The head of the water regulator, Ofwat, has insisted the watchdog is committed to holding water companies to account. David Black told this programme he would not hesitate to take enforcement action if providers failed to fix leaks. He added that some companies needed to 'up their game'. Water companies have faced mounting anger over failure to keep up with demand during the recent heatwave. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke to David Black and asked him if the targets set for water companies are tough enough. (Image, Dried up river bed, Credit, PA/ Andrew Matthews)

Sir Keir Starmer has said families would "not pay a penny more" on their energy bills this winter under Labour's plans to tackle rising living costs. The Labour leader claimed his proposals would save the average household £1,000 a year. The package would be paid for, in part, by a big increase in tax on oil and gas company profits. But critics said the plan would cost as much as the Covid furlough scheme and was not a long-term solution. Today’s Martha Kearney spoke to Sir Keir Starmer about the plans. (Image, Keir Starmer, Credit, Henry Nicholls, Reuters)

It is one year since Taliban fighters swept into the Afghan capital Kabul. Of all the issues which symbolise Taliban rule it is the treatment of Afghan women and girls. The Taliban has said it's trying to find a solution to the issue of girls attending secondary school. The Today programme’s Lyse Doucet reflects on how life has changed here, especially for women living with rules about where they can’t work, what they must wear… (Image, Taliban fighters with flag, Reuters, Ali Khara)

It has been 33 years since the fatwa from Iran that meant author, Salman Rushdie, had to go into hiding. In recent years, be began resuming his life but, as we saw in a violent demonstration in New York state yesterday, the threat never went away. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke with crossbench peer and close friend of Salman Rushdie, Baroness Frances D’Souza, who led his defence after the Fatwa in 1989, working with the Human Rights group ‘Article 19’ at the time. Mishal also spoke with writer and close friend, Lisa Appignanesi, who is the former president of English PEN which supports writers at risk and freedom of expression. (Image: Salman Rushdie court case, Credit: Lewis Whyld)

Why on earth are we in such a mess over water supply? A new hosepipe ban begins today in some parts of the UK, with some complaining that the bans are an outrage given the level of wastage from the companies but others suggesting that there ought to be wider bans to protect our rivers which they say are dying as we drain them dry. There's also going to be a meeting of the water firms and Natural England and the Environment Agency to discuss declaring a drought in some parts of England -- the National Drought Group as they are known could seize some control over the short term response. Today's Justin Webb spoke with the chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, and Labour peer and former chief executive of the Environment Agency, Baroness Barbara Young about the possible short and long term solutions. (Image: UK drought threat real, Credit: Tolga Akmen)