bbc Radio 4 podcasts

Mark D'Arcy on the latest moves in the 10p tax row.

What do Jacqui Smith and Sir Cliff Richard have in common? Join Francis Wheen, Sue Perkins, Carrie Quinlan and Jeremy Hardy to find out. Presented by Sandi Toksvig.

Morgan Spurlock discusses Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden ? with Francine Stock; plus Ken Loach, Jiri Menzel and Kevin Jackson

Morgan Spurlock discusses Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden ? with Francine Stock; plus Ken Loach, Jiri Menzel and Kevin Jackson

John Wilson looks at An Infinite Line - a new exhibition about light at the Brighton Festival. Interviews with Grand Design's Kevin McCloud and crime writer Sue Grafton. A review of Speed Racer from the makers of the Matrix trilogy,

Chronicling the bloody campaign by Amercian forces for control of the city of Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad. Eye witness accounts recall the struggle that developed into a trial of strength with the insurgents and an ordeal for the people of the city.

More than ninety per cent of final year midwifery students are struggling to find a job, according to a survey by The Royal College of Midwives. This comes at a time when birth rates are rising and the Government has announced measures to recruit extra midwives. Jane talks to Helen O’Brien, who qualified more than two years ago but still hasn’t been able to find a post as a midwife. They are joined by Louise Silverton, Deputy General Secretary of the RCM and Alastair Henderson of NHS Employers - which represents NHS Trusts on workforce issues - to discuss how this situation has come about, and what can be done to rectify it.

More than ninety per cent of final year midwifery students are struggling to find a job, according to a survey by The Royal College of Midwives. This comes at a time when birth rates are rising and the Government has announced measures to recruit extra midwives. Jane talks to Helen O’Brien, who qualified more than two years ago but still hasn’t been able to find a post as a midwife. They are joined by Louise Silverton, Deputy General Secretary of the RCM and Alastair Henderson of NHS Employers - which represents NHS Trusts on workforce issues - to discuss how this situation has come about, and what can be done to rectify it.

Jane discusses a range of the week's topical issues with freelance writer at the Telegraph and mother of 5, Cassandra Jardine, the journalist and feminist campaigner Julie Bindel and the stand-up comedian and feminist writer, Kate Smurthwaite.

Visit Britain the national tourism agency has launched an accreditation scheme to make it clearer what spas offer. Fiona McAuslan reports on how spas have changed and developed over the years.

Visit Britain the national tourism agency has launched an accreditation scheme to make it clearer what spas offer. Fiona McAuslan reports on how spas have changed and developed over the years.

Rt Rev Lord Harries of Pentregarth

Rare breed chickens are being stolen throughout the UK by organised thieves. Gordon Ramsey says chefs should be banned from selling food out of season... and supermarkets say they're not to blame for the amount of food which gets chucked away.

Does Labour want a referendum on Scottish independence sooner or later? MPs seek an answer

Does Labour want a referendum on Scottish independence sooner or later? MPs seek an answer

Welsh-born Michael Moritz is one of the venture capital stars of Silicon Valley USA, a partner in Sequoia Capital, an awesomely successful investor in start-ups such as Yahoo, Google and YouTube. Peter Day asks him how it all happened … and gets some advice about how to make a high tech fortune over and over again. Producer: Neil Koenig  Editor: Stephen Chilcott

News travels fast for Alan and Usha, and Eddie does some detective work.

Scientists are turning to chemistry and engineering to develop a range of artificial skin and bone which can be used to improve the treatment of burns and bone diseases. Tissues are being grown by using complex man made 'scaffolds' to support them – not unlike scaffolding on a house - these scaffolds are not made from steel but of bio-ceramics and plastic polymers. Also on the programme scientists are still trying to find out how such highly complex insect societies like termite mounds and bee hives are organised. This is the emerging science or Swarm Intelligence. Insect cities are coordinated when there is no ’insect mayor’, no ‘brain insect’, controlling behaviour. How does this happen? Quentin Cooper find out.

Granny has invariably been the first port of call when help is needed to look after the youngest in the family and in the past she would probably have lived nearby which made it a viable arrangement for all. But now it seems, as extended families live further apart, some grandmothers are commuting on a weekly basis across the country in order to care for their grandchildren and in doing so, effectively standing in as live in nanny. It seems for more and more parents, the ‘long distance granny nanny’, represents an ideal solution to the high cost of professional childcare. But is too much today being asked of grandma’s role? Sheila McClennon is joined by grandmother and comedy writer Jan Etherington, and working mother, Kate Dixon, to hear their views.

Despatches from the BBC's foreign correspondents. This week: Andrew Harding describes how he was deported from Burma while reporting on the cyclone disaster. From Israel, Katya Adler finds a sense of unease underlying the nation's 60th anniversary celebrations. Rupert Wingfield Hayes examines how the Chinese authorities are handling preparations for the Olympic Games. On a trip to his native Iran after three decades, Amir Amirani hears how an old friend has fared over the years. And Matthew Price reports that US air passengers are being warned to expect a summer of delays, cancelled flights and rising costs.