Today - 30/04/2009

Presented by James Naughtie and Edward Stourton. World Health Organization spokesperson Dick Thompson and correspondent Fergus Walsh explain why the WHO is calling for action to help combat the threat of swine flu in the UK. Kim Catcheside visits a school in Reading to discover how they teach children to communicate. Caroline Sheppard, of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, discusses some of the excuses given in failed appeals. Justin Webb reports on the message Barack Obama gave on his 100th day in office. Hugh Sykes reports on the situation in Iraq. Business secretary Lord Mandelson discusses if UK firms should invest in the country. Reporter Nicola Stanbridge discovers how music can make an early horror film even scarier. Thought for the day with the Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, from Alyth Gardens Synagogue. Zimbabwe's finance minister Tendai Biti explains how he has tackled hyper-inflation in the country. Political editor Nick Robinson says Gordon Brown has lost some of his authority over the MPs' expenses row. Former head of Ofsted Sir Jim Rose says the current school curriculum is too 'fat' and should be slimmed. Correspondent Chris Morris speaks to a female banker in Mumbai who is running in the Indian general election. Caroline Wyatt reports on the ceremony which remembers the 179 British servicemen and women who have lost their lives in Southern Iraq. Chairman of the National Pig Association Stewart Houston and author Steven Poole debate whether swine are being hard done by with the current 'swine flu' definition. Journalists Matthew D'Ancona and Steve Richards discuss how bad things are for the government. Education experts Trevor Averre-Beeson and Peter Tymms discuss how vocabulary in schools can be taught.