Best of Today

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• Average duration:
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Recent episodes (10)

• The Royal Society puts historic papers online

  Mon, 30 Nov 09

  Duration:
  5 mins

  The Royal Society celebrates its 350th anniversary next year, launching a new website featuring some of the most exciting and influential discoveries published in its journals from Isaac Newton's explanation of the rainbow to Crick and Watson's description of the structure of DNA. Our science correspondent Tom Feilden reports on the fascinating archive.

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• 'A lot of people are living in a fools paradise'

  Mon, 30 Nov 09

  Duration:
  10 mins

  Share prices have fallen sharply in the United Arab Emirates, as investors react to the debt crisis in Dubai. Economics correspondent Stephanie Flanders, Sir Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics and Terry Smith, chief executive of the money brokers Tullett Prebon, debate the future of the Emirate's economy.

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• What makes bad sex in literature?

  Sat, 28 Nov 09

  Duration:
  5 mins

  The winner of the Bad Sex in Fiction awards will be announced on Monday. The annual awards, now in their 17th year, celebrate the most embarrassing passage of sexual description in a literary novel from the last 12 months. Although last years winner was a women, Rachel Johnson, the shortlist this year suggest that the serial offenders are male novelists of a certain age. Authors Lionel Shriver and Howard Jacobsen discuss what makes a cringe-worthy prose.

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• Commons 'will bury Chilcot report'

  Sat, 28 Nov 09

  Duration:
  7 mins

  What has been learnt from the first week of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war? Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins likened the inquiry to a circus. Mr Jenkins and Peter Hennessy, Whitehall historian, discuss whether the inquiry will have any affect.

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• How to solve a cryptic crossword

  Fri, 27 Nov 09

  Duration:
  6 mins

  How do you complete a cryptic crossword? A new book published today provides tips and pointers for answering the clues. Colin Dexter, author of the book and creator of Inspector Morse, and Sandy Balfour, author of Clue to our Lives: 80 years of the Guardian Cryptic Crossword, discuss how best to approach a crossword's cryptic teasers.

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• NHS ratings 'can be misleading'

  Fri, 27 Nov 09

  Duration:
  15 mins

  A taskforce is being sent to Basildon and Thurrock NHS trust after Care Quality Commission inspectors identified serious concerns in emergency care, hygiene and cleanliness. The Trust, which has a mortality rate a third higher than the national average, was rated as "good" on quality of service in the CQC's 2008/09 assessment and marked "excellent" for its financial management. Martina Davies, a former patient at the hospital, comments on her experience of care. Sir Brian Jarman, of Imperial College, who was involved in the inquiry into the deaths of heart patients at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and Baroness Young, chair of the Care Quality Commission, discuss hospital morality rates.

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• Iran's youthful opposition

  Thu, 26 Nov 09

  Duration:
  5 mins

  Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Iranian filmmaker and overseas spokesman for Iranian presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, is in London to receive the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize. He was presented with the award last night and has dedicated it to Grand Ayatollah Montazeri who has become the spiritual leader of the Iranian opposition. Mr Makhmalbaf discusses the support for the opposition movement.

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• Water price cuts 'could stop leak programmes'

  Thu, 26 Nov 09

  Duration:
  8 mins

  Water companies and industry regulator Ofwat are engaged in discussions over the future pricing of water. Ofwat advise that bills should be reduced by 2015, but water companies insist bills need to rise to pay for improvements and repairs, warning that jobs will be lost. Business presenter Adam Shaw examines the discussions and Pamela Taylor, chief executive of Water UK, discusses water pricing.

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• Scots' independence hopes 'flatlining'

  Wed, 25 Nov 09

  Duration:
  8 mins

  Early next week, on St Andrew's Day, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond will unveil a white paper for a Referendum Bill on Independence. He hopes it will be the first step towards an independent Scotland. In the first of two reports, Today presenter James Naughtie examines how the recession has coloured the debate about Scottish secession from the UK.

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• Banks 'came close to meltdown'

  Wed, 25 Nov 09

  Duration:
  12 mins

  The Bank of England has revealed for the first time that it lent Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HBOS £61.6bn in emergency funding during the banking crisis last year. The huge sum is four times the value of the National Grid, and was kept hidden from the public. Treasury Minister Lord Myners discusses the secret loan, and chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym comments on the implications for the financial system.

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