

On this teacher's discussion page, they are debating whether striking is selfish and self-indulgent.

"Of course a strike is selfish....its about inconveniencing others to get better conditions for yourself....selfishness is the whole point. Im not sure it is self indulgent though"

But this article points towards

"recent research published by the IMF suggests that part of the reason for the great financial crisis was that workers did not get enough of a pay rise......It looks at what happens when a thin slice of people at the top of society see big rises in their income while everyone else is left behind ......The end result, conclude researchers Michael Kumhof and Romain Ranciere, is an almighty crisis."

Petrol bombs were thrown and tear gas fired on protestors in Athens, in the worst violent protests Greece has seen in over a year.

In the next few hours Greek politicians will vote on a 28 billion euro austerity plan, that PM George says I the only way to get Greece back on its feet. If it's not approved Greece could run out of money within weeks.

You can follow the developments here at the BBC live page

As I look up at the TV above our desk Sky News has a graphic showing the potential domino effect of Greece defaulting on it's loans, affecting Portugal, Ireland and Spain

Here are some of the thoughts being expressed on twitter....

AxDxAx

It is illegal for people to pay consumer debt with credit cards. Why is it OK for Ireland & Greece to pay creditors with borrowed money?

AlexEverymatic

One day I'll wake up and Greece won't be the top news story for all the wrong reasons.

Anarkysheep

"I don't know anything about economics, but it doesn't seem like the government knows anything either"

This topic was

discussed on 28 June 2011. Listen to the podcast.

Today we have a special programme, carrying the first of this year's Reith Lectures delivered by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The pro democracy leader and Nobel Peace prize winner, was secretly recorded in Burma, the Guardian says

"she speaks movingly of the price she and fellow activists have paid while travelling what she calls the "hard road to freedom" - and of her heartfelt belief in the justice of their cause, which sustained her during nearly 15 years in jail or under house arrest."

Her two lectures, one broadcast today and one next week, will discuss the themes of dissent and liberty and are part of a wider series, entitled 'Securing Freedom', reflecting on global events of the past year.

Former MI5 Director-General Baroness Manningham-Buller will present three further lectures in September.

Aung San Suu Kyi said:

"When I was under house arrest, it was the BBC that spoke to me - I listened.

The inaugural lectures were given by the philosopher and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell in 1948. Past Reith lecturers have included the "father of the atomic bomb" Robert Oppenheimer; Canadian economist JK Galbraith; architect Sir Richard Rogers; and pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim.

In the lecture Ms Suu Kyi talks about how the Burmese people are as excited about the events in the Arab world as anyone else. She says there are notable similarities with Tunisia. Both started with unimportant events. One humble man showed that his right to dignity was more important than anything else.

How does she inspire people involved in the Arab spring? To some she is an icon in Damascus. One BBC reporter explained how a woman in Syria had led demonstrators onto the street in the face of army snipers, using Aung as inspiration.

Currently trending on twitter is the news that Michelle Yeoh, the actress cast to play Aung San Suu Kyi in a forthcoming film, has been barred from entering Burma.

We'll be playing Aung San Suu Kyi's lecture in full and getting your reaction to it.

Greece has been thrown another lifeline after European leaders agreed to launch a fresh bailout as long as they pass a tough austerity package next week. It's expected that the total will be up to €120bn (£107bn) and the 16 countries using the single currency will foot the bill.

A statement said that the draconian package of €28bn in spending cuts and tax rises plus a €50bn privatisation programme "must be finalised as a matter of urgency in the coming days" by Greece to qualify for the new bailout.

Here are all of the options open to Greece.

Is it time for solidarity? Should we all be in this together? Plus, on a practical level, if Greece fails could it then it could start a domino effect with Ireland, Spain and Portugal going bust? Or has Greece been given enough money and be allowed to fail?

Here is the argument for why the world won't let Greece fail.

Leonie in the Netherlands says on facebook

I think the EU or at least the member states of the euro area are obliged to help Greece. This duty comes when you join a monetary union, member states should be aware of this fact.

Andrew says

We're all members of Europe...hey I'm hard up for cash and i need some money for the weekend..can any of you guys lend me some?? see my point here?????

Chidochamwari in Zambia posted

Its time to show solidarity and stand with Greece

Is she right?

This programme has now been broadcast. You can listen to a podcast of the discussion here.

The Dutch far-right politician described Islam as "fascist", comparing the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf. But a judge has decided that his statements were "acceptable within the context of public debate" and he has been acquitted of charges of inciting hatred against Muslims. Geert Wilders had insisted his statements were directed at Islam and not at Muslim believers - something which is legal under Dutch law.

Is this a victory for freedom of speech? Or evidence of a growing acceptance of islamophobia?

OliverCooper tweets

"Geert Wilders's acquittal is a victory for free speech. I would never vote for Wilders, but criticism - however pointed - is sacred."

Santosh posted on facebook

"Give muslims a chance to explain their religion 1st! Outside the muslim world many people have no idea what the holy book of quran actually says."

wyclif tweets

"Geert Wilders acquitted on hate speech charges. State-sanctioned persecution of free opinion fails, as does Islamofascism."

His film "Fitna" was made showing shocking images of 9/11 and other terror attacks on western targets interspersed with verses from the Koran. No TV company in the Netherlands would broadcast the 17-minute film and some Dutch politicians tried to impose a ban before Mr Wilders posted it on the internet in March 2008.

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Dutch media that he is opposed to radical politics. Without mentioning anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders, he said, "Radicalism brings misery over the people and the country."

This columnist says

"what may begin as a simple lack of tolerance can quickly escalate into something far more dangerous. Furthermore, it is also difficult to eradicate extreme xenophobia once the seeds have been sown. It usually snowballs as has been the case in countries like the Netherlands, which has gone from being seen as a tolerant nation to one of the post racist and, in particular, anti-Muslim in Europe thanks to political figures such a Dutch MP Geert Wilders."

Are comments, like the ones made by Wilders, fuelling anti Muslim sentiment across Europe? Does it open debate, or cloud it, as suggested by Mark on facebook

"There must surely be less inflammatory ways for him to voice his misgivings about Islam. While I vehemently resist the idea that free speech does not apply to religion, his choice of words and comparisons with the Nazis seem clearly intended to stir up bigotry."

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreo can breath a sigh of relief. Despite widespread protests on the streets of Greece, his government won a critical vote of confidence as it struggles to win support for extra austerity measures and avoid defaulting on it's debt.

One of the thousands of protestors outside the parliament building, Efi Koloverou, a 22-year-old student, told Reuters,

"I believe we should go bankrupt and get it over with. These measures are slowly killing us,"

But many people across Europe, who are having to face their own austerity measures have little sympathy for the Greek people,

"Some of the policies announced last year and now, supposedly as assaults on the Greek way of life, raised eyebrows across Europe. Few knew of the Christmas, Easter and summer holiday bonuses in the public sector, known as 13th and 14th salaries, which were abolished for those earning above €3,000 a month (£2,700) and capped for those on €1,000 euros or less. Only now is the working week for Greek public employees being raised from 37.5 to 40 hours.

For many in northern Europe, the rioting in Athens must remind them of a tantrum by a spoilt child"

They got bills, they're multiplying, and they're losing control. But the wonga you're supplying, it's indemnifying! You'd better shape up, because you need a loan #greeceistheword

There is some debate about whether allowing Greece to default would cause a catastrophic economic chain of events or actually be small fry.

Here is a question and answer guide to how Greece finds itself here

This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 21 June 2011. You can listen to it here.

Twice in two days Nato airstrikes have seemingly killed civilians in Libya, meaning the campaign is coming under fresh scrutiny. The Libyan regime was keen to capitalise on rifts developing in the alliance and took journalists to see the damage and bodies.

"NATO's credibility is at risk," Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg. "We cannot run the risk of killing civilians. This is not good at all."

As cracks appear in the Nato coalition, the White House is battling attempts in Congress to choke funding for all or part of US operations in Libya saying it would send a "bad message" at a time when Muammar Gaddafi's days were "numbered."

British Prime Minister David Cameron and President Obama have been saying for weeks that his days are numbered, but still he clings on.
Tripolitanian Libyan tweets

Maybe if #Gaddafi would stop using human shields, there would be less #NATO civilian casualties? but when did he ever care about civilians.

