scotland and wales are to rise by 80% in october. the energy regulator's new price cap means the average annual bill will rise to £3,519. i am terrified that when the winter comes we are not going to have enough for the bills, because of the electricity has already doubled now, what's it going to be in the winter? the chancellor promises that help is on the way for people struggling with their bills. he says the government is working flat out on options. we know we need to do more because actually the most vulnerable households have no cushion, have nothing available to them. the energy regulator calls today's news "devastating", and blames a rise in the price

of wholesale gas driven by russia's invasion of ukraine. also this lunchtime... police in liverpool have arrested a man on suspicion of the murder of nine—year—old olivia pratt—korbel. letters won't be delivered today and some parcels could be delayed as royal mail workers go on strike. # hold me closer tiny dancer... and, oops, he's done it again — eltonjohn re—records some of his most famous music with britney spears. and coming up in the sport on the bbc news channel, the british sides find out who they'll be playing in the group stages of the europa league and europa conference league.

good afternoon. millions of households in england, scotland and wales will see their energy bills soar by 80% after the regulator ofgem raised its price cap — that's the maximum amount consumers on a standard variable tariff can be charged per unit. at the moment the average household is paying an annual bill of £1,971. in october that will jump to £3,519 a year — and almost £60 more if you're on a prepayment meter. and the price cap could go higher still. some analysts predict it will be more than £5,300 a year injanuary and then more than £6,600 in april. well, today's price cap announcementjust adds to the current cost of living crisis, with prices forfood and petrol already rising rapidly, and higher taxes and interest rates too. colletta smith reports.

this is confirmation of the figures that so many households in britain had been dreading. i am that so many households in britain had been dreading.— had been dreading. i am terrified that when the _ had been dreading. i am terrified that when the winter _ had been dreading. i am terrified that when the winter comes - had been dreading. i am terrified that when the winter comes we l had been dreading. i am terrified l that when the winter comes we are not going to have enough for the bills. . �* , not going to have enough for the bills. . �*, , ., not going to have enough for the bills. . h h, .,, not going to have enough for the bills. . h _, ., not going to have enough for the bills. . h , ., ., not going to have enough for the bills. . h h, ., bills. claire's plant has a good “ob but with the fi bills. claire's plant has a good “ob but with the typical i bills. claire's plant has a good “ob but with the typical household h bills. claire's plant has a good jobi but with the typical household bill going up by 80% to just under £300 a month, they are facing difficult decisions. a ~ month, they are facing difficult decisions. a, ~ , month, they are facing difficult decisions. . , month, they are facing difficult decisions. -m . ., . , ., decisions. making those choices of what ou decisions. making those choices of what you can _ decisions. making those choices of what you can use _ decisions. making those choices of what you can use and _ decisions. making those choices of what you can use and what - decisions. making those choices of what you can use and what you - decisions. making those choices of i what you can use and what you can't, we don't use the dryer because we physically can't use it because the amount of energy that it requires is so much more. the shower is an electric shower. me and my partner aren't suffering, it's the children that suffer. aren't suffering, it's the children that suffer-— that suffer. the cap limits the amount that _ that suffer. the cap limits the amount that can _ that suffer. the cap limits the amount that can be _ that suffer. the cap limits the amount that can be charged l that suffer. the cap limits the l amount that can be charged per that suffer. the cap limits the - amount that can be charged per unit, basic standard variable tariff. there is a higher rate for prepaid customers. it is supposed to allow suppliers to cut the costs of the wholesale energy they buy while protecting customers. global prices have spiked as the war in ukraine

restricted gas and oil supplies at the same time as an increase in demand as the world emerged from the pandemic. so the regulators say they have to let companies charge customers more. the have to let companies charge customers more.— have to let companies charge customers more. the truth is, this is be ond customers more. the truth is, this is beyond the _ customers more. the truth is, this is beyond the capacity _ customers more. the truth is, this is beyond the capacity of— customers more. the truth is, this is beyond the capacity of the - is beyond the capacity of the regulator and industry to address. so what we are saying today is, look, we have ten days now until we have a new administration, we have a new prime minister and new ministerial team. what i'm clear about is the prime minister, with his or her ministerial team will need to act urgently and decisively to address this.— to address this. energy suppliers have warned _ to address this. energy suppliers have warned prices _ to address this. energy suppliers have warned prices will - to address this. energy suppliers have warned prices will have - to address this. energy suppliers have warned prices will have to l to address this. energy suppliers i have warned prices will have to rise again next year with the latest prediction of january's cap again next year with the latest prediction ofjanuary�*s cap for typical usage costing more than £5,000 a year. the typical usage costing more than £5,000 a year-— typical usage costing more than £5,000 a year. the level of energy bills will mean _ £5,000 a year. the level of energy bills will mean that _ £5,000 a year. the level of energy bills will mean that low _ £5,000 a year. the level of energy bills will mean that low income - bills will mean that low income households are spending something like 20% of their disposable income on energy. middle—income households on energy. middle—income households on 10%. that is fuel poverty for

