at 6pm... inflation hits a ao—year high — the prime ministerfaces pressure to do more, as prices soar. on the rise — food bills, energy bills, fuel prices — with inflation now at 9%, many families are struggling to cope. i just feel broken with it, as a mother. tonight, as we focus on the cost—of—living crisis, we'll hear from farmers on what's driving the rise in food prices. also in ukraine, a russian soldier pleads guilty to killing an unarmed civilian, in the first war crimes trial since the conflict began. in short supply — the met office says extreme heatwaves in south asia have been made more than 100 times more likely because of climate change. afghanistan's secret schools for girls — in defiance of the taliban, who banned the teenagers from the classroom. and tens of thousands of rangers

fans arrive in spain for tonight's europa league final — the glasgow team takes on germany's eintracht frankfurt. and coming up on the bbc news channel... "the potential to change the game around the world", says us soccer, as they agree a new equal—pay agreement between the men's and women's national teams. good evening. the increase in the cost of living is accelerating, with official figures showing prices are now rising at their fastest rate for a0 years. inflation in the uk has jumped to 9% in april, up from 7% in march, with around three quarters of the latest hike coming from higher electricity and gas bills. labour has called for an emergency budget to help people struggling with energy costs.

the prime minister and the chancellor are both under intense pressure to help people struggling with the rising cost of living. borisjohnson promised to look at all the measures needed. but rishi sunak warned he could not protect people completely from rising prices. our economics editor, faisal islam, has more. when prices rise this fast, it hits everyone, its effects seen in every street, office and household in the country, including here in lancashire. lowri recently ran her own business. now, after the pandemic, she finds money running out as bills get more expensive and even essential car journeys become too pricey. what's worrying me at the moment is gas and electric, because i got in arrears, because i didn't have enough money coming in for so long, i have no control over what they're going to take. so if you were to do the maths, when i looked at the bank this morning, there was,

i think, £335 left in my bank and i need to pay my mortgage. and ijust thought, "oh, my god!" she used to donate to food banks, and now she's advised to use them, as the energy crisis compounds the aftereffects of the covid pandemic. it's like hustling the hardest you can hustle every day just to get through. tiring? exhausting! totally exhausting, all the time. erm... it's absolutely draining, it's absolutely draining. and, you know, you're not living. you're really not living. high inflation hits everyone but hits lower earners, with a higher proportion of income spent on food and energy, the hardest, doubling the use of these facilities, according to the trussell trust. inflation rates this high, 9% and heading higher, with higher energy costs, have not been seen for a0 years in this country, since march 1982.

the lesson of history is that when inflation gets to these levels, it takes years to come back down again, as it did in the 1970s and nearly did in the 1990s, not the months currently predicted. it's not just about the worst inflation figures for decades. this problem is so broad—based, affecting every single household in the country, either in the extraordinary monthly direct debits energy companies are asking customers to pay or in prepayment meters. it's not a pinch, it's not a squeeze, it's a profound hit to household income. and when you take so many billions in spending power out of the economy, an inflation problem quickly turns into a growth problem. and the question is, how long is it going to last? in clitheroe, warren bennett runs this beer hall and events venue. he says, for businesses, double—digit inflation is already here. nationally, they're talking about inflation maybe reaching 10% later in the year. it feels like it's a lot

higher than that already. and he says, as customers are managing their pennies, he's having to manage a shortage of staff. habits have changed. i think the spontaneity of people going out for a meal, just because they wanted to, has sort of gone. a lot of it is more organised now. you get a lot more pre—booked, where people are organising themselves. you can't guarantee somewhere is going to be able to get you in, because of the staffing sort of situation. you're handling your bookings maybe in a bit more strict circumstances than you might have done, particularly at the weekend. thank you. there are lots of moving parts in the economy, unemployment at a 50—year low and the economy generally heading for stagnation, perhaps recession. many people will simply not have been alive to experience prices rising at such a fast rate. the problem — we haven't seen the worst of it yet. faisal islam, bbc news. the cost—of—living squeeze has led to unprecedented demand for help with food and basic supplies in the uk. a leading think—tank, the institute for fiscal studies, says the poorest