Ya NATO strikes today may have killed 2. if NATO didnt get involved, headlines instead would be: #Gaddafi hangs hundreds, thousands missing

Ochieng on Facebook

We want him to stay in Libya forever, Gaddafi is a Libyan hero, the only leader who can say no to the Europeans manipulations.

Yesterday rebel leaders said that they urgently needed financial support, after initial pledges hadn't been delivered.

Meanwhile the head of Britain's airforce has come out and said that the RAF's ability to deal with future emergencies is under threat if British intervention in Libya continues beyond September.

Away from the bombings the diplomacy continues. Rebel leaders have travelled to China for talks with the Beijing government. They are expected to discuss bringing to an end the crisis in Libya, where China has oil interests.

How is Col Gaddafi still in power, when faced with such an intense bombing campaign over three months? Is he, and the Libyan regime, benefiting from pressures Nato is facing?

He has sent out a strong message that he blames the current problems in Syria on saboteurs and says they trying to exploit legitimate demands for reform in the country.

He went on that we should solve Syrian problems ourselves and that there are some countries whose regimes are in the dark ages, we are not one of them.

He claimed conspiracy is blooming in Syria and that 64,000 people were wanted by authorities, some have handed themselves in

President Bashar al-Assad said that Syria was at a "turning point" after "difficult days," and promised it would emerge stronger in the face of the "plotting" against it.

After three months of demonstrations against the regime in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad is to address the nation for the first time as his security forces continue operations against protesters. He's expected to speak at around 0900 GMT. We're bringing together a number of Syrians to discuss what he says.

This topic was discussed on Friday 17 June 2011. Listen to the programme.

Women across the deeply conservative country are being urged to drive through the streets today to defy a decades old driving ban. An online campaign has called on women who hold international driving licences to start driving today. The "Women2Drive" campaign has used Facebook and Twitter to encourage women to drive as part of their normal daily activities rather than converge in one place.

This blog outlines to women what they should and shouldn't do today

It's not the first time women have tried to get the driving ban lifted. But last month a woman called Manal al-Sharif filmed herself driving a car through the streets of Saudi Arabia and uploaded it to youtube, she was later arrested, but the movement began once more..

This article compares the movement to that of Rosa Park.

"women are not permitted to share elevators with men. Nor are they allowed to walk in the streets, drive cars, or leave the country without the permission of a male guardian."

MFQahtani tweets

My wife, Maha, and I have just come from a 45-minute drive, she was the driver through Riyadh streets. #saudi #women2drive #WomenRights

angrywhitekid tweets

In 1999, sat next to a woman on a plane who participated in the 1990 driving protest. Told me they burnt her house down after. #women2drive

We'll be speaking to people in Saudi Arabia and hear from Hiba in Dharan who is a professional woman who says she will only drive when the King say she can.

See listeners' comments about this programme

It's being seen as a desperate move. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is set to announce a new cabinet as he tries to get support for new austerity measures.

It's expected that the Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou will be replaced

Yesterday, Greece saw some of the most violent protests in over a year against the plans which are needed to secure more EU and IMF aid.

The government is seeking approval for a package of 28bn euros (£24.6bn; $40.5bn) of cuts, due to take effect from 2012 to 2015. It is neccessary for Greece to secure it's next aid package of - 12bn euros - from the EU and IMF.

It has caused jitters on the financial markets. The European Central Bank warned that a Greek default could spark "contagion" across Europe, causing Greek banks to implode and inflicting major damage on the big banks in France and Germany.

"It looks like a week of chaos," said a European official in Brussels.

Fears over Greece's ability to pay its debts are growing but is this all Greece's fault?

John Kelly on facebook says

Gee, maybe if Greece actually asked it's most privileged class to pitch in instead of cutting jobs and services for everyone else, there wouldn't be quite so much anger. Y' think?

Léonn Ateba on facebook

If they have an alternative solution, they should propose it. The problem's not who to blame, but how to tighten there belts to get out of this mess.

Should the protesters accept these cuts and stop demonstrating? Or is Greece being judged too harshly? As both the political and economic situation deteriorates , is Greece becoming ungovernable?

See listeners' comments about this programme