Best of Today

In her Brexit speech in Florence on Friday Theresa May will explain what she wants and how she plans to get it. A local man once had a few ideas about all this. Author of Be Like the Fox: Machiavelli's Lifelong Quest for Freedom, Erica Benner, explains what tips Machiavelli might have given to improve the credibility and respect of the prime minister. (Image: Theresa May/Niccolo Machiavelli. Credit: Reuters/Getty Images)

Angela Merkel is asking Germany this weekend to give her a fourth term as Chancellor and she now looks almost certain to get it. Today’s special correspondent Jim Naughtie reports on the mood in Berlin. Former director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor is advising the German government on the creation of a new museum in Berlin. He discusses what it is about Ms Merkel that has made her so successful. (Image: Angela Merkel poster. Credit: Reuters)

This Sunday, Germany goes to the polls. What do businesses hope for from the elections?

If implemented, the Labour Party's plans to take control of privatised companies could bring sweeping change to Britain, with large chunks of the economy - the railways, water, energy - potentially put back in public hands. But how would it work, exactly? The BBC's Ross Hawkins reports from Bristol. Cat Hobbs is the founder of We Own it, which describes itself as a voice for public service users who want public ownership. Paul Massara is the the former chief executive of RWE Npower. They discuss the merits and pitfalls of nationalisation and its implications for investment in the UK. (Image: Jeremy Corbyn. Credit: Getty Images)

Around 190,000 people in Britain today suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME, or myalgic encephalomyelitis. The symptoms include tiredness, headaches, and chronic muscle pain - and a further burden for the sufferers is that their condition has not always been taken seriously by employers, friends or even medical professionals. But a controversial new study suggests that teenage sufferers could receive help with an intensive treatment lasting only three days. Esther Crawley was lead researcher on the study and is professor of child health at the University of Bristol. 'Anne' suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and is about to begin research into the condition with Professor Crawley. They discussed the impact of the disease, the promise of the new research and why Anne (not her real name) fears abuse for her work. (Image: Fatigued woman. Credit: Getty Images)