Today: Wednesday 1st August

The first private firm to run a NHS hospital says it has made 'phenomenal progress' in its first six months. The American writer and man of letters, Gore Vidal, has died in California at the age of 86. And also on today's programme, a year since London's summer riots, how to bring a decaying urban area back to life.

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 Dominic Laurie: From today small businesses can take advantage of the low borrowing rates granted to the UK government by the country's safe haven status.

0655

It's long been known that people with serious mental health problems tend to die early, researchers from Edinburgh and UCL writing in the British Medical Journal say even people with pretty minor problems are also lightly to have reduced life expectancy. Dr Tom Russ is the report's lead author.

0709
Sport editor David Bond gives the round-up of today's Olympic events.

0713

It's six months since the private health company Circle took over Hinchingbrooke Hospital Trust in Cambridgeshire. Karen Jennings, assistant general secretary of Unison, gives her impression of the last six months.

0717
Business news with Dominic Laurie.

0720

It's now nearly a year since last summer's riots left some of England's urban areas looted, torched and shocked to the core. Mike Thomson reports from Tottenham in north London, where residents will find out later today how Haringey Council plans to regenerate the area.

0725
Sport news with Rob Bonnet, live from the Olympic Park.

0734

The Funding for Lending Scheme begins today as the latest scheme to kick-start bank lending. Jonathan Portes, director of the National Institute for Economic and Social research gaive his view. Mark Hoban, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, explained the scheme.

0740
The paper review.

0743

Author Lynne Truss gives her take on the absence, so far, of huge British success at the Olympic Games. The author and journalist worries that Britain expected too much.

0747
Thought for the day with the Reverend Joel Edwards, International Director of Micah Challenge.

0750
Following an amnesty in 2009 which saw thousands of militants sign a peace deal, the once lawless Niger Delta has been relatively calm recently enabling oil production to soar. Will Ross, reports from the long troubled region of Nigeria to see if the peace looks set to last.

0810
Home Affairs Editor Mark Easton gives his analysis of the first six months since the private health company Circle took over Hinchingbrooke Hospital Trust in Cambridgeshire, and Circle's chief executive Ali Parsa gives his own verdict.

0817

Anti government forces in Syria claim that a large detachment of government forces is heading to Aleppo as the battle for the city intensifies. Richard Galpin has the latest. Baroness Amos, UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, gave her analysis of the situation.

0822
Is sport going to be more friendly to people who are getting older, and should the Olympics adjust to the fact that more people are staying fitter and on their feet for longer? The writer and cultural commentator Bryan Appleyard, and former Olympic skier and racing driver Davina Galica, discuss age and sport.

0826
Sport news with Rob Bonnet, live from the Olympic Park.

0837
Haringey, the local authority for Tottenham in north London, sets out its plan today for regeneration, following last summer's riots. Toby Hyam, management director of Creative Space Management, and Joanna Averley, chief executive of LandAid, the property industry charity, debate which way the regeneration should go.

0842
Business news with Dominic Laurie.

0845

A tribute to American writer Gore Vidal, who died in California at the age of 86. Erica Wagner, literary editor of The Times, and Sir Jonathan Miller pay tribute to the author.

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.