Today - 07/08/2009

Presented by Evan Davis and James Naughtie. Business presenter Nick Cosgrove gives an initial reaction to the results from Royal Bank of Scotland. Dave Ward, of the CWU, and Paul Tollhurst, of Royal Mail, discuss the strikes involving more than 25,000 postal workers. Chief Executive of Carers UK Imelda Redmond discusses why government funding to help carers has not been ringfenced. Adam Mynott reports on new head of Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen's first visit to Afghanistan. Mark Hutchings reports on how greedy seagulls are angering locals in Cardiff. Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Stephen Hester discusses the bank's results for the first half of 2009. Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs's son, Michael Biggs, explains his delight at the decision by Justice Secretary Jack Straw on his father's parole, which he had refused last month. Thought for the Day with Reverend Roy Jenkins, a Baptist Minister. Chris McLaughlin, of the weekly magazine Tribune, and Neal Lawson, of Labour campaign group Compass, discuss the future of the Labour Party. Gillian Tett of the Financial Times and Peter McNamara, former head of personal banking at Lloyds TSB, discuss how well the banking industry is operating. New Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is in Afghanistan assessing operations in the area. He discusses his criteria for success in the conflict. Columnist Dominic Lawson and Paul Winslow, a member of the Barmy Army, discuss the conduct of England cricket team's supporters towards the Australians. Colonel Tim Collins and Professor Alex Danchev discuss how the tone of works about war has changed over the years. Reporter Andrew Hosken asks why the Sri Lankan government has been reluctant to allow foreign journalists into the country to report on the polls. Sri Lankan High Commissioner Justice Nihal Jayasinghe reflects on allegations that journalists have not been allowed to move freely. Times columnist Magnus Linklater and former footballer Pat Nevin discuss the perils and pitfalls of being a Scot. Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of Napo (the probation officers' union), and Peter Rayner, former chief operating officer of British Rail, discuss the release of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs.