´óÏó´«Ã½

Here is Kirsty's look ahead to tonight's programme.

Windfall Tax

Shell announces a six month profit of £4 billion, following BP's strong results earlier this week - so is it time for a windfall tax? If it is, is it a political move which would unite the Labour Government, and unite it with the Unions, and whom would it hit? And at a time when the poorest will be hardest hit by rising gas prices - where would the money be spent?

Rendition Flights

The government told us repeatedly that British territory has not, and is not being used by the US for rendition flights - that is the secret transfer of terror suspects. Now after detailed investigations Newsnight's Peter Marshall reports on how there is mounting evidence that Diego Garcia - a remote British territory in the Indian Ocean - has not only been used as a re-fuelling stop but also as an interrogation venue.

Radovan Karadzic

Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader, shorn of his disguise has had his first day in front of the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague and has told the judge he is going to represent himself. He is facing 11 charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. Our diplomatic editor Mark Urban has been watching the proceedings and will be giving us his observations on Karadzic and the impact of the trial on the people of Sarajevo watching the proceedings on TV.

And in the final instalment of our series remembering 1968 - and with some fantastic archive of the time - we revisit the Apple Boutique, the Beatles' Baker Street shop with a very peace and love attitude to its customer payment policy.

Kirsty

Good morning. Here are the early thoughts of programme producer Richard Pattinson:

Good morning everyone - quite a bit around

Economy

House prices are now at their lowest level in two years say the Nationwide, having suffered their biggest annual fall since Nationwide started collecting data in 1991.
HBOS has announced a slump in pre-tax profits of 72%
Meanwhile Shell announces a six month profit of £4bn, following BP's strong results earlier in the week.
So is it time for a windfall tax on energy companies? How would it work, whom would it hit and how would the money be spent?

Karadzic

Radovan Karadzic is due to be formally charged by the UN war crimes tribunal later today.

Diego Garcia

Just how much use has been made of Britain's remote Indian Ocean territory by the US and its terror suspects? Peter Marshall has new information I'm hoping we'll be able to run this evening.

Beatles boutique

And in the last part of our series remembering 1968, our Culture Correspondent Madeleine Holt looks back at the Apple Boutique, the Beatles' Baker St store with a very peace and love attitude to its customer payment policy.

Other stuff

We need to watch if anything more comes of the Labour leadership rumpus - David Miliband is on the Jeremy Vine show. Also, would be good to pursue Jersey following the police interview this morning. And expecting some movement on the 7/7 trial today.

What else do you fancy?

Richard

Here is Gavin's look ahead to tonight's programme.

Quote for the Day

"If we had no sexual harassment we would have no children" - An unnamed Russian judge, dismissing a case of sexual harassment, ruling that employers were obliged to make passes at female staff to ensure the survival of the human race.

In tonight's programme:

Labour

Does David Miliband have the Right Stuff to be leader of the Labour party? His essay in The Guardian today has started off a wave of speculation that he's in for the job -- although of course there is no vacancy. So who is the Young Pretender? What does he stand for? And what do others think of him?

Gas

Britain's biggest supplier puts prices up by 35%. If you have had a pay increase of 35% to help pay for it, we'd love to hear from you. As for the rest of us, should we just grin and bear it? Is there anything we can do?

David Cameron

And in co-production with ´óÏó´«Ã½ Newsbeat we bring you David Cameron quizzed by Radio 1 listeners. What will they make of him? And how will he respond to criticism of his floral shorts.

And finally

Charles Veritie sends in this Joke fit for an 11-year-old.
In the hospital the relatives gathered in the waiting room.
A family member lay gravely ill.
Finally, the doctor came in looking tired and sombre.
"I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news,"
he said as he surveyed the worried faces.
"The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant.
It's an experimental procedure, very risky but it is the only hope.
Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay for the brain yourselves."

The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a great length of time, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain cost?"

The doctor quickly responded, "$5,000 for a male brain, and $200 for a female brain."

The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked.

A man unable to control his curiosity, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask,

"Why is the male brain so much more?"

The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and explained to the entire group: "It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to mark down the price of the female brains, because they've actually been used."

That's a second feminist joke sent in by a man in the past two days.

What's going on? Some kind of conspiracy? Keep them coming.

Newsnight - where the brains are priceless - is at 10 30 on ´óÏó´«Ã½2

Gavin

Good morning. Here are the early thoughts of programme producer Simon Enright:

"The times demand a radical new phase" - that's David Miliband's assessment of what the Labour party needs - "the odds are against us".

Is he the man to rebalance the odds and put the "case afresh" as he says? Michael Crick is on the case.

Peter Marshall is chasing down a story about Diego Garcia. Remember the Foreign Secretary - you know the man errrh Miliband - he told the Commons that two terror suspects had been taken through the small island base we've leased to the States. But was it just those two who travelled through the island?

And the Tory party "does not know what it is for." So says David Miliband. But in conjunction with Radio 1 and their listeners Newsnight got ordinary voters to put their questions to the Conservative Leader David Cameron. It makes fascinating viewing - we hope to show the section where he defends his floral shorts on this website shortly.

But what else should we do today? And who should we interview on all our stories. And how should we make any of the pictures we've described.

Simon

Here is Gavin's look ahead to tonight's programme:

"Doha
The world trade talks have collapsed. The plan was to make the whole world richer by freeing up barriers to trade. We'll have a full analysis of the reasons for the failure and the impact on an already fragile world economy.

Mind the Gap
The Conservatives claim today that Labour has driven social inequality up to levels unseen since Victorian times, and boldly claim that only the Tories can truly tackle poverty. It's a very interesting question - and also a bold political move to annex territory traditionally Labour's own.

Belarus
We have a special report from inside what has been called Europe's last dictatorship."

Good morning. Here are the early thoughts of programme producer Shaminder Nahal:

Good morning everyone.

Will the 7/7 trial happen today?

The Crosby report on mortgages out today paints a bleak picture of the prospects for mortgages. Strikingly - it's expected to suggest temporary government support for mortgage providers.

So should taxpayers help fund the mortgage market, and what should we get in return? Paul Mason will look at today's report, and also how the banking industry in general is in trouble, and how there too, the idea of "nationalisation" is rearing its head.

The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Chris Grayling will outline policies to deal with unemployment and crime in deprived areas. Shall we look at his ideas in detail?

We have a film on Belarus - "the last dictatorship in Europe".

What else? There's room for more.

Shaminder

Here is Gavin's look ahead to tonight's programme:

Today's Quote for the Day

"We Brit politicians now communicate in a manner at once both hectoring and evasive - a remarkably irritating double" - Michael Gove, shadow schools secretary.

Labour

Will he go? Will he be pushed? As Gordon Brown gets out his bucket and spade on holiday on the east coast, our Political Editor Michael Crick has been bashing the phones to try to find out what the possible leadership contenders are really up to.

Typhoid

We have a chilling investigation into how 50 women identified as Typhoid carriers were locked up for life in a mental asylum in Surrey from 1907 until the early 1990s. As carriers of Typhoid they were not ill themselves, but were deemed a public health risk. .

Salman Rushdie

I'll also be talking to Salman Rushdie about his extraordinary new novel The Enchantress of Florence. In an extended interview he discusses whether the terrible times when he had a fatwa - a death threat - on his head from Islamic clerics might itself be the subject of a future novel. He also talks about an "air of appeasement" towards Islamic fundamentalism in this country and talks about how "soft power" - including the internet - can defeat tyranny.

And finally my thanks to Newsnight Viewer Lucille for this Joke Fit for an 11-year-old.

I was having trouble with my computer. So I called Eric, the 11
year old next door. Eric clicked a couple of buttons and solved
the problem.

As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was wrong? He
replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.'

I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired, 'An, ID
ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it again.'

Eric grinned... 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error
before?'

'No,' I replied. 'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll
figure it out.'

So I wrote down: I D 1 0 T

Newsnight is at 10.30pm on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 2

Gavin

Salman Rushdie was interviewed on Newsnight on 28 July 2008 about his new book The Enchantress of Florence. Here are two short extracts from chapter one:

"In the day's last light the glowing lake below the palace-city looked

like a sea of molten gold. A traveller coming this way at sunset -

this traveller, coming this way, now, along the lakeshore road -

might believe himself to be approaching the throne of a monarch so

fabulously wealthy that he could allow a portion of his treasure to be

poured into a giant hollow in the earth to dazzle and awe his guests.

