Today: Thursday 21st June

Doctors across the UK are boycotting non-urgent care in their first industrial action since the 1970s. Education Secretary Michael Gove is planning to bring back exams similar to O-levels in England, in place of GCSEs. And also on today's programme, Sarah Montague reports from Liberia on the difficulties of being an African entrepreneur.

We are no longer providing clips of every part of the programme but you will be able to listen via the BBC iPlayer .

0615
Business news with Lesley Curwen, on the state of Spain's banks, and how much they might need to bail them out.

0709

The Prime Minister says some of the tax avoidance schemes being used by wealthy individuals are "dodgy" and morally wrong. Ronnie Ludwig, a partner at Saffery Champness accountants in Edinburgh, shares his thoughts on the issue.

0713

Today sees the start of a 24 hour UK-wide industrial action by BMA members over changes to pensions, the first in nearly 40 years. Doctor Paul Cundy, a GP who has a surgery in Wimbledon, explains why he is boycotting non-urgent care.

0717
Business news with Lesley Curwen.

0719
For decades Britain's housing shortage has been getting steadily worse, a problem that has pushed up the prices of homes to buy or rent and landed the nation with a huge housing benefits bill. The Today programme's Mike Thomson reports from Oxford, where the shortage of affordable housing is one of the worst outside London.

0724
For many years, successive British governments have supported Aung San Suu Kyi in her fight to bring democracy to Burma and condemned the military rulers, but now there is news of a new move to form closer ties with the generals. The BBC's Fergal Keane has more details.

0726
Sport news with Rob Bonnet.

0732

The Today programme has been taking a close look at Liberia this year to see what sort of future there might be for sub-Saharan Africa. Sarah Montague is there at the moment and she has been talking to four entrepreneurs who each hope that they can make a difference.

0742
The paper review.

0745

The government is reportedly planning to do away with GCSEs in England and replace them with O'Level style exams. Russell Hobby, who leads the National Association of Headteachers, shares his thoughts.

0748
Thought for the day with Canon Dr Alan Billings, an Anglican Priest.

0751
David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, explains what the government is planning to do crack down on aggressive tax avoidance schemes.

0810

The first industrial action by doctors for almost 40 years is under way, as medics boycott of non-urgent care in a dispute over pensions. Dr Hamish Meldrum, who chairs the BMA which voted for the industrial action and John Ralfe, an independent pensions consultant, debate the action.

0820

It is reported that Education Secretary Michael Gove wants to replace GCSEs with O levels which would be taken on the basis of a national standard exams. Andrew Haldenby, director of Reform, and Lord Baker, former education secretary, discuss the future of GCSEs.

0825
The Cultural Olympiad is launched today with one of the world's most celebrated orchestras, the Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela, playing in an unlikely setting, a housing estate in Stirling, where a local programme has been working to try to replicate the success of the Venezuelan programme. Arts editor Will Gompertz reports.

0830
Sport news with Rob Bonnet.

0837
The think tank the IPPR has come up with an idea which it says would revolutionise housing policy. Nick Pearce of the IPPR and Neil O'Brien of the think tank Policy Exchange, debate how to make housing more affordable.

0842
The election authorities in Egypt have delayed the announcement of the winner of the country's presidential election. Jon Leyne reports from Cairo.

0844
Business news with Lesley Curwen.

0847

At nine minutes past eleven last night, the sun reached its maximum height from the northern hemisphere. Mike Parker Pearson, professor of archaeology at Sheffield University, explains why people celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge.

0851
How hard is it to dismantle a currency? Dr Peter Frankopan, director of the Centre for Byzantine Research at Oxford University, gives his thoughts on what lessons Europe's leaders can learn from history.

0854

Jimmy Carr has come under fire ever since the Times disclosed that he has been using a tax avoidance scheme to pay only 1% tax on his considerable income. Author and PR agent Mark Borkowski, and Bruce Dessau of the Evening Standard, discuss the issue.

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