Today - 09/07/2008

Presented by James Naughtie and John Humphrys. Including: A code of conduct on the screening of embryos is to be produced by the European Fertility Society. Professor Guido de Wert, chair of its ethics task force, says the aim is to ensure that screening is utilised to improve fertility treatments rather than create so-called designer babies. Shadow Chancellor George Osborne discusses Conservative views on green taxes. Dozens of rabbits have been killed in their hutches in Germany. Steve Rosenberg reports from the Ruhr Valley. Thought for the Day with John Bell of the Iona community. Police are being urged to set up specialist squads in every force to investigate allegations of rape. Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who is proposing the idea, talks about why this would help to improve conviction rates. Two years after his first visit, John Humphrys returns to Basra. Thomas Kielinger, UK correspondent of the German daily Die Welt, discusses the characteristics of the German language as portrayed in Max Mosley's current legal action against the News of the World. The man who is credited with the invention of the world wide web is now looking ahead to a new and more sophisticated way of using the internet known as the semantic web. Tim Berners-Lee explains. The shortlist for the BBC National Short Story Awards has been announced. Clare Wigfall talks about her story entitled The Numbers.