Guardian Focus

In our weekly current affairs programme, our panel of experts discuss this weekend's vote on whether southern Sudan should form a breakaway state

Celebrities are now fronting numerous aid campaigns. But what role do they play in the development process, and is it right they gain direct access to the political bargaining table? Post your comments on the topic on Madeleine Bunting's blog

Examining the climate change compromises, emission deals and fallout from WikiLeaks at COP16 in Cancún

After the biggest leak of secret US embassy documents in history, our expert panel discusses the future of US diplomacy and the impact on implicated regimes around the globe

Alex Duval Smith joins vaccinators in the Democratic Republic of Congo to discover what steps need to be taken to combat the return of polio to the region

Next week, climate talks resume in Cancun, with the credibility of the entire negotiation system at stake. What effect is climate change already having on the developing world?

AC Grayling, Evan Harris, Jon Cruddas, Cristina Odone and Samia Rahman debate the virtues of religion

As Cornwall counts the cost of this week's flash floods, Martin Wainwright visits Cockermouth, in Cumbria, which one year ago suffered its own devastating floods. How can Britain best defend itself against the effects of severe weather?

We explore swearing by looking at the history and significance of bad language, plus how taboo words have changed over time

A bad night for the Democrats, as they lose the House of Representatives and just about cling on to the Senate. Jonathan Freedland and guests explore the impact of the midterm elections and ask if this is the end of liberalism in the States