Today - 09/11/2009

Presented by John Humphrys and Justin Webb. Does the turnover between governments happen too quickly? Peter Riddell of The Institute for Government and former cabinet secretary Lord Butler discuss how government transitions are handled in Britain. Militants in Pakistan are waging an insidious campaign against the country's artists, a cultural war which is threatening freedom of cultural expression. Andrew Hosken reports from the country's cultural capital, Lahore. Gordon Brown wants the world to bring in a tax that would have to be paid every time there was an international financial transaction. Chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym analyses support for the measure. Fishermen who are strongly opposed to a planned cull of fish at a lake in Bristol have threatened to chain themselves to the entrance gates. The culling at Henleaze Lake is supported by swimmers who also use the lake. Local champion fisherman Callum Dicks discusses the campaign. The government is to announce measures that will see a new generation of nuclear power stations sped through the planning process. Shadow energy secretary Greg Clark discusses whether the Conservatives will support the proposals. The row over whether or not the Conservatives should be allied in the European Parliament with Michal Kaminski, a Polish MEP with a far-right background, has overshadowed some of the other members of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group to which British Tories now belong. Allan Little reports from Latvia on the activities and views of the For Fatherland and Freedom Party. Thought for the Day with Rev Dr Giles Fraser. What approach to parenting works best? The Demos think-tank are giving their advice on parenting, saying both warmth and discipline builds a good character in children. The report suggests children of married couples and wealthier backgrounds also tend to fare better. Co-author of the report, Richard Reeves, and Camila Batmanghelidjh of charity Kids Company, discuss the report. We spend a lot of time talking to politicians about the strategy in Afghanistan, but we spend very little time talking to the people who are sent there to fight. Captain Andrew Tiernan of the Grenadier Guards, who came back from Afghanistan on leave on Friday and will be back there next week, gives his insights into the conflict. The Berlin Wall came down 20 years ago. The dramatic events of November 9 1989 led to the dissolution of the German Democratic Republic and to German reunification. The communist GDR may no longer exist as a nation, but as Berlin correspondent Steve Rosenberg reports, it has not disappeared completely. Plans for fast-tracking a new generation of nuclear power stations are to be announced by the government. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband will unveil statements of policy including a list of sites judged suitable for nuclear developments. Mr Miliband discusses the announcement. As part of their plans to hold the 2010 World Cup, the South African department of tourism is holding a conference in London, in the hope that the games will boost world tourism to their country. Footballer and World Cup ambassador Lucas Radebe and Roshene Singh, marketing officer for the South African Department of Tourism, discuss expectations. The race for the leadership of the Welsh Labour Party and the job of First Minister in the Welsh Assembly is gathering pace. Wales correspondent Wyre Davies reports on battle for prospective candidates to secure the support of the party. Allegations of widespread phone-tapping at the News of the World have been rejected by the press watchdog. In July, The Guardian reported claims that numerous public figures may have had their messages hacked into. But after investigating, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) said it had found 'no evidence' that phone-message tapping was still going on. Media correspondent Torin Douglas and Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger discuss the case. The book Freakonomics changed the way economics was viewed and its follow up SuperFreakonomics hopes to do the same. Authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner discuss some of their more controversial economic theories.