to be higher. we could start going to be higher. we could start monday without a frost which will probably make a nice change, temperatures getting up to 13 or 1a degrees. the rest of the week looks very unsettled. rise in energy prices in living memory. the increase in the energy price cap, a whopping 54%. yet another burden for households, struggling, with the rising cost of living. iam i am scared to see how that will go. am i going to be able to afford to eat, to wash my pots and also have my heating on? all this as car and council taxes, as well as water bills, went up today. covid—19 infections in the uk hit a record high. nearly 5 million had the virus last week. in ukraine, evidence of intense fighting, as russian troops retreat,

with civilians killed potential war crimes. this is more thanjust a collection of terrible deaths. it is a crime scene, because under the laws of war, civilians are supposed to be protected. at the ceremony of the draw for the world cup, england, wales and scotland are about to learn their fake. and coming up on the bbc news channel: georgia hall is in contention at golf�*s first major of the year, starting the dayjust two shots off the lead at the chevron championship. good evening, and welcome to the bbc news at six. the biggest rise in energy prices in living memory has come into effect in britain, just as millions of households

are dealing with a surge in the overrall cost of living. the energy price cap has risen by 5a%, the maximum price suppliers in england, wales and scotland can charge for each unit of gas and electricity we all use. that means an average increase in bills of nearly £700 a year — or around £60 a month — for a typical household, taking the total tojust under £2,000 a year. and those on pre—payment meters face an even bigger rise — £708 a year — taking the average bill tojust over £2,000. but it's notjust the rising cost of energy. car and council taxes, as well as water bills, for many, have also gone up today. however, there has been a rise in the national living wage — by 59p up to £9.50. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent, colletta smith, has been finding out how some households are trying to cope with the rising cost of living.

it's costing me so much money. i'm scared to see how that's going to go. so am i going to be able to afford to eat, wash my pots, and also have my heating on? winston doesn't spend big. his state pension has been enough until now. but charges for his prepayment meter are leaping up, while his pension is not. that's going to cost me £20 a weekjust for gas. and where are you getting that money from? well, i'm not. that's the whole point, i'm not. you know, the state pension that we get at the moment does not cover what i need. you know, i was stood here the other day washing up and i was thinking about my grandchildren, and i'm going to tell you the truth, tears came to my eyes about how the future's going to be for these children. if we don't try and save some money for our grandchildren now, if we can, you know, then they're going to have nothing. at westminster primary school in bradford, they've now started collecting blankets, dressing gowns and hot water bottles to give out to pupils.

we're totally expecting that as the energy crisis really bites, that more of our families will be pushed into a poverty situation and, therefore, the children will be coming to us having maybe not eaten a warm meal every day, that may be coming from a cold home or not slept properly, and the impact on that then for us with their education is quite extreme. one, two, three, four, five... the government are offering some help — by knocking £150 off most council tax bills in england, and then lending an extra £200 in october, which will be paid back through your energy bills over the next five years. but that still only covers half of the increase in a typical household's energy bill. energy prices are going to affect everybody, but the people for whom it's worst are the people on low incomes, on fixed incomes. academics crunching the numbers are worried about the long—term impact.

so, the government say they have offered some help to people and they have done what they can. i think it's fair to say that the council tax rebate will help people. these energy price rises come in a context. they come in a context where it's going to mean less money available for other goods, but the prices of those are going up too. so people on the lowest incomes definitely needed some support and it's regrettable that the chancellor chose not to do so in his spring statement. the government say they will monitor bills into the autumn and will consider further support, if needed. although the minimum wage is increasing today, for this mum of three, a lot of her other bills are increasing as well. there's more chances of us going into debt with the rises of all the electricity, water bill, the council tax. everything is having a rise, plus the petrol. if you're struggling to pay, then it's important to contact your supplier straightaway and get help from a debt advice charity. in homes across the country, lights are going off

to keep the costs down. colletta smith, bbc news. well, our business editor simonjack is here. everyone is asking, why, why is this happening? everyone is asking, why, why is this ha enin: ? ~ everyone is asking, why, why is this happening?— happening? well, we have been heafina happening? well, we have been hearing about _ happening? well, we have been hearing about this _ happening? well, we have been| hearing about this cost-of-living hearing about this cost—of—living crisis. forweeks hearing about this cost—of—living crisis. for weeks and months, but it really starts in earnest today. its origins start months or years ago when the world economy got switched off by covid and as it emerged from that covid induced coma, there has been a sudden rise in demand for energy faster than it can be supplied. in europe, you had things like low levels of gas storage plus a lack of wind, so renewables didn't produce as much, more reliance on gas to produce electricity and there is russia, fears that supply will be closed off. all countries will try and shun, boycott russian supplies of energy, which has put prices up elsewhere. those are some of the reasons we are seeing some of the highest prices we have seen in history. highest prices we have seen in histo . �* , , ., .,

history. but this is not the end of it, history. but this is not the end of it. because _ history. but this is not the end of it, because the _ history. but this is not the end of it, because the price _ history. but this is not the end of it, because the price cap - history. but this is not the end of it, because the price cap goes . history. but this is not the end of it, because the price cap goes upl it, because the price cap goes up every six months.— every six months. well, that's ri . ht. every six months. well, that's right- the _ every six months. well, that's right. the price _ every six months. well, that's right. the price cap _ every six months. well, that's right. the price cap we - every six months. well, that's right. the price cap we are - every six months. well, that's . right. the price cap we are seeing todayis right. the price cap we are seeing today is reflective of prices in the wholesale markets we saw in the past few months. we have already seen enough, we have seen peaks we have never seen in history in the last few weeks, to make it be very plausible and probable that we will see a similar increase of several hundred pounds by october. and it is notjust hundred pounds by october. and it is not just the consumer hundred pounds by october. and it is notjust the consumer bills which we are rightly focusing on today. businesses are not protected by energy price caps so their energy bills are going up 400%, 500%_ bills are going up 400%, 500%. labour costs, national insurance comes in next week and all of that creates inflationary pressures which creates inflationary pressures which creates what we're seeing now, the biggest cost of crisis and the biggest cost of crisis and the biggest hit to living standards we have seen certainly since the 19705, possibly the 19505, which is why the chancellor i5 possibly the 19505, which is why the chancellor is under enormous pressure to do more. at the moment, he will say, we will see what happens coming down the track before the october price rise. but those

costs on business really building up, he is under pressure to do something quite soon. simon, many thanks, something quite soon. simon, many thanks. simon _ something quite soon. simon, many thanks, simon jack. _ and you can find more information about today's energy price increase, and the rising cost of living, on our website, including money—saving tips. that's at bbc.co.uk/new5, or go the bbc news app. new figures suggest covid—19 infections in the uk, have hit a record high. the office for national statistics says it estimates nearly 5 million people had the virus, in the week ending the 26th of march, compared with 11.3 million the week before. the new data comes as free covid testing ends for most people in england. 0ur health editor, hugh pym, reports. the roll—out of the fourth jabs for the most vulnerable is being stepped up, including four residents of this care home in surrey. the? up, including four residents of this care home in surrey.— up, including four residents of this care home in surrey. they have got some long-term — care home in surrey. they have got some long-term conditions - care home in surrey. they have got some long-term conditions that. care home in surrey. they have got i some long-term conditions that make some long—term conditions that make it difficult for them to move around their community so i was coming into

their community so i was coming into the care home means they are less exposed to the outside world. == the care home means they are less exposed to the outside world. -- so was coming- — exposed to the outside world. -- so was coming. christine _ exposed to the outside world. -- so was coming. christine is _ exposed to the outside world. -- so was coming. christine is one - was coming. christine is one resident who feels the latest jab provides more confidence about life with the virus. i provides more confidence about life with the virus.— with the virus. i think we should all settle down _ with the virus. i think we should all settle down and _ with the virus. i think we should all settle down and get - with the virus. i think we should all settle down and get on - with the virus. i think we should all settle down and get on with l with the virus. i think we should i all settle down and get on with our lives now — all settle down and get on with our lives now. it is definitely time. just live — lives now. it is definitely time. just live with it like we have lived with other — just live with it like we have lived with other things. but just live with it like we have lived with other things.— with other things. but outside in the local communities, - with other things. but outside in the local communities, there - with other things. but outside in | the local communities, there are still relatively high levels of covid, it is still spreading. the latest survey by the office for national statistics suggests around 4.9 million people in the uk had the virus last week, the highest recorded yet. there were increases in england to one in 13 people and wales, one in 14 with the virus. in scotland, where there were one in 12 and northern ireland with one in 15, the trend was said to be inserted —— uncertain. this virus expert who has been a member of the sage community says the data underlines the importance of vaccination. although there is a huge _ importance of vaccination. although there is a huge amount _ importance of vaccination. although there is a huge amount of _

importance of vaccination. although there is a huge amount of virus - importance of vaccination. although there is a huge amount of virus out | there is a huge amount of virus out there is a huge amount of virus out there in the community, for most people who have received their full course of vaccines, they are catching the virus, they are getting a cold or a flu—like illness, but it is not making them severely ill. it is not making them severely ill. it is not making them severely ill. it is not causing the catastrophic rises in hospitalisations and indeed deaths that we saw in earlier waves. so there are not the same pressures on the nhs and covid cases tend to be different. the number of covid hospital patients in england is close to january levels. yellow shows those being treated with other conditions who also have the virus. red shows those where covid is the primary illness and that proportion is lower. but even so, one former health regulator told me life is still very difficult for hospitals. if you are sick with a heart condition— if you are sick with a heart condition or diabetes or other long—term conditions and you get covid _ long—term conditions and you get covid on — long—term conditions and you get covid on top of that, it may not be your— covid on top of that, it may not be your primary — covid on top of that, it may not be your primary problem, but it does add to— your primary problem, but it does add to the — your primary problem, but it does add to the problems and complications of treatment. remember, covid in hospitals affects

the hospital's capacity because the hospital— the hospital's capacity because the hospital needs to segregate people with active covid from other people. restrictions on free lateral flow tests are being phased out around the uk, but that doesn't mean the virus is fading away. hugh pym, bbc news. in ukraine, the bbc has found evidence that russian forces have been forced to pull back from positions they held at the start of their invasion, five weeks ago. russian armour has been heading west out of the capital, kyiv, and a bbc team gained access to one area, just hours after their retreat. a stretch of the e40 highway was where shocking images from the early days of the war emerged, showing russian troops firing on civilians trying to escape. jeremy bowen and his team have now reached the scene of the attack and found evidence that raises the possibility that war crimes may have occurred. a warning — his report contains some graphic and distressing images. on a stretch of road that runs

between two villages with names that translate as "dream" and "sweetheart" is all the savagery and waste of war. ukrainian forces had just recaptured it, their troops moving in after a heavy bombardment from their artillery. this was only a few hours after the russian retreat. in the early hours of this morning, this was recaptured? absolutely correct. so, basically, around 2am today, our reconnaissance team report that they start to see movement. 0lek5andr, a ukrainian volunteer who is back home from england to fight, showed a position where a russian tank had been dug in. so that is where the russian tank was and that is exactly where he... this is the line of fire, that's how they shoot. 0n the 7th of march, 0lek5andr�*s drone unit filmed the tank in action. the drone showed civilians trying to get to kyiv to escape the russians. and then, they saw the tank.

one of the cars was forced to stop. the driver tried to show he was harmless. and the russians shot him dead. they also killed his wife. the dead couple were maksim and his wife, ksenya. they were travelling with their six—year—old 5on and a friend, who both survived. she said maksim had been shouting they were with a child when he was killed. almost four weeks later, maksim's badly burned body still lies next to the hulk of their car. ksenya's remains are inside. her mouth is open, as if in a scream. the car and the back seat are riddled with bullets. the vehicle and their bodies were not burnt when they were killed. the hypothesis is that russian soldiers tried to destroy the evidence of what they had done.