households are feeling the effects much more because they spend a higher proportion of their income on energy prices. here's our social affairs correspondent, michael buchanan. it is extraordinary to see the amount of need that's developing in this country. we never imagined that would be the case, you know, when we started. every inch of this old aircraft hangar is dedicated to helping those in need. everything is donated by large companies, most of which was once used to feed the starving abroad. but with increasing hunger at home, these supplies are now mainly sent to british families. i'd say about 75% of our aid went abroad, to places like eastern europe, moldova, poland, romania, including ukraine, and also a lot to to africa. we now distribute just under 80% in the uk, and that's because of the growing need there is in the uk at this time. his church distributes food across the uk, supplying food banks and charities, to easing moments of crisis. this delivery is heading birmingham, to a group

who are also having to change. our plans were all abroad, abroad, abroad. so for us to see that need in the uk is massively surprising. the human relief foundation spent three decades working exclusively overseas, but in recent months it has felt compelled to open a food bank on its own doorstep after seeing the needs of its neighbours. to see working—class families now actually needing food to survive or to get through the month, they need a top—up of food, is massively alarming. for 30 years our local community has helped us. now they need our help. it is our moral duty to give back. the local need became apparent when the charity was contacted by this school. 60% of pupils at chandos primary are on free school meals. but their needs stretch beyond food. some parents have asked for simple things like shampoo and clothes, so as well as we are looking at their diet, we are also

looking at their personal hygiene and well—being. so basic needs across—the—board? it is indeed. the school presumed that as covid receded, families wouldn't need as much support. but rapidly rising costs are dragging more households to the brink. the level of need is not diminishing, it has increased. we do not see any reason why it may tail off or drop off. unfortunately, it is a provision that we are committed to. with such pressures, some children's parents are grateful for the human relief foundation's help. what is life like without the food bank? difficult, i think. oil and vegetables and everything is so high. expensive? expensive, yeah. before, we went to aldi or lidl, we were shopping, £50 for the one week. now, last week i went to aldi, for one shop, £120. children don't understand if you don't have it. ministers say they are doing

what they can, including spending £22 billion supporting people, but they can't help everyone, so the aid that britain once proudly sent abroad is now needed to help families struggling at home. michael buchanan, bbc news. inflation in agriculture has soared to its highest level for decades, with one estimate putting the figure at 30%. feed, fuel and fertiliser prices have risen sharply following the war in ukraine. farmers are warning food prices will need to rise further to cover their rising costs, as our wales correspondent, hywel griffith, reports. from field to fork, the cost of what we eat and drink has all gone skywards. the war in ukraine has inflated costs in every part of the food chain, from what goes into the soil to what comes out of these cows. they will be providing milk in a year's time, so it's just how

long—term farming is. the price of milk may have risen 8%, but abby says she still faces losing 2p every litre, so she's producing less and making difficult decisions about some of her herd. so, we've looked at all the animals on the farm, to see if we can afford to keep everyone, and we keep some beef animals here which are approximately six months old. we've had to ask ourselves, "can we afford to feed "and bed them this winter?" and if not, do we send them for slaughter now, at six months old? it's quite a devastating thought. you know, they haven't reached their full potential yet. farmers have faced big increases in what many call the three fs — fuel, fertiliser and feed. add in higher wage costs, too, and overall inflation for agriculture has now reached over 30%. some of those costs are yet to hit the consumer. lambing hasjust come to an end on ian's hill farm in carmarthenshire. it will be several months before he can take them to market and recoup his costs.

meat prices are high, but he'll need them to be even higher. you know, we have to feed our stock. we have no choice there. we are obviously a sheep farm here, so we're producing lamb that we'll sell in the autumn. we're spending the money now — our input costs are high now — on the basis that we will have a good price for those lambs in the autumn, but we don't really know where we're going to be in the autumn. and there may be an even harder winter ahead. the cost of feeding animals through the cold months will have to pass through the food chain, which means price rises in our shops could keep going well into next year. hywel griffith, bbc news, carmarthenshire. and faisal is here now. it's a pretty big picture. will the government stepped in and help? {131 a government stepped in and help? of a number as government stepped in and help? of —. numberas high as government stepped in and help? of —. number as high as this creates trade—offs in all directions and for households trying to make their

budgets at up, and that particularly affects lower income households that effectively face a higher inflation rate than the average of 9%. for the bank of england, it wants to raise interest rates to try and dampen down inflation but that risks turning a slowdown into a recession if it goes too far. and then the government, who genuinely believe that, if they borrow money to pump tens of billions in to support the economy, they risk entrenching some of these inflationary pressures, but they face so much of the pressure to do more than they have already done, and so there is a dilemma about how to find that, so when full tax is now no longer ruled out by the government, but there is a strategic decision about where to spend such support money. do you spend it on alleviating hunger and poverty at the low end or how much do you spend on supporting the mass of consumers to prop up the economy? these are the dilemmas when you get inflation so high, a a0 year high, such that

many people in the workforce haven't experienced the sort of price rises. a russian soldier has pleaded guilty to killing an unarmed civilian, in the first war—crimes trial in ukraine since the invasion began. appearing in court in kyiv, the 21—year—old admitted to shooting dead a ukrainian man as he pushed his bicycle along a road. he faces life in prison. 0ur correspondent sarah rainsford was in court and sent this report. this was a major moment for ukraine. the first russian soldier accused of a war crime already up in court. vadim shishimarin is a russian tank commander. he is on trialfor shooting and killing a civilian. all the time, the widow of the man killed was just the other side of the glass. the soldier seemed nervous and said little. until the words that mattered... asked whether he admitted his guilt, vadim shishimarin told the judge, yes,

completely. it was the very start of this war, as russian tanks rolled south through sumy. vadim shishimarin possible unit came under attack and was put into a retreat. in the chaos, he and four others ended up fleeing in a stolen car. kateryna describes seeing the russian through her gate, but her husband was in the street. she later found his body lying here. the soldiers had seen him on his phone and vadim shishimarin had killed him. alexander was 62. he was shot four times in the head. this was the first time his widow had seen the man responsible. i asked how she coped. ifeel very man responsible. i asked how she coped. i feel very sorry for him, kateryna told me, but this crime i can't forgive. ukraine knows most of thoseit can't forgive. ukraine knows most of those it accuses of war crimes may never be prosecuted. the suspects sheltered by russia. but this

soldier surrendered. sheltered by russia. but this soldiersurrendered. his sheltered by russia. but this soldier surrendered. his only defence, that he was following orders. those in moscow who sent him to this war have not even made contact with his lawyer. the prosecutor is asking for a life sentence, so i asked him how fair this trial could be. translation: ., , ., ., ., translation: group we follow all the laws and norms put _ translation: group we follow all the laws and norms put top the _ translation: group we follow all the laws and norms put top the trial is - laws and norms put top the trial is open. if there is any violation by us, shishimarin could have said so. he has all the rights accorded to him by ukrainian and international law. , ., ., , him by ukrainian and international law. , ., him by ukrainian and international law. this trial was quick and it's happening _ law. this trial was quick and it's happening in — law. this trial was quick and it's happening in the _ law. this trial was quick and it's happening in the middle - law. this trial was quick and it's happening in the middle of - law. this trial was quick and it's happening in the middle of a i law. this trial was quick and it's l happening in the middle of a war, but everyone here knows they are under scrutiny and they know they have to be transparent. ukraine says it's not looking for scapegoats. this is not a show trial. they want justice. sarah rainsford, bbc news, kyiv. russia says nearly 700 ukrainian fighters at the azovstal plant in mariupol have surrendered in the past 2a hours.

pictures released by the russian ministry of defence appear to show them leaving the steelworks. russia says the total number of fighters evacuated since monday stands at almost 1,000. ukrainian soldiers had defended the plant for more than 80 days in the conflict�*s longest and bloodiest battle. the time is 18:16. our top story this evening... inflation hits a a0—year high, as food and energy bills, as well as fuel prices, all rise. i will be live in seville, where glasgow rangers hope to win their first european trophy in 50 years on the stage and behind me. a busy day for england cricket — a new coach is announced and all—time leading wicket—takers james anderson and stuart broad are re—called for the first two tests against new zealand next month. the met office says extreme heatwaves in south asia have been made more than 100 times more likely

because of climate change. temperatures once predicted to occur every 300 years could now be experienced three times a decade. dozens of people have reportedly died of heat stroke in pakistan and india in recent hot weather, as yogita limaye reports. outdoors in northern india is like the inside of an oven. this work is never easy, but during a heatwave it can be life—threatening. dozens have died of heat stroke across india, but millions of workers cannot afford to stop. this man has travelled 800 miles from home for thisjob. "we face a lot of problems. "the skin all over our body burns and sometimes we feel "like we might faint," he says.

"but we have no choice, we have to work to earn." heatwaves are not uncommon in south asia, but this year they started earlier than usual and have been more harsh and frequent. in pakistan, temperatures are touching 50 degrees in some parts. this area of punjab province is facing a severe drought, putting lives and livelihoods at risk. this man has moved away from his village to find food and water for his cattle. translation: i had 35 to 40 cows, about 15 of them died _ because there was no water. i suffered huge losses so i have now moved to another village, but it is parched here as well. climate change could cause such extreme weather once every three years instead of 300, experts have warned.

barely any part of the region has been spared from these changes in weather patterns. here in the west of india, not only are we seeing higher temperatures during the summer, but during the rainy season for the past few years we have seen cyclones hitting this coast, which is extremely unusual, and many climate experts say that is because surface temperatures of the sea are rising. hundreds of miles from the coast, this is the indian state of assam. heavy rains arrived early, and with more ferocity than normal. people used to seeing floods each year found themselves unprepared. river waters are expected to rise further. this country has a lot of experience saving people from natural disasters, but it now finds itself battling on too many fronts. yogita limaye, bbc news, india.

in other news... a conservative mp who's been arrested on suspicion of sexual offences including rape says he will not attend parliament while the police investigation takes place. the man, who's in his 50s and is not being named, has been released on bail pending further inquiries. police have arrested a man after sheffield united captain billy sharp was apparently assaulted by a fan during a pitch invasion after their championship play—off at nottingham forest. the efl have condemned the incident and warned they could impose partial or full stadium closures to crack down on pitch invasions. one of the most familiar faces of coronavirus pandemic — the deputy chief medical officer professor sirjonathan van—tam — has had to miss his knighthood ceremony after testing positive for covid. he was due to be invested yesterday for his work over the past five years, including during lockdowns. in afghanistan, secret schools are being set up to educate girls, in defiance of the taliban, who have refused to allow them back into the classroom. officials have repeatedly insisted

that girls schools will reopen, but secondary schools have so far remained shut. a decision to reopen them was overruled by the taliban leadership earlier this year. our afghanistan correspondent secunder kermani has visited one of the secret schools. hidden away in a residential neighbourhood... ..a small but powerful act of defiance. these teenage girls — like most in the country — have not been allowed back to school by the taliban... ..so they're attending lessons secretly. today's class — trigonometry. for their security, we're not revealing anyone's name or identity. are you afraid of what could happen to you? if they arrest me, they beat me. but it's worth it to do that. it's worth it? of course, of course it's worth it. back in march, it seemed girls' schools were finally reopening —

but at the last minute, the taliban leadership overruled the decision. for students here, the pain is still raw. translation: on the day we went i to school, they told us it's not i clear if girls will be allowed or not. perhaps they will, later on. it's been two months now, and it hasn't happened. it makes me so sad. younger girls have been allowed back to school, but it's not clear when — or if — older girls will be. the taliban say they need to create the correct islamic environment first. taliban officials admit that female education is a sensitive issue for them, with some influential hardliners apparently opposed to it. but in private, others within the group have expressed their disappointment at the decision not to allow all girls' schools to reopen. a number of religious scholars linked to the taliban have made

