Today - 04/09/2009

Presented by John Humphrys and Sarah Montague. Economics editor Stephanie Flanders reports on the difficulty of agreeing sanctions on bankers' pay by G20 countries. Officials in northern Afghanistan say a Nato airstrike on hijacked fuel tankers killed at least 40 people. Chris Morris reports. Dr Iain Stephenson, leader of a trial into a swine flu vaccine, explains his progress. Gillian Hargreaves reports on the progress made by the Green Party over recent years. Green Party leader Caroline Lucas discusses how the Greens can get at least one MP at the next general election. Former security minister Tony McNulty explains why Falkirk West MP Eric Joyce, a parliamentary aide to Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, resigned. Karen Allen reports on the dispute between the soldiers' union and the government in South Africa. Thought for the day with Catherine Pepinster, editor of the Tablet. Two young brothers, who lured two boys aged nine and 11 to a South Yorkshire ravine before carrying out a brutal attack, have admitted assault. Home editor Mark Easton reports on the story of the brothers aged 10 and 12. Labour MP Graham Allen and social worker Joanna Nicolas discuss the comparisons drawn by many newspapers between this and the murder of toddler James Bulger. Chancellor Alistair Darling discusses stimulus efforts and the reform of the international banking system. Gordon Brown is to give a major speech restating his commitment to the mission in Afghanistan, after a ministerial aide resigned over government strategy. Political editor Nick Robinson examines how the Prime Minister's speech might be affected by Eric Joyce MP's resignation. Pestival, described as a celebration of insects in art and the art of being an insect, is opening at the Southbank Centre in London. Cult musician and insect lover Robyn Hitchcock explains the reason behind a choral collaboration between humans and bees and the first ever human/cricket duet. UKIP's Nigel Farage explains why he is to stand down as party leader, but will continue to lead its MEPs. German minister Wolfgang Tiefensee and author Peter Millar remember Germany in 1989 as the Berlin Wall fell. What would happen if a writer was given unlimited access to President Obama? Author Richard Wolffe explains what he did with 'more access than anyone else'. 'I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets', said Eric Joyce MP in a letter resigning as a parliamentary aide to the Defence Secretary. Andrew Mackinlay, a Labour member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, discusses Mr Joyce's view.