And as big as the lake of gold was, it must be only a drop drawn

from the sea of the larger fortune - the traveller's imagination could

not begin to grasp the size of that mother-ocean! Nor were there

guards at the golden water's edge; was the king so generous, then, that

he allowed all his subjects, and perhaps even strangers and visitors like

the traveller himself, without hindrance to draw up liquid bounty

from the lake? That would indeed be a prince among men, a veritable

Prester John, whose lost kingdom of song and fable contained impossible

wonders. Perhaps (the traveller surmised) the fountain of eternal

youth lay within the city walls - perhaps even the legendary doorway

to Paradise on Earth was somewhere close at hand? But then the sun

fell below the horizon, the gold sank beneath the water's surface, and

was lost. Mermaids and serpents would guard it until the return of

daylight. Until then, water itself would be the only treasure on offer,

a gift the thirsty traveller gratefully accepted.

In the caravanserai all was bustle and hum. Animals were cared

for, horses, camels, bullocks, asses, goats, while other, untameable

animals ran wild: screechy monkeys, dogs that were no man's pets.

Shrieking parrots exploded like green fireworks in the sky. Blacksmiths

were at work, and carpenters, and in chandleries on all four sides of

the enormous square men planned their journeys, stocking up on

groceries, candles, oil, soap and ropes. Turbaned coolies in red shirts

and dhotis ran ceaselessly hither and yon with bundles of improbable

size and weight upon their heads. There was, in general, much loading

and unloading of goods. Beds for the night were to be cheaply had

here, wood-frame rope beds covered with spiky horsehair mattresses,

standing in military ranks upon the roofs of the single-storey buildings

surrounding the enormous courtyard of the caravanserai, beds

where a man might lie and look up at the heavens and imagine himself

divine. Beyond, to the west, lay the murmuring camps of the emperor's

regiments, lately returned from the wars. The army was not permitted

to enter the zone of the palaces but had to stay here at the foot of

the royal hill. An unemployed army, recently home from battle, was

to be treated with caution. The stranger thought of ancient Rome.

An emperor trusted no soldiers except his praetorian guard. The traveller

knew that the question of trust was one he would have to answer

convincingly. If he did not he would quickly die."

Good morning. Here are the early thoughts of programme producer Dan Kelly:

"Good morning all.

Some strong stories today.

We have a rare broadcast interview with Salman Rushdie. What would you like to ask him?

How would you like to move on the Labour story today? Could we flush out the strategy of informal leadership contenders? Behind the public statements, what are they are really up to?

Angus Stickler has a fascinating investigation into how nearly 50 women identified as typhoid carriers were locked up for life in a mental asylum in Surrey from 1907 to 1992.

The Turkish attacks and the court case later this week are also interesting.

We should be very across the 7/7 trial, it could come back today.

All ideas on these and other stories are most welcome.

Dan."

On Review, summer fun with superheroes, star-crossed lovers, fakers, and dictators. Here's Kirsty's look ahead to the programme:

"Paul Morley, Natalie Haynes and John Carey (and later in the programme for reasons that will become clear, Salam Pax, the Baghdad Blogger) spend two-and-a-half hours in the company of Batman and The Joker in The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan returns to direct a second time, teaming up again with Christian Bale in the hell that is Gotham City - and Batman just isn't prepared for the evil force of this Joker - the late Heath Ledger's fiendish psychological monster with the hellish grin. Will his performance deliver a posthumous Oscar?

Once upon a time James Frey wrote a shocking memoir about the middle class Ohio boy who plumbed the depths of drug and drink addiction, and ended up in jail for three months - it was a knockout! It sold more than five million copies. It was feted by Oprah. And then the author of A Million Little Pieces was exposed on the chat queen's show as having faked the tougher parts of the story. Frey and his wife apparently went into hiding - there had been follow up memoir too by then - but now the audacious author is back with his tales of Los Angeles - the rag tag of people who arrive, seeking fortune and sometimes fame. In Bright Shiny Morning Frey peppers the pages with historical facts about the City of Angels - and many of them seem like the real deal - but there's a disclaimer at the front of the book about its unreliability. What is fiction and what is fact?

We know only so much about Saddam Hussein - his brutality towards his own people, his vicious psychopathic son Uday, the torture chambers, the gassing of the Kurds - but what was it like inside Saddam's family and his inner circle? Alex Holmes spent three years preparing a four-part series for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and HBO talking - sometimes indirectly - to key figures including Saddam's deputy Tariq Aziz, endeavouring to see the world as they did. The House of Saddam is like an evil Dallas - except many people really do die and in dreadful ways. Saddam is played by the Israeli actor Yigal Naor, and his first wife by Shohreh Aghdashloo. The so-called Baghdad Blogger Salam Pax made a series of films for Newsnight during the war and its aftermath: his father was a member of the Iraqi parliament. He will join the discussion and tell us what he makes of the portrayal of Saddam's world view.

Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno are forever seared in many people's minds when they think of West Side Story - the film version won 1 0 Oscars, but the stage version celebrated its 50th anniversary last Autumn and a new American touring production en route from China and Germany opened at Sadler's Wells in London this week. Such is the iron grip of the estate of Jerome Robbins - the original choreographer of the show - that the dances and style, to a score written by Bernstein and Sondheim are little changed from the 1957 production. A good thing or a bad thing?

Do watch to find out what our reviewers think.

Kirsty"

Here is Gavin's look ahead to tonight's programme:

"Hello,

"Three weeks ago the SNP predicted a political earthquake. This SNP victory is not just a political earthquake, it is off the Richter scale. It is an epic win, and the tremors are being felt all the way to Downing Street" - John Mason, the victorious SNP candidate in the Glasgow East by-election.

In Newsnight Tonight

We're planning to devote the entire programme to the aftershocks of the Glasgow East result. Michael Crick is at the Labour Party policy forum in Warwick where the Party is trying to figure out what happens next. Paul Mason will be looking at what options the party really has. And we'll hear from Gordon Brown's friends and confidantes and those who wish to take the Party in a different direction.

Gavin"

Good morning, after an astonishing result last night there's only one story everyone is talking about. Here's programme producer Richard:

"Not just a political earthquake, it is off the Richter scale."

Please come to the meeting with ideas on how best we cover the aftermath of Labour's Glasgow East catastrophe.

Richard"

We've brought Barack Obama's arrival in Europe to the top of the running order tonight. More details about the programme from , below:

Hello viewers here and abroad, on air and online.

Barack in Berlin

Tonight Barack Obama makes his speech in Berlin - the only big speech of his tour. It has already attracted flak from US commentators who say - "look at JFK and Reagan, you need to earn your spot in such a famous place".

We'll have extracts from the speech and then we'll be speaking to John McCain's right-hand woman Carly Fiorina about Obama and about McCain. Where DOES McCain stand on withdrawal from Iraq? Is Fiorina (the former CEO of Hewlett Packard) his shield against questions on the economy? And is his attack on the press for what he perceives as "Obamabias" a sign of desperation? Then we'll talk to a leading European and US commentator for reaction on tonight's speech.

Mosley win

Max Mosley has won a famous victory against The News of the World over allegations that the sadomasochistic orgies he participated in had Nazi overtones. Mosley, the President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, sued the paper for breach of privacy and won £60,000 in damages.

Does his victory demonstrate that we have a privacy law in all but name, and will it add to the armoury public figures have to stop the publication of material about themselves? We'll be hearing from a leading media lawyer in the Chambers that defended Max Mosley and Phil Hall, the former Editor of the News of the World.

Glasgow East

Will the SNP overturn a Labour majority of more than 13,000 in today's Glasgow East by-election? Or, despite Alex Salmond's presence on the stump - and Gordon Brown's absence - has Labour done enough to avoid humiliation? Our political editor Michael Crick will be live at the poll count tonight.

Pakistan's Taleban

And we have an extraordinary film from one of the most dangerous places on earth - the tribal border region of Pakistan on the Afghan border. A ´óÏó´«Ã½ team has met one of the most wanted men in the world - the head of the Pakistani Taleban - Baitullah Mehsud.

