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  • Host: James Naughtie, John Humphries
  • Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs program is widely considered the most significant news broadcast in the UK, and numbers among its listeners most of the country's politicians, opinion-formers and journalists.
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Today: 0750 UN backs Gaza ceasefire 07 Jan 09

Wed, Jan 7 Listen
The Egyptians and French have devised a plan for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli ambassador to London, Ron Prosor, discusses if - after considering it "very, very seriously" - the proposal could be agreed.

Today: 0810 M&S plans for 27 store closures 07 Jan 09

Wed, Jan 7 Listen
Marks and Spencer, the largest fashion retailer in the UK, is to release its trading statement to the stock exchange. Sir Stuart Rose, executive chairman of M&S, says the business is slowing down plans to enable it to weather the storm. Simon Wolfson, chief executive of Next, says sales figures in the economy will move backwards but that it "is not the end of the world".

Today: 0740 Kidnapped journalist freed 06 Jan 08

Tue, Jan 6 Listen
A British journalist kidnapped six weeks ago in Somalia has been freed. Colin Freeman, chief foreign correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph, discusses how he was reporting on piracy in Somalia when he was abducted along with a Spanish photographer in November.

Today: 0810 Blair calls for Gaza ceasefire 06 Jan 08

Tue, Jan 6 Listen
More than 500 people have now been killed by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials say. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, now a Middle East envoy, says an immediate ceasefire could be reached.

Today: 0810 Israel and Hamas 05 Jan 09

Mon, Jan 5 Listen
Will the Israeli offensive on Gaza actually work to strengthen Hamas, the militant group it is aimed at defeating? Presenter Edward Stourton reports from the West Bank city of Nablus.

Today: 0750 David Cameron 05 Jan 09

Mon, Jan 5 Listen
Conservative leader David Cameron is setting out his economic policy. He attacks Gordon Brown for "burning money" in the VAT cut and sets out his beliefs that the economy needs to be rebalanced and the state needs to be "pruned back".

Today: 0810 Nick Clegg 03 Jan 08

Sat, Jan 3 Listen
At the beginning of each year, the Today programme speaks to the leaders of the three main political parties. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg discusses the changes he has made during his first year in charge of the party.

Today: 0830 Israeli strikes enter second week 03 Jan 09

Sat, Jan 3 Listen
Israel would be making a "foolish mistake" if it sent tanks into Gaza, The Hamas leader-in-exile, Khaled Meshaal says. Presenter Ed Stourton, on Israel's border with Gaza, reports on what is described by the UN as a "worsening humanitarian crisis". Hamada Abu Qammar, one of the BBC's Gaza producers, and Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, discuss the context to the conflict.

Today: 0810 '90% of children will be obese' 02 Jan 09

Fri, Jan 2 Listen
The government has launched a healthy living campaign in a bid to stem rising obesity rates in England. Health Minister Ben Bradshaw and Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, discuss the suggestion that obese and overweight people will cost the taxpayer in England 50bn by 2050.

Today: 0820 Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld 02 Jan 09

Fri, Jan 2 Listen
Guest editor Zaha Hadid has produced a museum - or rather a portable exhibition space - that can be transported around the world. Inside it is an art exhibition celebrating Chanel handbags. Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld discusses his life in fashion.

Today: 0810 Sir Win Bischoff 01 Jan 09

Thu, Jan 1 Listen
When 2008 began, no one was fully aware of the impact of the credit crunch on the banking industry. Guest editor Sir Win Bischoff, chairman of Citigroup, discusses if anyone could have predicting the current situation in the economy.

Today: 0740 Sir Chris Hoy 01 Jan 09

Thu, Jan 1 Listen
The spectacular success of the British Olympic Cycling Team led today's guest editor, Sir Win Bischoff, to wonder whether they had any advice that they could give businesses about how to perform better. Business presenter Adam Shaw visits the team's headquarters to find out more.

Today: 0810 Gaza 'badly needs supplies' 31 Dec 08

Wed, Dec 31 Listen
A concerted diplomatic drive is under way to try to end Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip and Palestinian militant rocket attacks. Correspondent Christian Fraser, Iyad Nasr, spokesman for the Red Cross in Gaza, and Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander, discuss calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Today: 0820 Jonny Wilkinson 31 Dec 08

Wed, Dec 31 Listen
Rugby star Jonny Wilkinson - perhaps surprisingly - has an interest in quantum physics, a subject that also fascinates guest editor Jarvis Cocker. They discuss how quantum physics combines with sport.

Today: 0750 Gordon Brown 30 Dec 08

Tue, Dec 30 Listen
How does religion fit into Prime Minister Gordon Brown's view of the world? Guest editor Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor talks to him about the morality of politics.