public declarations in support of the right of girls to learn. sheikh rahimullah haqqani is an afghan cleric, well respected by the taliban, based in pakistan. on a recent trip to kabul, he met seniorfigures in the group. he's careful not to criticise the continued closure of girls' schools, but has issued a religious decree stating they can and should be educated. translation: there is no | justification in sharia to say female education is not allowed, no justification at all. and obligatory because, for example, if a woman gets sick in an islamic environment like afghanistan or pakistan, and needs treatment, it is much better if she is treated by a female doctor. boys of all ages are back in the classroom, but the taliban

have now formed a committee to debate what to do about girls' secondary schools. for now, it seems, their most hardline elements are the ones deciding what the country's future will look like. secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. football and around 100,000 rangers fans are pouring into seville as their team prepares to take part in the europa cup final tonight. rangers' success in getting to the final — where they'll face eintracht frankfurt — is being hailed as one of the greatest achievements of scottish football. our scotland correspondent lorna gordon is in seville now. hi, sophie. in effect the spanish city has been taken over by fans to the day, up to 100,000 rangers supporters, some have made extraordinaryjourneys supporters, some have made extraordinary journeys across the

world to get here. many had spent the day in seville's squares, soaking up the atmosphere, staying hydrated. the overwhelming feeling amongst the fans is one of intense pride that their team about to take to the pitch for a european final. this is one of the biggest games at rangers' history and an ocean of supporters in seville are enjoying a vacation at the spanish side. i will c 0 en vacation at the spanish side. i will cry open win _ vacation at the spanish side. i will cry open win or— vacation at the spanish side. i will cry open win or lose, _ vacation at the spanish side. i will cry open win or lose, but - vacation at the spanish side. in ii. cry open win or lose, but what a moment to be proud of, we are in the final. , , , moment to be proud of, we are in the final, , , , , final. just being here is absolutely hue, final. just being here is absolutely huge. having _ final. just being here is absolutely huge. having a — final. just being here is absolutely huge, having a ticket, _ final. just being here is absolutely huge, having a ticket, i— final. just being here is absolutely huge, having a ticket, i can't - huge, having a ticket, i can't believe — huge, having a ticket, i can't believe it _ huge, having a ticket, i can't believe it. emotional, i can't believe _ believe it. emotional, i can't believe it _ believe it. emotional, i can't believe it. to believe it. emotional, i can't believe it— believe it. emotional, i can't believe it, i: i: i: i: ., , ., believe it. to 150,000 fans are ex - ected believe it. to 150,000 fans are expected here. _ believe it. to 150,000 fans are expected here, rangers- believe it. to 150,000 fans are - expected here, rangers supporters outnumbering untracked frankfurt plans 2—1. —— outnumbering eintracht frankfurt fans to — one. ida

plans 2-1. -- outnumbering eintracht frankfurt fans to - one.— frankfurt fans to - one. no problem, seville, frankfurt fans to - one. no problem, seville. we — frankfurt fans to - one. no problem, seville, we have _ frankfurt fans to - one. no problem, seville, we have dealt _ frankfurt fans to - one. no problem, seville, we have dealt a _ seville, we have dealt a brilliantly, not a bad word to say. seville has a plan, the best majority have travelled do not have tickets and fans are being directed to watch the match in separate areas are different types of the city. 5000 police officers duty, they say they are prepared by the large numbers. the searing heat of seven spain could be a challenge for the scottish fans, but at the front of everyone's minds is the match tonight. excitement and nerves about what could be rangers' first european title in 50 years. relaxed at the moment _ european title in 50 years. relaxed at the moment for _ european title in 50 years. relaxed at the moment for butterflies - european title in 50 years. relaxed at the moment for butterflies pro. | at the moment for butterflies pro. we are missing school for a couple of days _ we are missing school for a couple of days but — we are missing school for a couple of days but it is an educational trip _ of days but it is an educational tri -. ., ., , , of days but it is an educational tri. ., ., ,, ,. ., ., trip. you are missing school for a coule of trip. you are missing school for a capple of days — trip. you are missing school for a couple of days but _ trip. you are missing school for a couple of days but it _ trip. you are missing school for a couple of days but it is _ trip. you are missing school for a couple of days but it is an - couple of days but it is an educational— couple of days but it is an educational trip. - couple of days but it is an educational trip. you - couple of days but it is an- educational trip. you enjoying it? yes _ educationaltrip. you en'oying it? yes. . . educationaltrip. you en'oying it? yes. ., . ., , ., yes. the match tonight is a huge turnaround _ yes. the match tonight is a huge turnaround from _ yes. the match tonight is a huge turnaround from the _ yes. the match tonight is a huge turnaround from the glasgow- yes. the match tonight is a huge| turnaround from the glasgow club yes. the match tonight is a huge - turnaround from the glasgow club won best ten years ago and have

