Aung San Suu Kyi steps up her campaign despite fears elections will not be fair

For me, radio drama has always been a special form of torture. There's the tiny shoot of optimism that comes with the opening credits of a new play that invariably wilts into disappointment as the action unfolds. This will later give way to irritation at those who can pack the schedules with such reliable treasures as From Our Own Correspondent or Just a Minute and then commission drama after drama of such depressing inanity that they might as well be performed by sock puppets.

For me, radio drama has always been a special form of torture. There's the tiny shoot of optimism that comes with the opening credits of a new play that invariably wilts into disappointment as the action unfolds. This will later give way to irritation at those who can pack the schedules with such reliable treasures as From Our Own Correspondent or Just a Minute and then commission drama after drama of such depressing inanity that they might as well be performed by sock puppets.

We've been inundated with rereleases of 1970s music from Africa, so it's refreshing to be informed of an extraordinary Guinean singer from an earlier era. And this is shivers-down-the-spine stuff.

This is a translation of the transcript of the conversation between Captain Francesco Schettino, commander of the sinking Costa Concordia, and Captain Gregorio De Falco of the Italian coast guard in Livorno.

The parishioners of Uplyme in Devon are sticklers for yuletide tradition: get up, turkey in the oven, glass of Buck's Fizz, open the presents... then it's off to church through the morning mist to listen to the human beatboxing vicar.

Future publishing, whose titles include Total Film, is set to axe a 10th of its 1,000-strong UK workforce and close a series of titles following disappointing results last week.

Whether you want to appreciate the subtle basslines of your home stereo or keep booming city life at bay, we’ve got perfect over-ear options for the job.

Chosen by James McIrvine

World of Warcraft, the computer game that became the largest-grossing media product of any type in 2006 with more than $1bn (£511bn) of revenues, has just signed up its eight millionth subscriber.