Today - 24/10/2009

Presented by Justin Webb and John Humphrys. Postal workers have returned to work and are clearing the mountain of undelivered mail, after this week's two-day postal strike. Business correspondent Joe Lynam comments on the effects the strike has had on Royal Mail's reputation and the likelihood of more strikes next week. Talks between Iran and western powers on Iran's nuclear programme have ended without a deal. Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne examines how negotiations can develop further. The European Commission has said it wants to harmonise the laws on consumer protection across all 27 member states. Members of the House of Lords, who have been studying the plans, are concerned they will mean the UK will lose much of its consumer protection. Parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy reports on the Lords debate about the new laws. Too many employers automatically reject women who have been to prison, according to the charity Working Chance. Reporter Angus Stickler spent the day with one woman the charity helped and Jocelyn Hillman, chief executive of Working Chance examines the affect of being refused employment. Violence continued in Pakistan yesterday. Among the casualties were 15 wedding guests, most of them children, after their vehicle hit an explosive device. Shahid Saidullah, editor of the UK section of Pakistani newspaper the Daily Jang, examines the effect the attacks are having on the country, and where the conflict is heading. The UK is still in recession, according to new figures released yesterday. Yesterday's GDP figures show that the country is now in the longest recession since records began. Reporter Sanchia Berg went to Swindon to talk to Alison Hindmarsh, who lost her job a few months ago, to see whether her situation has managed to improve. Thought for the Day with Brian Draper, associate lecturer at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. Birmingham has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other town or city outside London. Three were awarded this year, to chefs born and raised in the city. Correspondent Claire Marshall reports on Birmingham's culinary success. The new head of the elite Russell Group of universities is calling for the vast bulk of government research funding to be concentrated among the top universities. Professor Michael Arthur says the funding which is currently spread across 150 universities should instead be concentrated among the top 30 universities. Professor Arthur and Professor David Maguire, vice chancellor for corporate development at Birmingham City University, discuss whether too many institutions carry out research. A key deal between Iran and western powers on its nuclear programme has overrun its deadline. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) draft agreement is aimed at reducing international concern over Tehran's nuclear programme. The IAEA had suggested exporting most of Iran's enriched uranium to Russia and France for further refining, a proposal Iran says it will respond to next week. Kasra Naji, special correspondent for BBC Persian TV, analyses whether a deal will be reached. Around 600 Church of England priests are meeting to decide how to respond to the Pope's unprecedented invitation to them to join their own special section of the Roman Catholic Church. The priests are from Forward in Faith, a group representing Catholic-minded Anglicans who are unhappy about the way women bishops are being introduced into the Church of England. They want to unite Catholics and Protestants in the same church. Religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott reports on the competing views of the different factions, and Rev Rod Thomas of Evangelical group Reform discusses if Anglicans should join the Catholic Church. The ancient craft of maintaining hedges is being celebrated today at the National Hedgelaying Championships in Herefordshire. More than 130 competitors will be participating. Nigel Adams, deputy chairman of the National Hedgelaying Society, discusses the historical importance of hedging. The government has taken a number of measures to try and curtail the recession. Billions of pounds have been pumped into the economy, interest rates have been kept at an historical low and VAT has been cut. But what is the effect of these moves on the recession? Today spoke to some businessman about how the government's policies have affected their companies, and shadow chancellor George Osborne discusses the Conservative Party's economic policies. Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, has criticised the Pope's announcement to welcome to the Catholic Church those from the Anglo-Catholic wing of the Church of England. Lord Carey discusses his views. A new film, Life of a Child, has captured the difficult treatment of diabetes in children in the developing world. The constant blood checks and insulin injections can make it difficult for children to survive and prosper. Oscar nominee Ed Lachman, who made the film,