the drone operator who filmed their death said the russians must have known maksim's car was not a threat. so they were trying to say that they were civilians? yes, yes, they know it. you can see it, the whole car is civilians, not an army car, and they shoot it. in the woods near the road, there is evidence the russians left in a hurry. you can see the place where, in the trees, the russians were living. there is a dug—out. there's beer bottles. it's like the marie celeste, half—finished meals. they were here for a month. the camp is full of the soldiers' rubbish. on a front line, that is usually the sign of an ill—disciplined unit. they tried, unsuccessfully, to hide another tank in the trees. that was punished by the ukrainians, who destroyed it. a much bigger question is whether there will be a reckoning for what happened on the highway.

maksim and k5enya were not the only ones who were killed near the tank, dug into the roadside. more bodies here? yes. one, two, three bodies, ithink. yes. you're absolutely right. in a couple of hundred yards, with 0lek5andr from the ukrainian army, we counted 11 other dead bodies. it's ukrainian. three were wearing recognisable ukrainian military uniform. the others wore civilian clothes. some of the dead were piled up and surrounded by tyres. they deliberately burned them. they set on fire to hide their... to hide what they did. in the desolation are a mass of questions about who they were and how they were killed. it's hard to imagine the fear these people must have gone through in the last few moments of their lives or, indeed, the anguish survivors, families,

must be feeling right now. but this is more than just a collection of terrible deaths. it's a crime scene. because under the laws of war, civilians are supposed to be protected. we drove to the next village to confirm a ukrainian claim that they had destroyed more russian tanks. the russian armour was broken and, except for soldiers, the village was deserted and still. the russians could be redeploying to the eastern battlefields, but just a few hours after they had left this strategic area close to the capital, it was clear they were being forced out. many civilians are mourning relatives and friends they say were killed by russian troops. a5 and when they retreat, they might leave behind more evidence that could add up to war crimes. jeremy bowen, bbc news, outside kyiv. the time is 6:16pm. our top story this evening.

millions are hit by the biggest increase in energy prices in living memory, another burden for households struggling with the rising cost of living. testing an artificial pancreas, a new device that could transform the lives of patients with type one diabetes. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel, we look ahead to one of the most significant old firm derbies for years. rangers host celtic at ibrox on sunday with the visitors three points clear at the top of the scottish premiership table. some british farmers are calling for a ban on the production of a weedkiller made at a factory in huddersfield, because of fears over parkinson's disease. they point to studies suggesting that breathing in paraquot could be a factor. suggesting that breathing it comes as hundreds of farm workers in america pursue a legal case against its manufacturer, the biotech company syngenta, alleging it knew the risks

and failed to warn the public. 0ur environment and rural affairs correspondent claire marshall reports. in the heart of dorset, you can find a very different farm. in the yard, instead of tractors, there are mobility scooters. many of the men helping here have parkinson's disease. it isjulie plumley�*s charity. she set it up for her father, john. how did parkinson's affect him? do you know, that still really gets me, really, really tough. um...5orry. it got tougher and tougher for him, and he had to give up the farm. that, for him to feel like he was nobody, he felt he had no purpose in life. he died in 2016, always believing his illness was linked to the chemicals he used. 0ne particularly toxic weedkiller is called paraquat. john's farming neighbour, ken, also used it. he also developed parkinson's in his 405. for two farmers to have a parkinson's disease diagnosis

within a few hundred yards of each other is quite outstanding, really. so there has to be a link somewhere. paraquat is widely used but it is so deadly, experts warn one 5ip can kill. it has been banned in many countries and it is no longer authorised in the uk. but it is still made here. this is syngenta's plant in huddersfield, and it produces thousands of tonnes of paraquat, which is exported around the world. it goes to countries like india and indonesia, and the usa, where nearly 900 farmers are now suing syngenta. the parkinson's, i have had for about 17, 18 years. and it's very debilitating. we were using paraquat on my uncle's farm. now i guess i have paid for it. syngenta deny these claims. there are scores of conflicting studies.

