Today - 31/03/2009

Presented by Evan Davis and James Naughtie. Defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt assesses the mood in Basra as British troops prepare to withdraw. Professor Peter Weissman discusses how the 'polypill', containing a cocktail of five potentially life-saving drugs, could halve rates of heart attacks and strokes in healthy middle-aged and older people. Crimewatch recently aired an appeal to find missing chef Claudia Lawrence. Correspondent Danny Savage discusses how the detective leading the search said that, following the appeal, the police had received a number of 'very interesting calls'. Former Sky TV executive Martin le Jeune and the BBC's director of strategy, John Tate, discuss whether the BBC's remit should be reduced. The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams discusses why religious leaders are urging the G20 not to forget their commitments to the world's poorest people during the recession. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is marking the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations made using a telescope by Galileo. Evan Davis meets the historian Richard Dunn, whose book, The Telescope - A Short History, has just been published. Correspondent Mark Simpson reports on a night of disruption in Belfast. Thought for the day with Canon Dr Alan Billings, an Anglican priest. Author Arundhati Roy, who won the Booker prize in 1997 for her novel The God of Small Things, discusses her concerns that the Sri Lankan government is on the verge of committing genocide. Major General Andy Salmon discusses the situation in Basra as the coalition prepares for the final withdrawal of UK troops from the country. Marks and Spencer has announced that fourth quarter sales have fallen by 4.2 per cent. Executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose says that M&S is riding out the economic downturn. Correspondent Sanchia Berg reports on how the recession has threatened plans for a World War II museum in North West London. Standards Commissioner Dr Jim Dyer from the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh discusses what can be done about the expenses of Westminster politicians. John Whiting of Price Waterhouse and Geoff Cook, chief executive of Jersey Finance, discuss exactly what tax havens are and what will happen if they are forced to change how they operate. Reports from Libya and Egypt say a boat carrying more than 250 migrants to Europe has sunk. Rome correspondent Duncan Kennedy and Peter Schatzer, director of the International Organisation for Migration, discuss why people are desperate to get to Italy. A computer virus that may have infected 15 million computers could break out on 1 April. Rupert Goodwins, editor of ZD Net, says experts fear it will cause problems. NASA showcased a full-sized mock up of its Orion Spacecraft on the streets of Washington DC on Monday. Professor Colin Pillinger discusses why we want to get to the moon again. James Partridge, from the charity Changing Faces, and Professor John Sutherland of University College London, discuss the portrayal of disfigurement in the media, arts and literature.