Today - 12/09/2009

Presented by Justin Webb and John Humphrys. Correspondent Chris Morris reports from Kabul on the ongoing count in the results of the Afghanistan election. An EU delegation will be going to Zimbabwe to meet the leaders of the power sharing government, President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangarai. Africa correspondent Andrew Harding reports on whether relations between the EU and Zimbabwe could be improved. The police are investigating claims that an MI6 officer may have been involved in torturing a man being held for questioning about terrorism. Shami Chakrabarti, director of the civil liberties organisation Liberty, discusses the allegations. Congestion has hit the long quiet roads of Australia. Drivers are worried that the increase in traffic could lead to hostile confrontations. Correspondent Phil Mercer reports from Sydney on the rising road rage in Australia. The real IRA says it carried out separate attacks on the parents and the sister of a police officer in Londonderry. Brian Rowan, journalist for the Belfast Telegraph, and Frank Feeley, SDLP councillor in Newry, discuss whether politicians in Northern Ireland are tackling dissident violence. The newest gargoyles to grace Oxford's historic buildings are being unveiled by author Philip Pullman. Schoolchildren took part in a competition to design the nine stone carvings at the city's Bodleian Library after the originals crumbled away. Isobel Hughes, Head of Conservation and Buildings at University Estates, and Alfie Turner, one of the competition winners, discuss the new designs. Musicians in Nigeria are planning to go on strike over record piracy. They say bands will no longer be able to afford to record and release CDs because their art is being stolen. The crisis facing the industry is one of the talking points at the Africa Musical Festival which takes place on London's South Bank this weekend. Correspondent Duncan Bartlett reports from the festival. Thought for the day with The Reverend Doctor Giles Fraser, Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral. The Chief Executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, Stephen Hester, has warned of the dangers of the economy recovering too quickly from the recession. Business editor Robert Peston discusses Mr Hester's warnings. A provisional result for the Afghanistan elections is being announced. Robert Cooper, an adviser on European Union foreign policy and security, and author Ahmed Rashid, discuss whether the allegations of fraud and vote fixing could have implications on the results. Communities Secretary John Denham has said he fears there could be a return to the fascist violence seen in the 1930s. Mr Denham discusses his comments. On a previous programme, Tom Priestley, son of JB Priestley, and comedian Alexei Sayle discussed some of the simple, modern delights of life. Sarah Montague reads a selection of some of your delights. The new vetting system to protect children and the elderly from potential abusers is still the source of huge controversy. Thousands of listeners have contacted the Today programme with their views, mostly hostile to the scheme. Listeners Graham Bird and Emer Roe, who were among those who emailed, discuss whether every precaution should be taken when it comes to protecting children. AC Grayling, professor of philosophy at Birkbeck College, and Anthony Seldon, headteacher and historian, discuss the relationship between the generations. South African officials are stepping up their defence of the athlete Caster Semenya, warning of a 'third world war' if the row over her sex stops her competing. Nosipho Ntwanambi, Deputy President of the ANC Women's League, discusses the row. The Chief Executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Stephen Hester, has told the BBC's Business editor Robert Peston that people need to save more and borrow less, and that a speedy return to boom conditions could be deeply damaging. George Magnus, senior Economic Adviser to UBS, and Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrats Treasury Spokesman, discuss the economic recovery. Three men cleared of planning to blow up transatlantic airlines could face a third trial on more general charge of conspiracy to murder. Legal commentator Joshua Rosenberg discusses the possibility of a third trial. The Last Night of the Proms sees serious musicians doing relatively silly things. This year, comedian Rory Bremner plays a rifle in a performance of Sir Malcolm Arnold's comic work A Grand, Grand Overture. Mr Bremner discusses the last performance of the 2009 Proms.