Current Affairs Videos

PM Brown's gaffe / Berlin Wall fall anniversary / El Salvador flooding / Tough love / Superfreakanomics.

What is the best approach for parents?nA new report shows that parents who use a "tough love" approach are more likely to give children the skills they need for success and well being in later life; Premature Babies: 50,000 babies are born prematurely every year in the UK. This is one of the highest rates in Europe, and the figure is still rising. So what causes premature births?;Can you beat the recession by entering competitions? Probably not, but some people, known as 'compers', give it a good try by entering up to 50 competitions a day. Jane hears from a group of Compers and talks to Jenny Keefe, an analyst from the website moneysavingexpert.com; The city of Durham is set to experience a stunning festival of light and music this week as The Lumiere festival fills the city. Jane is joined by the directors Helen Marriage and Nicky Webb to talk about the festival and their previous projects including "The Sultan’s Elephant", which brought London to a standstill in 2006.

Berlin wall; Allegations Syd Uni college residents members of 'Define statuatory' FB page; Homophobia allegations in Christian seminar in ACT school; Kevin Sheedy on his new Western Sydney challenge.

Brown defends Afghan mission / Texas massacre / Sesame Street is 40

With Jenni Murray: On today's programme:nnMen nnUCAS Forms are being filled out all over the country - should parents be involved or should young people be left to stand on their own two feet?nnLycees - known as a tinned, syrupy dessert in the UK, but we discover their nobler cultural history in China;nnThe Polygamy Club was founded earlier this year by a controversial Malaysian Islamic sect, and has now opened a branch in neighbouring Indonesia. The BBC's correspondent in Jakarta tells us how Indonesian women feel about it.nnAnd Anne Lister, known as Gentleman Jack to her neighbours in Halifax, West Yorkshire - her diaries and letters changed our ideas about 19th century lesbian history when they were published almost 20 years ago.

More cash injected into UK economy / Afghanistan police / South Africa: Atheltics chief suspended over Semenya's gender tests / UK justice.

Tennis legend Serena Williams talks about her extraordinary career and writing her autobiography, we hear about a new radio soap set in Kabul, couples who work together discuss the pleasures and pitfalls ( in the light of the new recommendations that MPs should not be able to employ their own relatives ) and finally, what's on your dressing table? We scratch the glass surface of this altar to womanly wiles.

Jenni debates whose responsibility it is to keep children safe online; author Sue Townsend talks about the return of the much-loved Adrian Mole, now 39 and a quarter and still not very grown-up; the latest revival of the play "Mrs Klein" prompts a discussion about the legacy of the psychoanalyst Melanie Klein; and Sophie Grigson cooks up some soup live in the studio.

THE SHAKE UP: Kate with guests Andrew G from Idol and Megan Washington from Washington. On the 10th anniversary of the Republic referendum we bring the debate back to public consciousness and discuss whether or not it's time for Australia to sever its ties with England. In light of the news of lip-synching at Britney Spears' upcoming Australian tour we'll also be talking about people's feelings on the idea of paying high prices for concert tickets when the stars of the show aren't actually singing. And to wrap things up we talk about trashiness at the Melbourne Cup and people's experiences with drunken behaviour at what is supposed to be a formal event.

Taliban link to Afghan shootings probed / MPs' mortgage claims 'should end' / London 2012 unveils £700m deals.

Do you have a job where losing focus could mean the difference between life or death? Today on Hack we discuss the issues of focus and the potential consequences that distraction can have. Tom Tilley talks with two people whose jobs require exceptional focus: a trainee surgeon and a truck driver.David Lewis also talks with some members of Sydney FC and the need for focus in a professional sporting environment.

UK banks shake-up / EU treaty ratified / Equatorial Guinea: Mercenary Mann freed / Fat UK / Monty Python anger.

Miranda Hart - The comedian on her new BBC2 series; Women Engineers and Work Clothes - Is there a need for more appropriate work attire? The Children who Fought Hitler - The memorial school in Ypres; Allison Fisher - One of the greatest women billiard players in the world.

It's already been 12 months since the historial election of US President Barack Obama and we'll be checking in with two young Americans we spoke to this time last year to hear their thoughts on Obama's progress so far. The issues of America's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan will be discussed along with Obama's proposed plans for health care and the prospects of employment in the current economic climate.

Scientific community back sacked government advisor / Karzai is Afghan President / newspod@bbc.co.uk / UK terror excercise for muslims / Beefeater female harassment / M1 is 50.