I hope you'll be watching - 10.30 on ´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO.

Kirsty

Good morning. Max Mosley has just won £60,000 in damages in his legal case against The News of the World. With that, and other prospects for tonight's programme, here's today's output editor, Dan Kelly:

Busy today.

Barack Obama arrives in Berlin today to give the only public speech of his week long tour. The theme is transatlantic relations and thousands of people are expected to attend. As a useful antidote to the huge media attention given to Obama's every move, we also have an interview with Carly Fiorina from McCain's team (as long as she doesn't drop out). We may have room for another discussion on the speech/tour - if so, who would you want to hear from?

The verdict in the Max Mosley case is in - The News of the World has lost. What could the judgement mean for press freedom and what could it mean for the right to privacy? Who would you like on to discuss this (remember that we need a supporter of effective privacy laws as well as a tabloid journalist)?

Barbara Plett has a very timely piece from Waziristan on the Pakistan Taliban. It isn't in yet, but it sounds very strong.

The Glasgow East poll takes place today. We can do a short piece with voters and a live with Michael Crick.

Anything else?

See you at 10.30.

Dan

Here is programme producer Shaminder's look ahead to tonight's show:

"Good evening viewers. We have a packed show tonight.

Eco-towns

The Local Government Association says the government's plans for eco-towns could face a serious legal challenge. So are the plans under threat? We speak to the Housing Minister, Caroline Flint.

Glasgow East

The SNP think they can snatch the by-election at the last minute, but Labour think they'll still squeeze through. Are they right, and will a narrow win be enough to quell concern on the government benches? Our man Michael Crick is on the by-election trail.

Bulgaria

The European Commission has suspended millions of pounds in aid to Bulgaria, accusing the country of not doing enough to clear up corruption. Did we let Bulgaria join too soon?

Newsnight's Arctic Adventure

A very special ship sets sail for the Arctic today. Its six-week mission is to measure the growth of plankton in Arctic waters. From that they'll be able to tell just how fast global warming is changing the ecology of the world's oceans. We'll be following the mission from beginning to end, with regular updates from on board. Tonight our Science Editor Susan Watts tours the decks and waves them off to sea.

Hi, here are programme producer Shaminder's plans for tonight's Newsnight:

"Good morning.

Alan Johnson is talking about obesity and personal responsibility this afternoon in a speech to the Fabian Society. David Cameron recently said fat people only have themselves to blame, and we need to speak out on moral neutrality. What will Johnson's take be?

The government's plans for eco-towns could face a legal challenge. The Local Government Association says the plans by-pass normal planning procedures. More proposals on the key requirements of an eco-town may be set out tomorrow. But is the eco-town vision now seriously under threat?

Glasgow East by-election. Michael Crick and Hugh Milbourn are looking at how the SNP are doing.

The EU is going to cut aid to Bulgaria because of corruption and organised crime. Did the EU spread east too quickly?

Newsnight's Arctic Adventure
Newsnight is being given exclusive access to the UK's famous polar Arctic vessel - the James Clark Ross - which is setting sail for the Arctic today, to undertake major research on what's happening to arctic plankton - one of the key early indicators of global warming. The scientists on board will be blogging for us, as they take a detailed scientific snapshot of life in the Arctic Ocean. Susan will do a piece for us tonight showing us round the ship, introducing the blogging scientists, and explaining the project.

What else? Any more on Karadzic? Anything else? Playout?

Yours, Shaminder"

Here is Gavin's look ahead to tonight's programme:

"Karadzic
The arrest of Radovan Karadzic is obviously good news for those who have been hoping to bring him to justice for years, but is it also good news for Serbia - hoping at last to find a role in the New Europe - and good news for the rest of the Balkans? Our Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban reports on that, and just how Karadzic managed to evade the authorities disguised as a practitioner of alternative medicine.

Doha
The latest round in the world trade talks are currently underway in Geneva. But just what is at stake, and what chance of any kind of agreement? Our Economics Editor Paul Mason investigates.

Albinos
We have a disturbing report from Tanzania, where witchdoctors are peddaling the myth that possession of a potion made of an albino's hair, blood or limbs paves the way to riches. As a result more than two dozen albinos have been killed there in the past year in a series of grisly ritualistic killings. The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s East Africa Correspondent Karen Allen reports."

Good morning, here are the early thoughts of programme producer, Richard:

"Radovan Karadzic
More details on the former Bosnian Serb leader's arrest today - how should we be covering it and how long can Ratko Mladic stay on the run? What does it mean for Serbia's future in Europe? EU Foreign Ministers meeting today.

Iraq
The PM will set out plans for the UK's ongoing commitment in Iraq - will there be any figures and if so how will they compare with the recent pronouncements of the Iraqi government, and Senators Obama and McCain?

Albinos in Tanzania
We have a disturbing report from Tanzania, where witchdoctors are pedalling the myth that possession of a potion made of an albino's hair, blood or limbs paves the way to riches. As a result more than two dozen albinos have been killed there in the past year in a series of grisly ritualistic killings. The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s East Africa Correspondent Karen Allen reports.

Other stories
The government's new alcohol strategy in England will be unveiled today as figures are expected to show 800,000 people a year have an alcohol-related hospital admission; confidence vote in the Indian parliament could lead to the collapse of the coalition there, and scupper the country's nuclear pact with Washington; talks on the Doha trade round are continuing - what exactly are we being signed up to?

Plenty of other stuff around too - what do you fancy?

Richard"

Here is Emily's look ahead to tonight's programme:

"Zimbabwe:
It is eyeball popping stuff, to be honest. How can Morgan Tsvangirai - a man who was last month hiding in the Dutch Embassy apparently fearing for his life - shake hands with his nemesis, Robert Mugabe. The two men have signed a memorandum of understanding on power sharing talks. And, as I write, that's as far as our understanding of their "understanding" goes. Is it realistic to expect a working coalition whilst Mugabe remains President? What is in it for Mugabe? And can it really save the country from dire economic distress and starvation?
There is too much to digest here - certainly more than the original triumphant press conference could convey - but our diplomatic editor Mark Urban is on the case. One of the things we will be looking at is the role of South Africa's president. Thabo Mbeki, long regarded, by many Africa experts, as the most useless man on the planet when it came to vital mediation, appears to have played a key role in bringing these two men together. So has his brand of 'quiet diplomacy' actually worked?

Madeleine McCann
Kate and Gerry McCann and Robert Murat have finally been cleared of their 'arguido' status by Portuguese police. They are no longer formal suspects in the disappearance of Madeleine. The police inquiry in Portugal has now been shelved, and Madeleine's parents can gain access to the case files. The McCanns say there is little sense of victory for them - but they do hope this closure means they can continue the search for their daughter with less distraction. We'll be looking at what this whole episode says about the police investigation and asking the McCann's spokesman what happens next.

Obama:
On his whistle-stop foreign tour Barak Obama has already been to Afghanistan and is now in Baghdad. This chronology reflects his own priorities: Afghanistan should come first when looking at US troop numbers and positioning. Obama is keen to put paid to his critics on this trip who say he doesn't know enough about foreign policy to be president. But does he also risk making the mistake that some think our own Tony Blair made - namely, that he ignored voters at home to woo flatterers abroad. And does his rhetoric - in assuming he will be dealing with these countries in future years - border on arrogance? Peter Marshall assesses.

A Great Channel 4 Swindle?
An extraordinary ruling from the media watchdog OFCOM about a Channel 4 documentary on climate change, entitled, The Great Global Warming Swindle. After complaints from viewers and contributors, Ofcom found the film broke broadcasting rules. Tonight, with the Channel 4 commissioner and the government's chief scientific advisor, Professor David King, who believes he was misrepresented in the piece, we debate what place polemic has on our screens, and how much damage inaccurate science can do."

Good morning, here are the early thoughts of programme producer, Dan Kelly:

"Some good stories today.

Obama is in Iraq at the beginning of his Middle East and European tour. The trip is designed to show US voters that he can be a convincing Commander In Chief, so can he? And what dangers are there in this unusual style of electioneering? What guests would you like to see on this?

In Zimbabwe, Zanu PF and the opposition appear to be close to signing a deal outlining a framework for talks. Mbeki has flown in to Harare, but the rest is unclear.

The Madeleine McCann case is due to be formally shelved today after a statement by Portugal's public prosecutor this afternoon. Caroline Hawley is in Portugal to look at the police failings in the case (she's also there for the News Channel so has some practical constraints). The piece will need to be put together here.

The heavily trailed Welfare Green paper comes out today - how would you like us to cover this, if at all?

An Ofcom ruling on Channel 4's "The Great Climate Change Swindle" comes out this morning. The broadcaster could be formally censured. Environmental scientists say that the programme misrepresented "expert" voices and has caused widespread public confusion about the dangers of climate change (they point to recent MORI polling), but do polemics not have a proud place in British culture? Who would you like in a discussion?

Guest ideas, treatment ideas, and play out suggestions are all welcome.

Dan"

Here is Emily's look ahead to what's on tonight's programme:

Fiscal Rules OK:
When a rule gets inconvenient, what happens? The government says it has been long reviewing its own - much-touted - rules on debt and spending but that no decision has been made on whether it will adopt a new framework that could allow for increased borrowing.
It is no coincidence this comes as the government reaches its (own) limit, after three months that have seen some of the highest levels of borrowing since the war.
Yes, the government was pretty much on target to break its own rules anyway. So isn't the sensible thing then to come clean when unprecedented circumstances demand? Or does it smack of weakness and manipulation. We'll be debating that with top economists.

Redemption:
Should we offer redemption to those who have erred, paid the price and struggled to get back to the top of their game?
Tonight, Dwain Chambers must face the fact he will never compete in any future Olympic Games. He lost his battle at the High Court to overturn a lifetime ban. He was a drugs cheat. He admits that, and he has fought hard since then to stop other young athletes making the same mistake. There has been little sympathy for him among the athletic fraternity - although one US Olympian conceded the ruling was now a 'death sentence' for the sprinter.
Tonight, we debate the wider issue of redemption with someone who learnt about it the hard way - in prison - Jonathan Aitken, and former Olympic athlete Steve Backley.

Scotland:
Whether it was Gazza's goal in an England football match, or his insistence on a celebration of Britishness, Gordon Brown has always been at pains to stress he is not purely a Scot. Now, the PM will fight one of the most intriguing by-elections in a vehemently Scottish part of the world. How will Labour fare there? Are the voters there, as our political editor claims, 'genetically Labour' or has the banging of the British drum started to get up their noses? We'll have the latest from Michael Crick, in Glasgow East.

Here is John Wilson's look ahead to tonight's Newsnight Review:

Hello,

I've never visited Hadrian's Wall but earlier this year I became one of the first people in nearly two millennia to see Hadrian's loo.

The Imperial lavatory recently emerged amidst excavations of Villa Adriana, Hadrian's sprawling hillside retreat at Tivoli. Archaeologists have also discovered what they think may be a mausoleum for Hadrian's lover - a Greek boy called Antinous. The private life of Hadrian - along with his cultural and military pursuits - is explored in a new exhibition at The British Museum. We have a .

Hadrian's first political decision as Emperor was to order a military withdrawal from territory now known as Iraq, the historical resonance of which will not be lost on my guests - David Aaronovitch, Marina Hyde and Simon Sebag Montefiore - as they discuss Erroll Morris' new documentary. In Morris talks to the US Army soldiers who were photographed abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib jail. Their jokey snapshots became criminal evidence. I'll be asking the panel whether Erroll Morris was right to portray the soldiers as scapegoats in a global political scandal.

Haruki Murakami may be Japan's most successful contemporary novelist but he's also publicity shy. His new book reveals him to be an accomplished long distance runner, a veteran of 24 marathons. I'll be asking the panel - particularly fellow marathon runner David Aaronovitch - whether Murakami writes a good race in .

Finally, we'll also hear from Marina Hyde why is the greatest television series of all time. Labyrinthine plotting, jargon-riddled quickfire dialogue and an unrelentingly grim portrayal of a city - Baltimore - which is falling apart at the seams...what's not to like? As they say in the Wire "all the pieces matter".
Join us for Review at 11 o'clock
John .

Good morning, here are the early thoughts of programme producer Shaminder:

"The government is considering rewriting its fiscal rules so it can borrow more. What would you like to do on this?

Michael Crick and Sarah Teasdale are in Glasgow. What would you like to see them do today?

Dwain Chambers will find out today if he can compete at next month's Olympic Games in Beijing. The sprinter is challenging a lifetime ban by the British Olympic Association. Chambers was handed a two-year ban from athletics in 2003 after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug THG. Should we discuss?

Barack Obama's big world tour starts but it looks like he's only allowing American journalists to travel with him, and will only be giving interviews to American broadcasters and press. Is that really engaging with the rest of the world?

Anything else?

Yours, Shaminder"

Here is Gavin's look ahead to what's on tonight's programme:

"By-elections at one level don't reveal much more than the views of a small number of people in one area of the country. But Glasgow East - where voters go to the polls next Thursday - is different. It is the Labour heartland voting on what could prove to be the future of a Scottish Labour Prime Minister.

At the end of a hugely important political week, we'll have a report from Glasgow, and we'll also be hearing from the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg on why his party has now moved firmly in favour of tax cuts. Yes, tax cuts.

We'll also be assembling our political panel to discuss Gordon Brown's future, the latest Lib Dem moves, and whether the Conservatives really are ready for power.

All that and Stephen Smith concludes our Hard Times season with a very entertaining look at how Old Technology may be the way of the future."

Good morning, here are the early thoughts of programme producer Richard:

"GLASGOW EAST

There's just a week to go before the most important test of Gordon Brown's leadership since the last one. All the parties will be out in force campaigning in Glasgow East ahead of next Thursday's by-election. Can Labour really lose such a safe seat - could the PM survive if it did? Michael Crick is on the case.

LIB DEMS AND TAX

Will the Lib Dems be the only major party with a manifesto pledge to cut taxation? How else is the party repositioning itself ahead of the next election? And how will the other parties respond?

And as it's the end of term for our MPs it's a good time for the return of our political panel.

DWAIN CHAMBERS

Dwain Chambers will find out today whether his High Court challenge against his British Olympic Association ban has been successful. But regardless of the outcome the row will continue between those who believe he's served his time, and others who fear for sport's integrity if he's allowed to compete. We could discuss this, or look more broadly about our attitudes towards redemption.

HARD TIMES

For the last part in our series on the credit crunch, Steve Smith reports on the products (and some British icons) that might have recently been thought of as obsolete, but are now making a comeback.

What else do you fancy?

Richard"

Thanks for you comments in response to this morning's prospects from Dan. Here is Kirsty's look ahead to tonight's programme:

"Dear viewers, here and abroad,

The Chancellor chipped in his tuppence worth on the political summer sales today - the 2p fuel duty rise for October WILL be delayed, but will there be any political bargains for the unions?

Today there are strikes, picket lines and marches in England Wales and Northern Ireland, as workers look for higher pay deals to match inflation - but are they looking for another kind of deal too with discussions on the party manifesto taking place in Warwick next week?

And Labour's poor bank balance puts the Unions in a strong position. We'll be discussing that and hearing from Michael Crick from by-election territory in Glasgow East about how that fuel duty delay, is going down with the voters.

We have more from Newsnight's very own Parish Petrol Pump in Peterborough. There is some cheer from today's fuel announcement, but Jackie Long finds that it is the slump in the housing market that is worrying local households and businesses.

Our Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban examines the prisoner trade on the Lebanese border that got underway this morning. Israel handed over five Lebanese militants, including Samir Qantar, Israel's longest serving Lebanese prisoner, as well as the remains of 199 Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners. Israel retrieved the corpses of two Israeli soldiers whose capture sparked a 34 day war two years ago. What will this, and recent indirect talks with Syria, mean for peace in the region?

And the publishing sensation of the year in America. We'll be speaking to William P Young, whose many times rejected - then self-published novel, has sold an astonishing 1.7 million copies - turning the middle-aged odd job man into a millionaire. The Shack is the story of a man whose young daughter is murdered and who, four years later receives a letter apparently from God inviting him back to the shack where his daughter's blood had been found. It has been at the top of the NY Times best sellers list for seven weeks and is in its 14th print run. It is published tomorrow in the UK.

Do watch, Kirsty."

Good morning, here is programme producer Dan Kelly's early thoughts on which stories we should cover - but what do you think?

"We have some good pieces in train but plenty of room for other story ideas and guest suggestions.

The strikes, picket lines and marches in England, Wales and Northern Ireland today give us a good opportunity to look at Labour and the Trade Unions. As well as the obvious - higher pay to match inflation - what are the Trade Unions hoping to extract from Labour and how are they hoping to influence the party manifesto (which will be discussed a week on Friday in Warwick). The poor state of Labour's finances put the Unions in a strong position - but what do they want, and what can they get?

Jackie Long has her latest Parish Pump piece from Peterborough, this time on how the housing market slump is hurting local households and businesses.

The economic news from the US is increasingly grim - today we have more news on inflation and the Fed's view on how bad the downturn could be. If McCain wins the Presidency what would he do? We have an interview with Carly Fiorina his senior economic adviser and former Chief Executive of Hewlett-Packard and tipped by some to become his Vice President. We will need to set this up.

The prisoner exchange on the Lebanese border is underway this morning. Some prized prisoners are being handed over as well as the remains - we assume - of two Israeli soldiers. How would you like to cover this and the wider Middle East peace process?

The 2p fuel duty rise for October WILL be delayed Darling has just confirmed....

Ideas on these and anything else most welcome................ and play out thoughts?

Dan"

Here is Gavin's look ahead to tonight's programme:

"Murat
Eleven newspapers have settled a libel case against Robert Murat who was named as the first suspect in the Madeleine McCann disappearance. He's said to be in line to get up to £550,000.

Does that make libelling someone now worth the risk? If you sell more papers as a result of a lie and end up paying (roughly) £50,000 per news organisation, is that sound economics even if it is poor ethics? And has the line between what can and can't be published become too blurred? We'll debate.

The Economy
Jobs, jobs jobs. There are real fears that unemployment will rise in the UK, and with inflation at almost twice what the Bank of England would like, there's no room to cut interest rates in the hope of growing the economy. We'll have a special report and we'll also hear live from the Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne.
Mental Health and MPs

One in five MPs has admitted to having personal experience of a mental health problem in a report out tomorrow from the campaigning group, Stand to Reason. Why do they find it so difficult to speak out? Would it be better if they did? Mark Oaten MP and the novelist Tim Lott will be with us live to discuss this.

And Kirsty will be joining us from the awards ceremony for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction - with news of the winner."

Good morning, here is the early thoughts of tonight's programme producer Shaminder:

"ECONOMY
David Cameron and George Osborne are both speaking on the economy today. What are their policies to deal with an economic downturn?
Inflation has gone up - to a higher rate than expected.
We also have a short film from Paul Mason. Tomorrow we may begin to see the impact of the credit crunch in the official jobs figures. For now though, despite the headline job losses, and much talk of recession, Paul finds the UK jobs market surprisingly resilient.

DRIVING
More people convicted of causing death by dangerous driving will be sent to prison under new guidelines being issued to judges and magistrates in England and Wales. Meanwhile in Swindon, councillors are considering whether to continue funding speed cameras, and or to look at other road safety measures instead. What's the best way to stop dangerous driving? Are we too punitive?

MENTAL HEALTH
We'll be looking at the issue of politicians and mental health. Why is it so hard for MPs to talk about it?

SAMUEL JOHNSON
Kirsty Wark will be interviewing the winner of the Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction.

OTHER:

Barack Obama is due to speak on Iraq and Afghanistan this afternoon.

Tony Blair has had to postpone a visit to Gaza "due to a specific security threat which would have made it irresponsible to proceed, not just for those visiting but also the local community". What's going on?

Yours, Shaminder"

Thanks for you comments in response to this morning's prospects from Richard. For those asking for more on the Glasgow East by-election, Michael Crick (who's been blogging almost relentlessly this afternoon) will be making his way up there for a series of reports later in the week.

Here's the latest from on what's going into tonight's programme.

KNIVES OUT
The government has also been waving its arms around a bit on knife crime, though we did learn today that it has no plans to send knife crime offenders to visit stabbing victims in hospital. Stories which suggested otherwise were all caused by a problem of journalistic misinterpretation, according to the Home Office. So what will work to cut knife crime? And what can the government really do to change people's behaviour?

SUDAN
The International Criminal Court is seeking to try the President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir, for genocide and crimes against humanity. But could this move actually undermine current peace talks? We ask the man behind the prosecution.

ECONOMY
Not waving but drowning? A couple of flashes of good economic news today - and yet a real sense of apprehension in the markets as if they are waiting for the next Bad Thing. We investigate what exactly that might be.

THE WRITING ON THE WALL
Has the graffiti artist BANKSY finally been unveiled? Stephen Smith reports.

Hello. Richard Pattinson is first in the output editor's chair this week. Here are his first thoughts about what may make tonight's programme. Be sure to add your own ideas to the mix by commenting below.

Hi everyone, some big stories around today...

Knife crime

The Home Secretary's plans to make people carrying knives visit stab victims in hospital have not received the warmest of receptions this morning, and knife crime looks set to dominate the prime minister's monthly press conference later on. So what's to be done? A nationwide curfew? Lock more teenagers up? National service? What can the government really do to change people's behaviour?

Darfur

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir may be charged with genocide and crimes against humanity at The Hague later today.

Global economy

A rescue plan by the US Treasury late last night to prop up the ailing mortgage industry there has calmed global market nerves - for now. Here there's the news that Alliance & Leicester is the target of a takeover bid. What should our take be on all this?

Biotech woes

It was to be a cornerstone of Britain's thrusting new technology-based economy. Yet many biotech companies have failed to capitalise on the cutting edge research being carried out here, and in the past year the sector has lost near half its value - far worse than the rest of the jittery market. So what's gone wrong with Britain's biotech industry? Gillian Lacey-Solymar has a special investigation.

What else do you want us to cover? Farnborough airshow playout?

See you in a minute,
Richard

Here's Gavin's look ahead to tonight's programme:

"Money

Our own economic problems have their roots in last year's shocks in the US housing market. Today's news that two of America's biggest mortgage lending institutions are in deep trouble sent a chill through the world markets - the FTSE fell sharply. We'll explore what's happening in the United States and why it is bad news for house prices jobs and the economy over here.

Darfur

Prosecutors from the International Criminal Court are seeking arrest warrants for the President of Sudan alleging his part in genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur. We'll debate whether this may help the plight of those suffering the man-made humanitarian catastrophe - or could it possibly make things even worse?

The End is Nigh

The End is Nigh for the Sandwich Man - the blokes who wander the streets with boards preaching doom. (Does anyone recall a Sandwich Woman? Why not?) Stephen Smith investigates."

Here is Martha's look ahead to what's on Newsnight Review tonight:

"When I was a student, my favourite music was definitely punk, the sweaty gigs of Siouxsie and the Banshees, X Ray Specx with the inimitable Polly Styrene, with my collection of Clash singles blaring out from a Dansette. But I also had a secret love and used to slip out to a pub on the High Street which had a fine collection of Abba singles on its juke box. I went to Abba: The Movie and even had a box of Abba: The Soap on my wall. So I was definitely the target audience for Mamma Mia the stage musical which I went to see when it opened as I was interviewing its director Phyllida Lloyd for Woman's Hour. I loved the tortuous way each song was shoehorned into the story line. Tonight we'll be discussing the new film starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters. Does it capture the energy of the stage show?

My guests are Bidisha, Jonathan Freedland and John O'Farrell. We'll also be reviewing a new ´óÏó´«Ã½ One drama called Burn Up, set in the run up to a UN conference on climate change. But this has a bit more drama than the bracketing of texts and draft communiqués. It stars Rupert Penry Jones from Spooks and Bradley Whitford from The West Wing whom I have been pining for since the ending of Studio Sixty on the Sunset Strip. Couldn't we all club together to demand a second series?

Also in the programme a new take on Pirandello's classic play Six Characters in Search of an author. Rupert Goold and Ben Power's new version, playing in Chichester is a very timely reworking. It's set in the world of TV fakery.

And we'll end by discussing new short stories by Tobias Wolff, the highly acclaimed American writer. I am very interested in the form as I am chairing the judges for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Short Story Award, the winner will be announced on Monday. As well as discussing Wolff's fiction, I will be interested to hear my guests' views on why short stories seem to thrive more in America than here.

Do join us all at 11pm.

Martha"

Check out the Review website .

Good morning, here are the early thoughts of programme producer Shaminder:

"The risks in the information age are very real, particularly if organisations are cavalier about sharing."
The words of the Information Commissioner Richard Thomas in his report on the use of personal data out today.

The review was commissioned by the Prime Minister (before the HMRC data scandal) and its findings paint a picture of a murky world of data-sharing about which people understand very little. The report's authors want the culture on handling information to change completely - total transparency from big companies, and a new code of conduct. Is this talk about the dangers of sharing information in the "new era" simply harking back - pointlessly - to a pre-internet age? Is this relevant or workable at a time when many companies are pushing even further in the use of personal information? What will big companies make of all this?

The president of Sudan - Omar Al Bashir - could be charged with war crimes because of the violence in Darfur. The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague will submit evidence to the court's judges next week on crimes committed in Darfur over the past five years. The UN doesn't want the war crimes trial, alarmed that it will undermine the fragile prospects for peace in Darfur. So why is the ICC doing this? Why now? What has is achieved to date?

The authorities in Austria have begun interviewing Elisabeth Fritzl, who was locked in a cellar by her father for 24 years. There may be a statement later.

There are reports the US government is considering a plan to take over the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac if their financial problems deepen.

Paul Mason has been looking at how worried we should be about job losses in a week that saw more economic gloom. In fact, it seems that things aren't as bad as some night fear, and that our labour market is actually quite well-structured.

What are you interested in? We have the whole programme wide open.

Yours, Shaminder"

Here is Emily's look ahead to tonight's programme:

"Compensation:
The Ministry of Defence has agreed to pay out nearly £3m to the family of Baha Mousa and nine other Iraqi men mistreated by British troops in Iraq. The 26-year-old died as a result of being badly beaten by British troops in Iraq in 2003. Seven British troops were court martialled over the case last year - all were cleared except for one who admitted inhumane treatment of Mousa and eight other Iraqi men - he was jailed for a year. The MOD - along with its apology and its settlement - stated that the vast majority of troops display the highest standards of behaviour, integrity and selfless commitment. Can this be explained as a rogue act in the fog of war? Will this set a precedent for payouts to come? And how embarrassing is this for the British Government that embarked on a campaign to win hearts and minds. We'll be talking to Baha Mousa's father here tonight.

Ingrid Betancourt:
In her first British television interview the woman held hostage in a Columbian jungle for six years describes the moment of unutterable elation she felt when she realized she was finally being rescued. We'll bring you that interview here with Steven Sackur.

Car Tax:
Gordon Brown told the Commons last year that the majority of people would benefit from new road tax plans. But the Treasury's own figures show that that is not quite true. Did he mislead parliament? Or did he - in spin-doctor jargon 'misspeak'? And just how many owners of family cars will be hit by this for choices they made up to seven years ago?

Haltemprice and Howden:
The most extraordinary by-election is taking place tonight. 27 candidates are taking part in it. Labour and the Lib Dems are not amongst them. It was triggered, you'll remember, by the resignation of David Davis - shadow Home Affairs minister. I'll be talking to David Davis as the polls shut. Does he think it was all worth it?

Baghdad Blogger:
And in a rather odd twist, the Baghdad Blogger hits new terrain: London and Manchester. Salam Pax compiles his latest TV blog from the UK, talking to refugees about their prospects of returning to Iraq, and how those unable to work here are managing to survive. We'll bring you his vivid and provocative film tonigh."

Good morning, here are the early thoughts of programme producer Dan Kelly - which stories do you think we should cover?

"Unemployment
More job losses in construction have been announced this morning ahead of today's decision on rates - lay offs in the sector are now approaching 8,000 in just a few weeks, but other sectors continue to see a growth in employment - so what is the truth about unemployment now and over the coming months?

Which guests would you like to see on?

We have Michael Crick and an interview with David Davis live from tonight's count in Haltemprice and Howden.
Betancourt has given her first British TV interview to Stephen Sackur which we could run at some length. We'll need a set up VT.
The Baghdad Blogger is back and reporting from the UK on the condition of Iraqi refugees here.
Other options include today's scathing maternity report and the VED tax which could come up again in the House.

Heathcliffe anyone...?

Dan"

It's probably not quite the debate that David Davis had in mind.

A little row has erupted in the Newsnight office over whether an apostrophe is required after the "days" in "42 days detention". For the moment we've omitted it from this evening's programme summary, but my own view is that it should read "42 days' detention". There seems to be a fairly even split in the office, however.

Unfortunately, any authority I may have pretended to have on this matter was rather weakened when I carelessly misspelt "apostrophe" in the internal e-mail that sparked the debate. So over to you, dear readers, to put us right. Apostrophe or no apostrophe?

Thanks for your comments following this morning's prospects. Below are details from Simon about how tonight's programme is shaping up...

Hello dear viewer,

We have a quite extraordinary story tonight about . For those getting off the plane from Guantanamo, it's not a tale of waterboarding and solitary confinement but rather the full Betty Ford treatment - personal counselling, new jobs, even help finding a wife. We also talk to a victim of the seventh of July bombings, who thinks this is the right way of dealing with Jihadis.

It's no longer just a war of words between Iran, Israel and the US. This morning we had a little sabre rattling - the Iranians tested their long-range missile capable of striking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Mark Urban assesses what we should make of this latest rise in the political temperature.

As 26 candidates hit the campaign trail in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, Michael Crick tries to track them all down and see what they stand for. Suffice to say that not all have acceded to David Davis's request to make it an election about 42 days detention. Is it a spirited display of democracy in action or a bit of a farce?

All that and an interview with iconic architect Frank Gehry as he reveals his first English building.

See you at 10:30pm.

Simon Enright

Tomorrow the constituents of Haltemprice and Howden will be faced with a choice of 26 candidates in the by-election forced by David Davis's resignation last month.

The would-be defender of British liberties gave up his seat - and his role as Shadow Home Secretary - in order to fight a by-election on the issue of 42 days detention of terror suspects.

But on the eve of the poll, has Davis been successful in this aim? Has the by-election allowed for 42 days to be properly debated at constituency and national level, or has the whole thing simply been - as described by some - a farce?

Tonight our Political Editor Michael Crick will be reporting from the constituency - post your own comments below.

Morning. Simon Enright is back in the hot seat for another turn as programme producer. Here's his morning e-mail to the production team. Do post your own ideas for tonight's programme below.

We have some strong material set-up but we are still looking for more. But the story that interests me most as a lead so far is the growing tension between Iran and Israel/US. We've had exchanges of threats and today we had a missile test. For the past 30 years relations have never been good but just how bad are things now?

We could, though, lead on the film we have from Shiraz Maher - former UK Islamist - who has been to Saudi to visit the "Betty Ford" clinic for terrorists. It is a jaw dropping story of how former terrorists - including an unsuccessful suicide bomber - are being "rehabilitated" in plush accommodation with a combination of PlayStation, Pepsi and ping pong. Is there an interview we should do off the back of this?

Michael Crick is in Haltemprice and Howden for another of his by-election special reports. The vote is tomorrow. And Steve Smith has an interview with Frank Gehry about his life in architecture and his first ever building in England - this year's serpentine pavilion. (NB He's built buildings in Britain before - the beautiful Maggie's Centre in Dundee.)

Are there other stories out there we should be chasing?

See you all at 10.30am.

Many thanks.

Simon

Thanks for all your comments this morning on plans for the programme. You certainly got worked up over Christopher Hitchens being waterboarded. And no, Neil Robertson, we can't hold him for 42 days first.

Here's programme producer Richard Pattinson's rundown of tonight's offerings.

Economic woes
Another day, another barrage of data suggesting the economy is in big trouble. How bad is it really, how bad will it get, and what can be done to lift UK plc out of the doldrums? Oh, and what happened to Gordon Brown's economic plan? Our Economics Editor Paul Mason is on the case.