themselves back from the tier of scottish. —— from the glasgow club went best ten years ago. the scottish. -- from the glasgow club went best ten years ago. the amount of money spent _ went best ten years ago. the amount of money spent to — went best ten years ago. the amount of money spent to be _ went best ten years ago. the amount of money spent to be at _ went best ten years ago. the amount of money spent to be at the - went best ten years ago. the amount of money spent to be at the level... | of money spent to be at the level... it has been an unbelievable journey. european _ it has been an unbelievable journey. european final, unbelievable. my son is 14, _ european final, unbelievable. my son is ia, memories for life. european final, unbelievable. my son is 14, memories for life.— is 14, memories for life. tonight these fans _ is 14, memories for life. tonight these fans are _ is 14, memories for life. tonight these fans are daring _ is 14, memories for life. tonight these fans are daring to - is 14, memories for life. tonight these fans are daring to dream, | is 14, memories for life. tonightl these fans are daring to dream, a heady mix of anticipation and hope that history may be about to be made. those are the fans, what about the team? and our sports correspondentjane dougall is inside the stadium now. what a big night for rangers and an awful bout at stake? arnie what a big night for rangers and an awful bout at stake?— awful bout at stake? we had been talkin: awful bout at stake? we had been talking about _ awful bout at stake? we had been talking about rangers _ awful bout at stake? we had been talking about rangers fans - talking about rangers fans travelling to seville but the club itself has had such an impressive journey to get here, notjust by putting out big teams like the

russia georgia men to progress through the —— like dortmund to get through. but in 2012 rangers were placed into administration for financial irregularities and had to start again at the bottom tier of scottish football, protect to swallow, working up the domestic leagues, and finally after ten years they found themselves in the european cup final —— able to first minister nicola sturgeon and prime minister nicola sturgeon and prime minister borisjohnson had sent messages to rangers, mrjohnson saying he knew they would do is all about. rangers have been in this position twice before, in 1972 they won the european cup cup, and 2008 they left 2—0 two zenit st petersburg at the etihad in manchester and the rangers fans riot up, it is about to say, it was

manchester, some rather disgraceful scenes. with that in mind thatjust under two trigger a ring of steel has been erected around the stadium and security has been stepped up. the frankfurt fans are entering from the site and rangers fans from the other. eintracht frankfurt will not be a walkover, they defeated real betis, barcelona and west ham to get your bet rangers will fancy themselves as favourites because arguably this is the biggest match in their history. . arguably this is the biggest match in their history.— time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. that looks? the heat in northern france will _ that looks? the heat in northern france will be _ that looks? the heat in northern france will be triggering - france will be triggering thunderstorms, they are starting to develop at the moment and will be coming northwards. there is a weather front in the west but this cloud is bubbling up in the north—west of france that we are putting an eye on. these storms are

starting to pop near the channel islands, they are drawn northwards and we are likely to have to mention downpours overnight. across central and southern england, the south—east and southern england, the south—east and east anglia some temples can give you 25 millimetres of rain, the risk of localised flooding and we might even see a final crowd. overnight clearing eastwards, clearing skies, the weather coming down, less chance of disrupted sleet from sunday during the second half of the night. a fine start to the date for most others tomorrow, there could be an shower and there will be showers across scotland and northern ireland but for the majority into stride with warm spells of sunshine. temperatures in the height teams to low 20s, feeling warm, winds pretty light. further change through

friday, low—pressure flexing its muscles, a weather front from the