Today: Thursday 13th May

David Cameron is preparing for his first cabinet meeting as prime minister as he puts the finishing touches to his historic coalition government. And the cost of paying overtime to police officers has doubled over the last ten years.

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0709
The new coalition cabinet is meeting later today to examine how best to tackle the UK's budget deficit. Economics editor Stephanie Flanders explains the two parties' different approaches to the economy and whether they can agree a solution.

0713
The Afghan president Hamid Karzai has been meeting President Obama this week to discuss the peace process in Afghanistan. Carl Forsberg, Afghanistan scholar at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, outlines how much progress is being made.

0716
Business news with Adam Shaw.

0719
Spain has unveiled deep public spending cuts as it attempts to avoid being infected by Greece's financial turmoil. George Magnus, senior economics advisor to UBS Investment Bank, examines whether the European financial community will beat off the crisis.

0723
Fewer troops are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a new health study published in The Lancet. Professor Simon Wessely from the King's Centre for Military Health Research, explains the findings.

0726
Sports news with Rob Nothman.

0733
Tough decisions on how to make efficiency savings without disrupting front-line services will have to be made by the new coalition government. Health correspondent Jane Dreaper has visited an NHS hospital and a private clinic in Milton Keynes to see whether lessons can be learnt from private healthcare.

0738
The Lib Dem manifesto contained a pledge to break up the big banks but the coalition with the Tories could affect this policy aspiration. Business editor Robert Peston comments on whether there will be tensions between Chancellor George Osborne and the Business Secretary Vince Cable.

0742
The paper review.

0745
A new book claims that innate sporting talent is not inherited, but obtained through sheer hard work and practice. Matthew Syed, Commonwealth champion table tennis player - and the author of Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success - and Olympic gold medal winner Jonathan Edwards debate whether great sports stars are born or made.

0750
Thought for the day with the writer Rhidian Brook.

0753
The Labour leadership contest is underway after David Miliband declared his candidature. Other possible runners for the post are Jon Cruddas, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband. Former justice secretary Jack Straw comments on the leadership race and what it means for the Labour Party.

0810
The new cabinet meets for the first time today and is expected to cut spending in a number of government departments to reduce the deficit. Political editor Nick Robinson comments on the likely areas to be cut. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley outlines whether NHS funding and provision will be affected.

0820
Will any of the exiting Labour ministers decide to reveal their government's secrets? Jonny Geller, literary agent and managing director of Curtis Brown Publishing House, and Chris Mullin, former Labour MP for Sunderland South who has written his memoirs, consider which of the former Labour MPs will have the juiciest political memoirs.

0828
Sports news with Rob Nothman.

0833
Energy policy could be an early flashpoint between the Conservatives and Lib-Dems who have different approaches to the future of energy security and whether to build nuclear power plants. Environment analyst Roger Harrabin outlines the two parties' policies, and Environment Secretary Chris Huhne comments on whether coalition members are in any agreement over energy.

0837
Business news with Adam Shaw.

0840
After 13 years ion power, the Labour government has returned to the opposition bench. Two newly-elected Labour MPs, Leeds West's Rachel Reeves and Derby North's Chris Williamson, discuss what the party needs to do to re-invent itself with the electorate.

0845
Over the past six months the Today Programme has been receiving regular reports from Major Richard Streatfeild, commander of A Company of 4 Rifles, about what life is like on the front-line in Afghanistan. Major Streatfeild has now finished his tour of duty describes how he feels being back home with his family.