Rishi Sunak insists the UK will still hit net zero by 2050, despite announcing a major shift on green policies in a speech yesterday. Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson, the PM says he is "absolutely not slowing down efforts to combat climate change". Despite warnings the government might miss legally-binding net zero targets, Rishi Sunak also said: "For too long in this debate there hasn't been enough honesty about what's involved." When asked if net zero can be achieved by 2050 if gas boilers can be installed up to 2035 according to the new policy, the PM says: "Both in the cars and vans that we drive, and how we heat our homes, over time to deliver net zero, those things have to change, but we can do that in a measured way." We also hear analysis from the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason.

Rishi Sunak is considering weakening some of the government's key green commitments in a major policy shift. It could include delaying a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and phasing out gas boilers, multiple sources have told the BBC. The prime minister did not deny the reports, saying he was committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 but in a "more proportionate way". Home Secretary Suella Braverman told Today’s Justin Webb the “costs of achieving some of these arbitrary targets has to be taken into account”. While Sir Alok Sharma, who headed COP26 in Glasgow, spoke to Nick Robinson about what he wants to hear from the prime minister. By: John Walton Credit: PA Location: London, United Kingdom

Five dual nationals jailed for years in Iran and widely regarded as hostages are on their way home to the United States. The last pieces in a controversial swap mediated by Qatar fell into place when $6bn (£4.8bn) of Iranian funds held in South Korea, paid by the US, reached banks in Doha. The US also granted clemency to 5 Iranian nationals, who were mainly being held on charges of violating US sanctions. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke to Elika Ashoori, the daughter of Anoosheh Ashoori who was released earlier this year from Iran alongside Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. She said: “Personally I am happy for the families. But also on a broader level, it’s highly frustrating. “I do believe that these deals, as long as they’re happening, they’re validating this practice of hostage diplomacy.” We also hear some expert analysis from the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet.

Investigations have been launched by the BBC and Channel 4 after comedian and actor Russell Brand was accused of rape and sexual assault. The allegations were made in a joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4's Dispatches released over the weekend. Russell Brand has denied the allegations, saying his relationships have been "always consensual" - and appeared at a gig on Saturday night. Speaking to Today's Mishal Husain, Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, called the allegations "incredibly shocking and criminal". Nick Robinson also spoke to former Editor of the Sun David Yelland and Lorraine Heggessey, former BBC One controller, who said that during Brand's time on BBC Radio, there was "an inability to rein him in" after he made inappropriate remarks about a newsreader.

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini says overcrowded iron boats filled with migrants from Africa arriving on the island of Lampedusa is an ‘act of war’ . The UN migration agency says around eight and a half thousand people arrived in nearly two hundred boats between Monday and Wednesday this week. Today’s Nick Robinson speaks to Laurence Hart, Head of Mission in Italy at the International Organisation of Migrants who explains how unusual it is to have this amount of migrants arrive on the island. Italy's PM Georgia Meloni was elected with a promise to curb illegal migration. Nick also speaks to Nicola Proccacini, a close ally of Georgia Meloni who chairs the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament. Image credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock