Today: Wednesday 26th May

The Education Secretary Michael Gove is inviting all schools in England to opt out of local authority control. And Europe's internal market commissioner will give details of a new levy on banks to help pay for any future bailout.

To speed up the loading time for this running order, we have replaced the audio with links. To hear the reports, interviews and discussions, just click on the links.

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0709
As the US Secretary of Hillary Clinton visits South Korea, North Korea says it is severing all ties with the country after being blamed for sinking a South Korean warship. Correspondent Correspondent John Sudworth outlines the tensions between the two countries. The BBC's World Service China editor Shirong Chen examines how the dispute will affect diplomatic relations in the region.

0717
The coalition government's Schools Bill is being published today and will give schools in England the chance to become academies. Reporter Sanchia Berg went to talk to parents in Wandsworth, South London, who have already begun to prepare for the changes.

0721
The business news with Adam Shaw.

0723
A human has been implanted with a computer virus for the first time in the world in an experiment to help better understand medical technologies. The volunteer Dr Mark Gasson who works as a professor at Reading University, explains the implications for implantable computing technologies used medically to improve health.

0726
Sports news with Garry Richardson.

0733
Sick or disabled people are being denied the benefits they are entitled to as a result of changes to the benefits system, a BBC investigation has found. The changes were introduced to try and encourage people to work. Scotland investigations correspondent Mark Daly spoke to unemployed people who say they have lost out. Paul Gregg, Professor of Economics at the Centre for Market and Public Organisation at the University of Bristol, examines why the changes to benefits system are failing.

0740
The paper review.

0743
At least 30 people have been killed in three days of street battles in the Jamaican capital, Kingston. The police are fighting supporters of an alleged gangland boss and drug dealer - "Christopher Dudus Coke" who is wanted by the United States. Cheryl, a schoolteacher from Kingston, describes the continuing violence. 0747
Thought for the day with the Dr Indarjit Singh, director of the Network of Sikh Organisations.

0750
Global stock markets have fallen heavily over continued fears about the eurozone's debt problems. Business editor Robert Peston outlines the eurozone's financial troubles, and senior economic adviser at investment bank UBS, George Magnus, considers how the crisis might affect the UK.

0810
Primary and secondary schools in England are to be given the right to opt out of local authority control and become Academies, under the new legislation being set out in Parliament today. Education Secretary Michael Gove outlines how the new plans will work.

0820
Jamaican security forces are fighting with gunmen as they attempt to capture the alleged drug lord Christopher "Dudus" Coke. More than 30 people have been killed in the clashes. Correspondent Matthew Price reports from the Jamaican capital, Kingston.

0824
President Obama is visiting the oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico as the debate over who should pay for the clear-up continues. North America editor Mark Mardell reflects on the row between BP and the Obama administration.

0827
Sports news with Garry Richardson.

0833
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in South Korea to try and defuse tensions after the North declared it was cutting all ties as punishment for being blamed for the sinking of a South Korean warship. John Everard, former UK ambassador to North Korea, and Barbara Demick, author of Nothing to Envy which has been nominated for the Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction, examine whether the broken relations can be repaired.

0840
For every member of the armed forces to die in Afghanistan, many more become horrifically scarred or maimed. Once recovered, the injured go to Headley Court, Surrey, for rehabilitation. Defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt spoke to troops at the centre. 0843
The business news with Adam Shaw.

0846
There are 28 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises in British waters but scientists know surprisingly little about their behaviour and movements. Science correspondent Tom Feilden reports on how the conservation charity Sea Watch Foundation is trying to build up better understanding of the animals.

0850
The chief executive and the chairman of the Student Loans Company have resigned over criticism of chaos in the student finance system after thousands of students in England were left without grants or loans last autumn. National Union of Students president Aaron Porter comments on how the failings have affected students.

0854
Islamic experts are meeting to examine whether Islam should be reformed to suit a Western liberal democracy. The Reforming Islamic Reform conference is taking place at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, this evening. Professor Tariq Ramadan, professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University, discusses how far Islam should adapt to Western society.