0ne found paraquat users developed parkinson's two and a half times more often than non—users. the us regulator says there is no conclusive link. research is ongoing. there are scientists who fear syngenta is trying to influence the debate. the chemical is neurotoxic. it does damage nerve cells in the brain. former employeejohn is now an expert witness in the us legal action. if they didn't use protective equipment and their skin was damaged, you could absorb more paraquat through the skin and into the blood, and then into the brain. syngenta say professor heylings is not aware of syngenta's research on the issue, which was mostly conducted after he left the company. they say they have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure paraquat�*s safety, and that claims of a link with parkinson's are not supported by scientific evidence. but these farming families are suffering. they believe that profits should never be put before health and safety. claire marshall, bbc news, dorset.

criminal and civil investigations looking into p&0 ferries' controversial decision to sack almost 800 members of staff without notice are getting under way. the insolvency service is examining the circumstances around the redundancies, and says it will consider "prompt and appropriate action" if the law was broken. the transport secretary grant shapps also asked the service to consider disqualifying p&0'5 boss, peter hebblethwaite, from being a company director. the government says... the government says its ban on what's often referred to as "conversion therapy" will go ahead in england and wales, reversing a previous decision to scrap a promise to outlaw the practice. conversion therapy involves trying to change someone's sexual orientation. but the new proposals don't include altering gender identity, so won't cover transgender people. our home editor mark easton has the details. for most of the last decade, there has been general consensus on issues of gay liberation in britain. but in the last 24 hours,

the government was caught stumbling in the political minefield that lgbt rights has become. it is your fault. you love that sin and you know it is an abomination and you know you are going to hell. justin kennedy, now a priest in rochdale, went through conversion therapy 30 years ago at his church. he still bears the scars. it is more than harmful. it is an awful practice. so to not treat that seriously, to not treat the voices of the lgbt community with respect and dignity is something that is deeply upsetting and made me deeply angry. angry at a government flip—flopping on gay rights. this was what the prime minister said two years ago. 0n the gay conversion therapy, i think that is absolutely abhorrent and has no place in a civilised society, it has no place in this country. but then yesterday evening,

a downing street briefing note emerged which said, "the pm has agreed we should not move forward with legislation to ban lgbt conversion therapy," warning there was likely to be a noisy backlash. the backlash wa5 instantaneous. within hours, downing street changed its story again, saying the government would ban conversion therapy for gay and bisexual people, but allow it for transgender people. that new exemption prompted another backlash. i was shocked that we saw that paper released yesterday, very relieved when ministers sought to reassure me that a bill will come forward in the queen's speech, but now there is the glaring omission of transgender people. the trans movement has become increasingly vocal and the government's latest policy position is condemned by activists. conversion therapy is torture. it's abuse _ it needs to be banned for everybody. you can'tjust simply ban it for a portion of the population. 0n the other side of the debate

are those who worry that banning trans conversion therapy will see young people undergo gender transition treatment too quickly, a process they later regret. the asking of questions, of saying, "look, i know you say you are trans and i know you feel pretty certain, but before you embark on a pathway which may mean puberty blockers, cross sex hormones and possibly, you know, surgeries when you are 18, that you just need to be certain." what do we want? trans rights! - when do we want it? now! _ the arguments cut across traditional political divides and are made forcefully on both sides. politicians are struggling to find a policy position that does not become an acrimonious vote loser. mark easton, bbc news. a medical breakthrough is yielding encouraging results for hundreds of people in england with type 1 diabetes. they're testing a so—called artificial pancreas, which automatically regulates levels of insulin in their body. the system is already delivering far better diabetes control,

minimising the risks of high and low blood sugar levels that can lead to serious complications. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh has that story. just going to pull this down, just do your height. six—year—old charlotte from lancashire is one of 400,000 people in the uk with type 1 diabetes. can i see? of course. her body can't make insulin, the hormone which regulates blood sugar levels. you can give my hand a bit of a squeeze on this side. as part of a trial, she has a sensor on her arm which continuously monitors her blood glucose and sends readings to this pump, which automatically delivers the insulin she needs. it's had such a massive impact. prior to having the loop, everything was manual. we had to, we would be up all night, some nights, you know, every hour, every two hours to do finger pricks, whereas now she can be the social child she was before, and that's, thatjust makes me so happy.