Russia
The widow of Alexander Litvinenko has been taking legal advice about the implications of last night's report from our Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban on her husband's suspicious death. We'll be asking what she hopes to achieve.

Aid and Africa
What are the unintended consequences of large scale aid to Africa? John Githongo investigated corruption in his native Kenya. Now, as the G8 meetings in Japan continue, he reports for Newsnight from Tanzania, hailed for so long as a model of good development. Is aid there getting to where it's most needed, and impact is it having on the country's democracy?

Waterboarding
Is waterboarding torture? Vanity Fair tasked the journalist Christopher Hitchens with finding out - by undergoing it. The resulting film makes extraordinary and uncomfortable viewing. We'll be asking him why he agreed it do it, what his conclusion was, and what his ordeal really proved. You can watch the - but please be warned - some viewers may find it disturbing.

Congratulations to our own Tim Whewell, his producer Caroline Pare, and editor Phil Clarkson who have just won Best Television Feature at this year's for their investigation - China in Congo.

The judges called the film, "A very high quality production which asks all the right questions and clearly articulates the influence of China in Africa."

China in Congo

It's the second year running Newsnight has won the award, winning in 2007.

The team's companion film on the souring of Chinese investment in Zambia can be seen on .

(And the DR Congo film triumphed despite the fact I managed to lose one of Caroline's tapes somewhere between my desk and the Newsnight library...)

Richard Pattinson is in the hot seat as programme producer for tonight and he's keen to follow last night's .

"Good morning everyone.

How can we move on Mark's superb reporting from last night? Will the Russians be saying anything? Gordon Brown also may comment. Who should we talk to?

A raft of , including today's survey by the British Chamber of Commerce warning any correction period is likely to be longer and nastier than anticipated. Rather than moaning about all the doom and gloom, let's look at what could be done about it.

The G8 have committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. A real target maybe, but does one that's 42 years away mean anything at all?

We've a film from the Kenyan anti-corruption campaigner John Githongo on aid in Africa - what effect is it really having on the ground?

Other stuff - the Witness Anonymity Bill is going through Parliament today in a hurry; and 42 day legislation gets its second reading in the Lords - some big names expected to speak out against.

Plus Christopher Hitchens on waterboarding.

What else would you like to see us cover?

Richard"

Russian Revelations
In their first ever face to face meeting, held at the G8 today, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Gordon Brown that he wanted relations between Britain and Russia to return to a "normal state," but Newsnight has revelations that could make that very unlikely. Our Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban reveals that MI5 believe they thwarted an attempt last June to kill Boris Berezovsky, the London based critic of the then president Vladimir Putin. Whitehall sources also believe that the murder of another Kremlin critic, Alexander Litvinenko, was carried out with the backing of the Russian state. Read more on this story on our Mark Urban's blog.

Glasgow East By-Election
Our Political Editor Michael Crick is in Glasgow East ahead of the crucial by-election later this month. Glasgow East is one of Labour's safest seats - could it really be vulnerable? The leader of the Scottish Nationalists and Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, joins us live.

Women Bishops
How will women Bishops be introduced into the Church of England, and could tonight's Synod vote in York lead to an exodus of traditionalist clergy? We'll speak to a female archdeacon and a serving bishop.

Good morning, here are the prospects from today's programme producer Dan Kelly:

"Some good stories today.

The Glasgow East by-election kicks off in earnest today. Labour will finally attempt to select a candidate tonight, the SNP launch their campaign and Cameron is flying to Easterhouse. Michael Crick is there. If Labour fails to win in Glasgow, could it be the end for Brown?

Does Israel plan to bomb Iran? What are the discussions and disagreements in the White House and what covert operations are taking place within Iran? Mark Urban will decode recent diplomatic games.

An attack on the Indian embassy in Afghanistan has killed over 40 people - what could we do on this? The vote on how to introduce women Bishops takes place at about 10pm, who would you like on?

We also have a film on development and corruption tied to the G8..

Other thoughts? Guest ideas?

Dan"

Here's Martha's look ahead to Newsnight Review:

"It is really sad news about Charles Wheeler. He was very kind to me when I first started as a current affairs reporter. I have always respected his beautifully understated journalism and particularly enjoyed his radio documentaries in recent years. He also appeared as a panellist on Newsnight Review - we'll be reminding you of some of his appearances at the end of the programme.

Tonight on Review we have two panels. The grown ups are John Mullan, Kate Mosse and Sarah Churchwell. We also recruited a group of junior critics to review High School Musical on stage. What a bizarre experience that was, a mix between tweenie hysteria and a panto with young girls dressed as cheerleaders, chanting "we love Troy". Our young critics are uncannily like the older version, as you'll see. You can watch a preview of their review .

We will kick off though by discussing the six novels on the shortlist to be crowned Best of the Booker. The shortlist is: The Siege of Krishnapur by JG Farrell, The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer, Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey, Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, The Ghost Road by Pat Barker and Disgrace by JM Coetzee. Our panellist John Mullan was one of the judges responsible for drawing up the shortlist, so he will give us the inside track. You can vote for the one you want to win via the Man Booker , and tell us what you think too on the Newsnight blog.

Our other items are a film by the director of The Station Agent, Tom McCarthy. The Visitor features an amazing performance from Richard Jenkins, whom I loved as the dead father in Six Feet Under.

And we'll also be discussing Bonekickers, a new ´óÏó´«Ã½ drama from the makers of Life on Mars. It's about a team of archaeologists - Spooks crossed with Time Team.

Hope you can join us all later,

Martha"

Zimbabwe:
Just a week ago we were waiting for Mugabe to declare his own victory in what the world knew was a huge electoral sham. When he did so it was with characteristic Mugabe rhetoric and zeal. "Only God", he said, "who anointed me - will remove me from power".
It may surprise few to learn providence had little to do with his re-election. Tonight - in a production by Guardian Films - we bring you the first on-camera evidence of the extent to which Mugabe went - and just how little he left to chance.

Charles Wheeler:
One of the most elegant and authoritative correspondents the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has ever produced died today at the age of 85.
Charles Wheeler reported on the assassination of Martin Luther King, the Johnson and Nixon presidencies, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the first Gulf War, to name just the merest handful. He was a vivid and unforgettable presence on Newsnight and Panorama - and even presented this show before memorably being moved aside and sent back into the field where he was infinitely more comfortable.
One who knew him well was Jeremy Paxman. Tonight, Jeremy has produced his own tribute to the sometimes irascible, inherently honest Charles Wheeler - described by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ director general "utterly irreplaceable".

Good morning, Friday's here at last. On tonight - acclaimed author Kate Mosse joins the panel to consider the latest from the Arts world. But before all that here are the early thoughts of programme producer Shaminder:

"We hope to have a film from Zimbabwe, revealing more allegations of intimidation and brutality by supporters of Robert Mugabe.

Christopher Hitchens subjected himself to waterboarding for Vanity Fair magazine. The pictures are astonishing. The author concluded that waterboarding is a deliberate torture technique, and that if we allow it and justify it, we cannot complain if it is employed in the future by other regimes.
Shall we discuss?

Japan hosts the G8 summit next week. Japan was the rising power in the 80s. In today's world of geo-political navel-gazing, why do we hear so little from Japan?

Should the Church make the conversion of people of other religions - including Muslims - an explicit part of its purpose? The General Synod meets in York today.

Alex Allen, the man who co-ordinates intelligence on threats to the UK's national security is seriously ill in hospital.

Why were two French students brutally murdered in London?"

Emily Maitlis is presenting tonight - here's her guide to what's on the programme:

"Knife Crime:
As two promising French students join the list of young people murdered with knives in the capital, we bring you an interview with Brooke Kinsella whose 17-year-old brother Ben was stabbed to death outside a pub last Friday night - the 17th murder victim of knife crime in London this year. She is an extraordinary woman who articulated to me the horror of what so many London teenagers seem to be confronting these days - the random acts of violence - perpetrated by their own peers - that can end a life in seconds. She told me that vast numbers of people offering their help to her family's campaign against knife violence had been children - kids as young as ten - donating money to Ben's website. The children know what's going on, she explained, and they're scared. It's about time the adults caught up with them and did something. She told me she backed the mayor's advice - that people should simply walk on by if they saw trouble - and reflected that it hadn't been that way when she was at school eight years ago - indeed it wasn't even like this three years ago. So tonight, we run that interview in full as she tells me why she believes knife crime has got so much worse. And we talk to someone who ran London for eight years. Were things really so much better before him?