Today: 0810 Israel 'must seek diplomatic path' 30 Dec 08

Tue, Dec 30 Listen
Israeli jets have attacked the Gaza Strip for a fourth day, with raids on a number of Hamas government buildings and security installations. Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen and Richard Haass, president of think tank the Council on Foreign Relations, discuss if calls from the international community for a ceasefire will be listened to.

Today: 0810 David Miliband 29 Dec 08

Mon, Dec 29 Listen
Israeli air force jets have bombed the Islamic University in the Gaza Strip, a significant cultural symbol for Hamas. Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Deputy Israeli Ambassador in London Talya Lador-Fresher, discuss the origins of this current upsurge in fighting.

Today: 0820 The class of comedy 29 Dec 08

Mon, Dec 29 Listen
Is social class still the animating force behind contemporary British comedy? Class-conscious comedian Russell Kane considers the heritage of the class struggle in comedy, from Steptoe and Son to the present day.

Today: 0810 Retail Prospects 27 Dec 2008

Sat, Dec 27 Listen
Today marks a sad moment in the Woolworths story - the first tranche of store closures. But there has been one shaft of cheerfulness in the retail sector; John Lewis reported yesterday that their sales in the last four shopping days before Christmas were actually UP on the same period last year. Stephen Robertson is the director general of the British Retail Consortium and David Smith chairs the group of economists known as the Shadow Monetary Policy Committee.

Today: 0820 Translation into Latin 27 Dec 2008

Sat, Dec 27 Listen
Our annual round of guest editted programmes begins on Monday - and one of our guest editors will be Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster. His programme is next Tuesday but by way of a preview, here's one of the interviews he suggested to us. Father Reginald Foster has what must surely qualify as one of the most specialist jobs around - he translates church texts into Latin, and he's done it for several Popes. I spoke to him about his unusual career...

Today: 0810 Gloomy forecast 26 Dec 2008

Fri, Dec 26 Listen
The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) predicts the economy will shrink by 2.9% in 2009. It expects consumer spending to decline and investment in business to slump.

Today: 0845 Redneck letter 26 Dec 2008

Fri, Dec 26 Listen
In September Joe Bageant, a self-confessed "redneck" from rural Virginia explained the appeal of Sarah Palin to so-called heartland voters. Well, with the election over, we asked Joe to send a message, on behalf of those voters, to their new president.

Today: 0810 Watford residents on economy 24 dec 08

Wed, Dec 24 Listen
The Today programme has reconvened a group of ordinary consumers from Watford to discuss how they see the next year unfolding. Six of the original 12, who met John Humphrys back in October, discuss how they see the economic downturn unfolding in 2009.

Today: 0830 Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Wed, Dec 24 Listen
Archbishop Desmond Tutu says the international community should consider using force to get rid of Robert Mugabe - and says that South Africa should have taken a lead against the Zimbabwean leader.

Today: 0810 Bush legacy 23 Dec 08

Tue, Dec 23 Listen
How will history judge George Bush? US Ambassador Robert Tuttle says that while the chapters on Iraq and Afghanistan are yet to be finished, the promotion of democracy was at the centre of Mr Bush's agenda.

Today: 0820 Pope's address 23 Dec 2008

Tue, Dec 23 Listen
The Pope has said that "saving" humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour is just as important as saving the rainforests. In his end-of-year address to senior Vatican staff he said that defending God's creation is not limited to saving the environment, but also protecting man from self-destruction. Joanna Bogle, a columnist with the Catholic Times, and Cristina Odone, a writer and broadcaster who used to edit the Catholic Herald, discuss the Pope's address.

Today: 0810 Tories demand police chief apology

Mon, Dec 22 Listen
A row has erupted between Bob Quick, who is investigating Home Office leaks, and the Conservatives. MP David Davis says Mr Quick must withdraw allegations the Tories were trying to undermine the inquiry.

Today: 0750 Lord Malloch Brown on Mugabe

Mon, Dec 22 Listen
Africa minister Lord Malloch Brown discusses the British government's position on Robert Mugabe in light of the US's revelation that they no longer support the power sharing deal.

Today: What now for bankers? 20 Dec 08

Sat, Dec 20 Listen
The banks have had their worst year in living memory. For that they must take blame. Some would say they must say sorry. Most bankers though, have chosen to get on with the job now facing them...of reducing risks, borrowing and lending less, and one might say, leading the economy into recession.

Today: 0750 Sex Offenders Register 20 Dec 08

Sat, Dec 20 Listen
When the sex offenders register was set up ten years ago the rule that applied to the more serious offenders was simple: once you're on it you're on it for life. Now the high court has ruled that shouldn't happen: it's a breach of human rights. The Home Office is thinking of appealing.

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