what is the the best thing...? it is known as a hybrid closed loop system, a sort of artificial pancreas. i don't have to do finger pricks or needles any more. and it keeps her blood sugar from going too high or too low. i think it's absolutely fantastic. i've been practising for 25 years in children's diabetes, and it is a game—changer. to be able to improve the quality of life, to be able to see that most of the blood glucose readings are within the target range is very exciting. so the sensor's on my arm and they loop back to each other. yasmin, from south london, is astounded how much her blood sugar levels have stabilised using the new technology. so it is liberating? definitely. there is nothing i can't do, there is no situation now that makes me anxious or scared. i really feel like, before,

i really could have been at risk of some of those long—term, especially the kind of heart stuff and things like that, whereas now, i don't really see that happening. good boy, wallace. if blood sugar levels are not kept under control, diabetes patients risk long—term damage to their heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. that is why this trial matters. if successful, it could mean patients like yasmin have longer and healthier lives. fergus walsh, bbc news. the draw for the football world cup has just taken place with england among the top seeds, and wales and scotland also included, despite not yet qualifying. 0ur sports editor dan roan is in qatar. what can you tell us? good evening, es, amid what can you tell us? good evening, yes. amid all— what can you tell us? good evening,

yes. amid all of— what can you tell us? good evening, yes, amid all of the usual— what can you tell us? good evening, yes, amid all of the usual glitz - yes, amid all of the usual glitz and glamour that accompanies a world cup draw, the headline news in dhofar is that we could have a tantalising prospect of an all british affair at the world cup later this year because in group b, england have been drawn alongside the winner of a play—off between either wales or scotland and ukraine. that match, because of russia's invasion of ukraine, has been pushed back until later this year, no earlier than june but if scotland prevail, it will mean that either they or wales will mean that either they or wales will play england on the 29th of november. let me show you the rest of the group as well because alongside england and the winner of that play—off, is iran, who england have never played in a world cup finals and who have never actually emerged from the group stage in the event, and the usa, so an intriguing group for a whole host of reasons. england have a good record against the usa, although they only got a draw against them in the world cup in south africa in 2010. but in truth, you know, in terms of the

world rankings anyway, this is a particularly kind draw for gareth southgate and i think he will be breathing a huge sigh of relief. elsewhere, group e looks very tough, where spain, germany and japan find themselves. holders france are in groupj and brazil in a tough group as well so an intriguing draw and one the organisers will hope takes the attention away from all of the controversy in the build—up to this event and more towards the competition and the football. many thanks, competition and the football. many thanks. dan _ competition and the football. many thanks, dan rowan _ competition and the football. many thanks, dan rowan in _ competition and the football. many thanks, dan rowan in doha in qatar. time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. hello, it has been another cold one with wintry showers around today. this was the seafront in hastings in east sussex, some big, chunky flakes of snow. and often when we see temperatures just a few degrees above freezing when it snows, we get big flakes because they stick together on the way down. a covering of snow on the grass in the of 0xford5hire hills as well this afternoon and we have widespread showers are still showing up on the radar. this weather front has been bringing some rain to northern ireland but isjust

bringing some rain to northern ireland but is just going to graze western parts of wales and could bring some snow to the hills of temperature, probably not really making inroads. maybe a few flakes for the moors in the south—west, particularly bodmin. otherwise, showers across eastern england turning back to snow overnight, some localised accumulations under widespread frost are setting us up for an icy start on saturday. saturday is another day where we will see plenty of showers building as the day goes by. again, some of them starting off wintry but tending to reign as the day goes by. the wind is not quite as strong as it has been in the last couple of days so temperatures are still below par for the time of year but probably won't feel quite as bitter as it has donein won't feel quite as bitter as it has done in recent days. on sunday, we are looking at a frosty start but it should be a lovely morning with plenty of april sunshine. however, cloud will develop and tend to spread across the sky and then we have a weather front moving into the north—west which will bring some rain to scotland and northern ireland before the end of the day with strengthening winds as well. temperatures will be coming up a bit, highs of around ten or 11, and