Boris:
Boris Johnson's deputy Ray Lewis faces allegations of sexual misconduct, and there will now be an investigation into the claims which he says are totally unfounded. Boris himself appears to have known little about them. But what should he do now? Was it claims - never proven - of improper behaviour by Ken Livingstone's advisor, Lee Jasper, that brought the last mayor down? We'll be discussing the implications in full.

Hank Paulson:
And we talk to US Secretary of State to the Treasury Hank Paulson. Is inflation now a bigger problem than the credit crunch? And if so, how can he defend the aggressive rate cutting of the Fed for so many years? Has the Bush administration presided over the moment that power ebbed from the American economy? And if they could turn the clocks back, wouldn't they have thought so much more seriously about alternative energy supplies faced now with the $140 barrel of oil?

NHS at 60
And Kwame Kwei-Armah will be charting the changes of the NHS in the last 60 years as portrayed on TV and cinema - from Dr Finlay to Charlie in Casualty."

Good morning. It's raining and the last Brit has just been dumped out of Wimbledon - so it must be July. But it's not quite silly season yet - there are lots of strong stories around... which ones do you think we should cover?

Here are the early thoughts of the programme producer Robert Morgan:

"There are lots of stories around today. We have an interview about the credit crunch with US Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson. We also have an interview with Brooke Kinsella on knife crime which will be done this afternoon. The Columbia hostage story is extraordinary. There's also a vote on MPs expenses and allowances that could be worth doing.

Robert"

Gavin will be presenting this evening's show:

The Politics
The Finance Bill will finally limp through the Commons tonight after an extraordinary number of U-turns and concessions by the Treasury. Another retreat could also be signalled tonight on tax discs after more threats by Labour backbenchers. Thousands of hauliers have been in Westminster to lobby for fuel duties to be reduced. How weak is the Treasury, the Chancellor and government's authority? The Conservatives are claiming the government has relied on "grubby deal making" to get its legislation through.

The Economics
How close are we to a recession? There have been wretched statistics from Marks and Spencer and Taylor Wimpey this morning, and this week's advertising figures could be even more significant.

We speak to senior business people about how bad the downturn really is.

The Taliban
We have an interview with Ahmed Rashid the hugely influential Pakistani journalist who has studied the Taliban for many years. How can the West beat them?

NHS
And in the latest in our series of films to mark the , Liz MacKean has travelled across the country to hear your views on the health service - both good and bad.

Good morning, lots of stories around today - most of them about the increasingly depressing state of the economy. Never mind - at least Andy Murray is still in Wimbledon... Here are the thoughts of programme producer Dan Kelly:

"Economic Downturn - the Politics and the Economics.

The Politics
The Finance Bill will finally limp through the Commons today after an extraordinary number of U-turns by the Treasury (Cap Gains Tax, 10p, Non-Doms etc). Another retreat could be signalled tonight on tax discs after an expected Labour rebellion this evening. Thousand of hauliers will be in Westminster to lobby for fuel duties and related taxes to be reduced. How weak is the Treasury, the Chancellor and government's economic strategy? Whitehall is increasingly aware that there is no longer an easy way to raise taxes (in the face of intense lobbying). There has been talk of an economic relaunch in the autumn, but what would that be?

The Economics
How close are we to a recession? There have been wretched statistics from Marks and Spencer and Taylor Wimpey this morning, and this week's advertising figures could be even more significant.

What guests would you like on? Politicians and business people?

The Taliban
We have an interview with Ahmed Rashid the hugely influential Pakistani journalist who has studied the Taliban for many years. How can the West beat them?

NHS
Liz MacKean has travelled the UK in a former ambulance to hear a variety of different views from workers and users of the NHS."

Gavin is presenting tonight - here's his look ahead to what's on the programme later:

Sarko's Europe
French President Nicolas Sarkozy takes over the presidency of the European Union today, pointing out that there have to be profound changes in the way the EU does business. A French friend described Sarko to me as being like a wasp - always buzzing around but not actually achieving much. Can he heal Europe's wounds? What's he going to do about the Polish President's refusal to sign the Lisbon treaty into law following the Irish "No" vote? We'll be speaking to the French ambassador to the UK, and we hope to be joined live by Peter Mandelson, the European Commissioner for Trade, who's faced yet more criticism from President Sarkozy.

Health
We've the second of our reports on the NHS at 60 - Paul Mason will be assessing how effectively the government has spent money on health. For those of you irritated by the sound quality on last night's NHS debate, let me apologise and say your irritation is nothing compared to that of those of us who worked on the programme! Grrrrrrrr.

Smoking
It's been a year since the smoking ban was introduced in England - how has that affected the way we live? We asked our Culture Correspondent Stephen Smith to find out...

And a quick word about Newsnight Review on Friday - Martha and her guests will be debating which book deserves to be crowned Best of the Booker. Six winning books have been shortlisted for the title, to mark the 40th Anniversary of the prize, and the winner will be chosen by public vote. Let us know which book you're backing and why on the Newsnight blog.

Are these really the best six books written in the last 40 years?

On Newsnight Review this Friday we'll be discussing the Best of the Booker shortlist. Six books - all of them winners of the Booker prize - have been chosen by a panel of judges. The winner will be decided by a public vote.

You can post your reviews of any or all of the books here, and tell us which you're backing and why. Or do you think there are other books that should have been included?

John Mullan, who helped draw up the list, will be on Friday night's panel along with best-selling author Kate Mosse and the academic and writer Sarah Churchwell. You can read extracts from all six books .

NB: A reminder that only British and Commonwealth writers qualify for the Booker prize.

Some of you have written in about the sound on last night's programme - here's Simon Enright, the producer of the programme, to explain what happened:

"Some viewers have contacted us to say that they were frustrated that they couldn't hear the opening comments of several of the contributors.

You can imagine that we were incredibly frustrated too as we tried to sort the problem out from the live Outside Broadcast truck in Leicester.

To explain, it had nothing to do with the venue and there was certainly no conspiracy on our part to censor some of the politicians.

It was a technical problem with the microphones. Some of the most serious sound problems were with the main politicians.

They all had personal microphones on. When these didn't work the sound engineers on the location floor had to run from their positions at the back in the audience to hang mics above their heads. This caused the delay in you hearing them.

We know that for many of you this spoilt your viewing of the programme - and for that we are sorry. And although we can never promise, we hope not to have those problems again."

Good morning, we're looking at the NHS again today - Paul Mason is trying to discover where all our money is spent - do let us know your thoughts on the NHS. But here are the other stories we're looking at for tonight's programme - and a certain Frenchman has caught the eye of programme producer Shaminder Nahal:

"Europe's most charismatic politician takes over the Presidency of the EU today - at a time when the very future of the union is under threat. "Something isn't right. Something isn't right at all with the EU", President Sarkozy said last night. Just a few hours later it emerged the Polish President Lech Kaczynski was refusing to sign the Lisbon Treaty after its rejection by Irish voters. "For the moment, the question of the treaty is pointless," he said. Apart from finding a way through the Lisbon impasse, Sarkozy has to try and make deals on climate change and immigration. As he takes his unique brand of political showbiz to the big stage of Europe, can he pull it all off?

The 10p tax rears its head in the Commons today with the return of the Finance Bill. Some Labour MPs want money for more than a million people not covered by Alistair Darling's compensation package. There will also be a debate on the controversial vehicle excise duty plans which would affect up to 18 million drivers, and possible signs of concessions from the government tomorrow. Ken Clarke has come up with proposals for the Conservatives on how to deal with the "West Lothian question" - which would curtail the voting rights of Scottish MPs. Interested in any of that?

It's a year since the smoking ban in England. Has it changed us?

Paul Mason and Nick Menzies are working on a film - as part of our NHS at 60 series - about how effectively the government has spent money on health.
You can watch our special NHS debate from Leicester .

The African Union summit ends today. What will happen?

Or do you like the 150th anniversary of Darwin's theory of natural selection. Or anything else?

Yours, Shaminder"