22/05/2015

0710

David Cameron will hold talks with European leaders at a summit in Latvia today, his first opportunity since the General Election to talk to them about his plans to renegotiate Britain's relations with the EU ahead of an in/out referendum. The summit's main focus is on Ukraine and relations between eastern European countries and Russia. However Downing Street has already said this week that it is Mr Cameron's "first opportunity to have some discussions with partners about the way he wants to reform the European Union and renegotiate the UK's relationship with it and the referendum". Professor Gunther Verheugen is former EU Commissioner.

0715

The number of babies in England subject to special guardianship orders has tripled in two years, according to data obtained by this programme. Special Guardianship means a child is placed until the age of 18 with extended family friends or foster parents, rather than being adopted or placed in temporary foster care. It comes as the number of children placed for adoption has fallen sharply. Andy Elvin is chief executive of TACT, a fostering and adoption charity. Cathy Ashley is chief executive of Family Rights Group, a charity representing families caught up in the Family Justice system.

0720

What is the impact of children’s television on the culture of the nation? An exhibition opens today at the Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry which looks at the history of kids TV from 1946 to the present day. Dr Helen Wheatley, who is behind the project, is associate professor in Film & Television Studies at Warwick University.

0730

Hampshire police have apologised and agreed to pay £20,000 to a rape victim after their officers failed to investigate her complaint properly and then arrested her for lying about the attack. The victim was 17 at the time of the rape in 2012. She tried to kill herself after she was told she could be facing charges. Her rapist has now been jailed. Chief Superintendent David Powell is head of Prevention and Neighbourhoods at Hampshire Constabulary.

0740

Hedgehogs have been in the spotlight this week. We were warned, by Springwatch’s Michaela Strachan, that their numbers are diminishing rapidly. Andrew Marr jumped to their defence after the Telegraph journalist Mary Riddell cautioned that Labour politicians could go the way of the hedgehog unless trends changed. So just what are our prickly friends' prospects and why should we care? Ben Sutherland is the owner of Hugo the hedgehog. Simon Thompson is a hedgehog officer at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

0750

The United States has acknowledged that Islamic State militants' recent capture of the cities of Ramadi and Palmyra represent a setback in attempts to defeat the group in Iraq and Syria. But President Obama has said the United States and its allies were not losing the war, and promised more help to Iraq's security forces. John Simpson is the BBC’s World Affairs Editor. Colonel Tim Collins is former commanding officer of the 1st Batallion of the Royal Irish Regiment during the Iraq War.

0810

David Cameron will hold talks with European leaders at a summit in Latvia today (see 0710). Edgars Rinkevics is Latvian Foreign Minister. Daniel Hannan is a Conservative MEP. James Landale is the BBC’s deputy political editor, who’s been travelling with David Cameron to Latvia.

0820

Field Marshal Montgomery, or Monty, was probably the best known British general of the Second World War. He became famous after his victory at El Alamein in November 1942. He was also renowned for being rather arrogant and eccentric. In a new book about the battle of the Bulge, called "Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble", the historian Antony Beevor suggests that Monty may have had Asperger's Syndrome.

0830

The plight of thousands of migrants stranded at sea has drawn attention to Rohingya Muslims who flee from persecution in Myanmar to Thailand. But what happens to those who reach Thailand? Some have been held in jungle camps in dreadful conditions by traffickers demanding ransoms from their families, the bodies of some refugees have been found in the wilderness. Our Correspondent Jonathan Head has been investigating this human trade for the last six months.

0840

Islamic State group jihadists have seized Syria's desert city of Palmyra, as UNESCO warned that the destruction of the ancient city would be "an enormous loss to humanity". The capture of Palmyra, a 2,000-year-old metropolis, reportedly leaves more than half of Syria under IS control and comes days after the group also expanded its control in Iraq. Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán is UNESCO’s assistant director general for culture.

0845

The extreme sport of base jumping has come under increased scrutiny as at least five people have died in accidents since January, including two last week at Yosemite National Park, and earlier this week a 73 year old died after leaping from a bridge in Idaho. Base stands for "building, antenna, span and earth", the types of places from which jumpers leap.  So what's the appeal? Gary Connery is a British base jumper.

0850

As half term looms, should we be nagging our teenagers to stay active over the holidays? Or should we allow them a week of lying-in and slouching on the sofa? The youth organisation the National Citizen Service is urging teenagers to get out and get active. But maybe they deserve to be left alone? Vic Goddard is head teacher of Passmores Academy, which was featured on the Channel Four series “Educating Essex”. Tom Hodgkinson is editor of the Idler and father of a 15 year old boy.

All subject to change.