Today - 14/10/2008

Presented by James Naughtie and Evan Davis. Robert Reich, Labor Secretary under Bill Clinton, says that buying shares in banks had always been part of the Paulson plan. Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society, discusses the power sharing deal in Zimbabwe. Colette Hume reports on Powys Council's plan to switch off some of their street lights to save costs. Robert Walker reports on the plight of suspects detained 'unlawfully' in Pakistan. Mike Thomson reports on the ongoing struggle of a young mother he met last year in eastern Congo who suffered appalling abuse after being abducted by rebel soldiers. Rebecca Jones talks to Booker Prize nominee Sebastian Barry, author of The Secret Scripture. Thought for the Day with Dr Injarit Singh, Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says that she will push on with the Counter-Terrorism Bill minus the 42 days proposal. Robert Peston, Martin Taylor and economist Charles Goodhart discuss how governments are acting to restore confidence to financial markets. Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore and journalist Dame Ann Leslie discuss a new list of the most evil men and women in history. Foreign Office minsiter Bill Rammell outlines how the 'fundamental change of mission' in Iraq is being received in the area. Mark Coles talks to US guitarist Ry Cooder about the Buena Vista Social Club concert at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1998. Thomas Friedman of the New York Times and Stryker McGuire of Newsweek discuss what can be done to retain America's position as 'the world power'. Nick Robinson and David Davis discuss the government's decision to shelve plans to extend pre-charge detention to 42 days after its defeat in the House of Lords.