Today - 05/05/2009

Presented by Sarah Montague and Edward Stourton. Parents in England could get the power to force councils to improve the quality of local schools under plans to be announced by Gordon Brown. At least 45 people have been killed in an attack on a wedding party in south-eastern Turkey, officials say. Former military commander of the Tamil Tiger rebels Karuna Amman talks to reporter Andrew Hosken why he believes disillusionment with the Tiger's leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has led to the group's demise. Home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw reports on the release of sixteen names appearing on a list of people banned from entering the UK. Robert Piggot reports on an attempt to alleviate the effects of poverty with choral music in primary schools. James Reynolds explains why Chinese state employees are being made to buy cigarettes. Barry Sheerman MP,the Chairman of the Commons Committee on Children, Schools and Families, discusses the future of Sats. Phil Mackie reports on new attempts by archaeologists and forensic scientists to identify bodies in a mass grave of soldiers who died in the First World War. Lawyer Clare Algar says it is likely that a lawyer will be denied access to Samantha Orobator, the pregnant Briton held in Laos who is facing the death penalty for drug smuggling. Neal Lawson of campaign group Compass and minister Pat McFadden discuss if plans to part privatise Royal Mail will go ahead Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson says it would be premature to conclude that swine flu is a mild infection. Kevin Connolly discovers the increasing popularity of the Cowboy Church in America. Israel has dispatched top officials to the US and Europe in a diplomatic offensive aimed at softening the image of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government. Middle East expert Dr Rosemary Hollis, of City University, and Zalman Shoval, former Israeli ambassador to the US, discuss what can be achieved by the meetings. Academics Professor Kevin Jefferys and Dr Anthony Seldon discuss the history of coalition governments. Project leader James Meredith explains the racing car that is made from potatoes and is powered by chocolate. Marcus du Sautoy and Stefan Collini discuss the two cultures of science and the humanities.