Today - 18/09/2008

Presented by James Naughtie and Evan Davis. Robert Peston and Sir Peter Burt discuss the merger of HBOS and Lloyds TSB. Dr Sara Kenyon of the University of Leicester discusses the use of antibiotics by pregnant women. Paul Adams reports on Georgia's bid to join Nato. Charles Goodhart, former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, discusses the HBOS takeover. Correspondent James Reynolds reports from Beijing on milk tainted with toxic melamine. Dr Sam Parnia discusses what people have said that they had seen, or felt, when they came back from the brink of death. Thought For The Day with Rev Angela Tilby, Vicar of St Benet's Church in Cambridge. John Prescott, former Deputy Prime Minister, discusses the launch of a campaign for Labour recovery and a fourth term in office. Chancellor Alistair Darling responds to criticism that the HBOS-Lloyds TSB merger could have been avoided. Mike Thomson reports on the cover-up by the British government of the massacre of prisoners of war by Japanese sailors during the First World War. Evan Davis finds out how city workers are responding to the economic crisis. Professor Lesley Ebdon and Professor Malcolm Grant discuss whether financial constraints are preventing students from going to university. Gordon Brown has ordered a review of the intelligence surrounding the Omagh bomb attack. John Ware, the Panorama reporter who broke the story, discusses whether any more information was available before the attacks. Sports Editor Mihir Bose discusses the Ryder Cup.