The makers of thalidomide have apologised, 50 fifty years after the drug was first sold. Teaching unions say they are still considering taking legal action over the results of this year's GCSE English exams. A Swedish academic is struggling to fund the necessary clinical trials to develop his experimental treatment for the cancer that killed Steve Jobs. Also on the programme, the summer ended as it began for the Coalition, with rowing. So what next for them?
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0709 The German manufacturer of the drug Thalidomide has issued its first apology, 50 years after pulling off the market the drug that caused thousands of babies to born with congenital birth defects. The apology by pharmaceutical company Gruenenthal was made in a speech given by its chief executive Harald Stock at the inauguration of a special memorial to victims of the drug in Stolberg, Germany. The Today programme's science reporter, Tom Fielden explains the move.
0711 The GCSE English debacle continues. Many pupils who had been expecting a C grade were given a D as a result of the grade boundary changes. They are going to be allowed to resit the exam but not to have their grades automatically brought in line with earlier results. The BBC's correspondent, Chris Mason reports.
0714
The situation in Syria has been growing worse over the past weeks and its residents are flooding to neighbouring countries to find refuge. The BBC's correspondents Nahed Abouzeid in Iraq, Barbara Plett in Lebanon and Bethany Bell in Turkey examine the situation in these countries and
Save The Children's Catherine Carter tells us about conditions in a refugee camp in Jordan.
0732 Teaching unions say they are still considering taking legal action over the results of this year's GCSE English exams. This follows the decision by the exam regulator Ofqual to allow disappointed pupils to re-sit their exams in November rather than to have their results re-graded. Glenys Stacey, chief executive of Ofqual and Kathryn James, director of policy at the National Association of Head Teachers debate what should be done next.
0738 More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the 2002 in the Indian state of Gujarat, which erupted after 60 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a train fire. Luke Harding, the Guardian correspondent who was in India at the time and witnessed the riots, and Shoma Chaudhury, managing editor of Tehelka Magazine, whose investigations helped in the prosecution of the verdict, explain what happened.
0745 Thought for the Day with Reverend Joel Edwards, International Director of Micah Challenge.
0750
When it comes to the Paralympics we are amazed by so much of what we see - and often by the "back stories" as well: the people who were told they would never achieve much, or who were achieving plenty but had their bodies shattered by bomb or bullet. And yet we are dimly aware as well that too much sympathy morphs into an attitude of patronising pity that is precisely not what these people are competing for.
The BBC's media correspondent, Torin Douglas explains. Also joining the debate, Stuart Cosgrove is Channel 4's director of Creative Diversity and Ian Macrae, editor of Disability Now magazine. 0810 Today's Saturday Telegraph Magazine has an account of a Swedish academic who is struggling to fund the necessary clinical trials to develop his experimental treatment for the cancer that killed Steve Jobs - pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. He speaks out about the many barriers in his way. Sir Michael Rawlins, chairman of the National Institute of Health & Clinical Excellence and Alan Melcher, professor of Clinical Oncology and Biotheraphy at the University of Leeds join the debate.
0817 Spanish firefighters have been battling a wildfire near the resort of Marbella on the country's Costa del Sol. At least one person has died and thousands more have been evacuated. The body of an elderly man was found near the town of Ojen and rescue workers are searching for his wife. The BBC's correspondent Tom Burridge reports from the scene.
0842 This week Hurricane Isaac disintegrated into a tropical depression as it wandered off into the Midwest United States after hitting the gulf coast. It had struck New Orleans, but the fears that it would turn into another Katrina were, happily, not born out. The BBC's correspondent, Alistair Leithead reports.
0850 We have had the Olympics in London and now the Paralympics. But today in one small Scottish village the focus will be very much on its own particular festival of sport. It is the ancient and traditional Braemar Highland Gathering, a day when hammers are thrown, cabers tossed and bagpipes played loud and long. The BBC's correspondent Colin Wight reports.
0854 The summer ended as it began for the Coalition, with rowing. So what next for them? Polly Toynbee, columnist at the Guardian and Matthew D'Ancona, political columnist on the Evening Standard and Sunday Telegraph join the debate.
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