Today: Wednesday 27th October

Mikhail Gorbachev, the Russian leader who pulled Soviet troops out of Afghanistan, has warned that NATO cannot defeat the Taliban. And should we copy the Americans and lock up problem drinkers until they sober up for good?

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0615
Pensions consultant Malcolm Mclean from actuaries Barnett Waddingham analyses the government's review as to whether companies should offer pension schemes. William Birch, a retail and gaming equity analyst from the investment banking group Jefferies, describes how Betfair works. Gary Grant of the Toy Retailers Association selection panel, examines why he thinks the toy industry is going to do well this Christmas.

0709
According to the latest report from the Audit Commission, councils in England uncovered nearly 120,000 cases of fraud last year worth £135m. Local government correspondent Greg Wood has the details.

0712
A technique used to curb drink-related crime in the USA has inspired the UK to use the same method. BBC's Catrin Nye visited South Dakota, USA, to see how the project is run.

0716
Business news with Adam Shaw.

0718
Nato has have requested Russian military assistance to train Afghan pilots and Afghan national security forces. Today presenter John Humphrys and former US Ambassador to Nato, Kurt Volker, discuss the pros and cons of this.

0722
Spanish-born chef Ferran Adria, has been described in a new book as having changed the way people eat, with his unheard-of inventive dishes. BBC reporter Nicola Stanbridge went to meet him.

0726
Sports news with Rob Bonnet.

0735
The coalition government had announced plans that housing benefits would be strictly capped. However, according to the Shadow Justice Minister, Chris Bryant, the plans would force 200,000 people to move out of big cities. Councillor Timothy Coleridge examines this situation with Today presenter John Humphrys.

0740
Paper review.

0743
Lord Black of Crossharbour, former proprietor of the Daily Telegraph was jailed for six-and-a-half years in 2008 for fraud, and is now free on bail. Steve Hewlett spoke to him for the Media Show on Radio 4 regarding his perspective on British and American media.

0747
Thought for the Day with John Bell of the Iona Community.

0750
The chairman of British Airways, Martin Broughton, has told a conference on security such checks are completely redundant and the UK should stop kowtowing to the United States. Adam Shaw has been speaking to the chief executive of BAA, Colin Matthews.

0810
Should the UK take a lead from parts of the US and lock up problem drinkers? Home editor Mark Easton explains the American system; Kit Malthouse, deputy mayor of London and Don Shenker, who runs Alcohol Concern, debate the best way to curb anti-social drinking.

0820
From 1933 right through World War II, one of the world's great orchestras, the Berlin Philharmonic, was used by Hitler as a symbol of German pride and achievement. Author Misha Aster and playwright Sir Ronald Harwood discuss the musical power and the ambiguity of "the Reich's Orchestra".

0826
Sport news with Rob Bonnet.

0833
The UN's biodiversity conference in Japan is addressing the evidence of a precipitous decline in the number of species of plants and animals in the world. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman examines whether setting up new targets will help to preserve the nature's biodiversity.

0837
The remaining oil and gas in the North Sea is difficult and expensive to extract. Reporter John Moylan has been exploring the new North Sea Platform, which has been described as the state-of-the-art facility.

0840
Business news with Adam Shaw.

0845
To mark his 80th birthday next year, the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev is planning a charity concert in London. Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg has been speaking to Mr Gorbachev about current world issues.

0850
More than one hundred people have been killed and hundreds more are missing in tsunami-hit Indonesia. The BBC's Rachel Harvey reports on the destruction in the country.

0854
Should estate agents change the language they use with their customers when trying to sell properties? An estate agent Paul Bonnet met up with a poet Paul Lyle to re-invent the language of the estate profession.