Today - 26/09/2008

Presented by John Humphrys and Sarah Montague. Democrat Congressman Jim McDermott discusses how long it could take to reach an agreement on President Bush's proposed multi-billion dollar rescue package for America's troubled financial institutions. Robert Peston reports that the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the Swiss National Bank and the Federal Reserve are to lend out money for a week. Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell argues for a review of defence capability. Anna Walker, chief executive of The Healthcare Commission, says patients need to be able to rely on out-of-hours GPs rather than A and E. Sir David Attenborough says that Europe's amphibians are in danger of being wiped out. Thought For The Day with the Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks. Professor Colin Blakemore and Dr Philip Murphy discuss the classification of ecstasy. Vincent Reinhart, former Director of Monetary Affairs at the Federal Reserve, says that the US bail-out plan was flawed from the outset. Wyre Davies reports on Paul McCartney's first gig in Israel. Antoine Sabbhag and Barbara Mellor discuss the wartime diaries of Agnes Humbert. American troops have exchanged fire with Pakistani forces on the Afghan border. General Ehsan ul Haq and John Simpson discuss what this means for foreign diplomacy. A Europe-wide ban on all childrens food imported from China has come into force. Chris Mason reports from Brussels on the European Commission's decision. Poet Seamus Heaney's translation of The Burial at Thebes: Sophocles' Antigone into verse has now been transformed into an opera. Nicola Stanbridge reports. Economist Jon Kay explains why the banks need help from the US Treasury.