millions of homes and so we need existing support to match. companies can increase — existing support to match. companies can increase direct _ existing support to match. companies can increase direct debit _ existing support to match. companies can increase direct debit payments . can increase direct debit payments from september to make sure people have enough credit to pay for price rises. if you are trying to decide whether or not to sign up for a fixed deal, don't be pressured by your energy company. do the sums carefully. you may decide it might help you budget to know exactly how much you will be paying over the next year or so but if the price is higher than this new price cap rate then you may end up paying more in then you may end up paying more in the long run. but there are things you can do to control your bills. under the new autumn cap, turning down your thermostat byi degrees could save an estimated down your thermostat by1 degrees could save an estimated £321 a year. air drying clothes instead of using a tumble dryer can save £116 a year. but charities and campaigners have called on the government to provide more direct help. i am called on the government to provide more direct help.— called on the government to provide more direct help. i am begging, i am ra inc, i more direct help. i am begging, i am praying. i am — more direct help. i am begging, i am praying, i am pleading _

more direct help. i am begging, i am praying, i am pleading that _ more direct help. i am begging, i am praying, i am pleading that there - more direct help. i am begging, i am praying, i am pleading that there is l praying, i am pleading that there is more government help for this winter so that people will not, and the poorest, and this is not because sacrificing, it is a catastrophe that people will not die because of this winter. —— this is not catastrophe icing. this winter. -- this is not catastrophe icing.- this winter. -- this is not catastro - he icinu. ., catastrophe icing. the government say continued _ catastrophe icing. the government say continued support _ catastrophe icing. the government say continued support will - catastrophe icing. the government| say continued support will continue to reach people's pockets in the months ahead.— to reach people's pockets in the months ahead. ., . ., months ahead. looking at october to december, months ahead. looking at october to december. the _ months ahead. looking at october to december, the £400 _ months ahead. looking at october to december, the £400 we _ months ahead. looking at october to december, the £400 we are - months ahead. looking at october to | december, the £400 we are providing every— december, the £400 we are providing every household on their bills will effectively meet about half the increase — effectively meet about half the increase that was announced today. we know _ increase that was announced today. we know we need to do more because actually— we know we need to do more because actually the _ we know we need to do more because actually the most vulnerable households have no cushion, have nothing _ households have no cushion, have nothing available to them. so what i am looking — nothing available to them. so what i am looking at is howl nothing available to them. so what i am looking at is how i can target that helpful people. as am looking at is howl can target that helpful people.— am looking at is howl can target that helpful people. as the summer warmth ends _ that helpful people. as the summer warmth ends paying _ that helpful people. as the summer warmth ends paying those - that helpful people. as the summer warmth ends paying those huge - that helpful people. as the summer . warmth ends paying those huge energy bills will become increasingly difficult for all and impossible for some. colletta smith, bbc news. well, the soaring cost of energy will be top of the agenda for whoever is britain's

new prime minister in ten days' time — liz truss or rishi sunak. the man one of them will replace, borisjohnson, has promised there will be "extra cash" in september to support households. and the think tank the institute for fiscal studies says the next prime minister will probably have to introduce what it calls a "substantial package of support". labour has accused the two conservative leadership candidates of having "almost nothing to say" about the issue. on a hospital visit this morning, a prime minister with just ten days left in the job. he has previously announced financial support for the months ahead but says his successor will do more. there is a pipeline of cash coming through over the next few months and through the autumn and the winter, but that is clearly now going to be augmented, increased by extra cash that the government is plainly going to be announcing in september.

so, what have the candidates to become prime minister promised? liz truss wants to scrap the rise in national insurance and has said she will suspend green levies on energy bills. rishi sunak has promised to scrap vat on bills and has said there will be more targeted support for the most vulnerable. we still haven't got full details of rishi sunak�*s plans. i will move incredibly quickly to put in place the support that is required and give certainty to people that that help is coming, particularly the most vulnerable in our society, and pensioners. so, on top of cutting vat off energy bills for everybody, those groups will receive extra help. this will be the immediate priority, i will make announcements on it as soon as i can after becoming prime minister. we asked to speak to liz truss today but were told she wasn't doing a tv interview. in a statement, she said she would ensure people get the support needed to get through these tough times. but that is all the detail we have on that for now. a labour demo yesterday.

they say the government is missing in action. they have outlined their own plan for bills which they think would cost £30 billion. we need to have a freeze on those energy prices, do not let them go up to those levels, and pay for that in part by a windfall tax on the oil and gas companies, on those excess profits. meanwhile, you've got a government that is missing in action. and i think most people looking today will say that is unforgivable from the government in the middle of a cost of living crisis. the snp and the lib dems also want the energy price cap frozen where it is for now. whoever moves into downing street is unlikely to take such a radical step but both candidates will face pressure to flesh out their plans in the face of rising costs. david wallace lockhart, bbc news, westminster. today's price cap announcement means millions of people are likely to be faced with very stark choices this winter — campaigners say many will be plunged into fuel poverty — forced to choose between

heating and eating. 0ur correspondentjo black has been talking to some people about their fears for the months to come. the waterfront at ipswich. but behind the attractive facade and expensive boats, some people in this town are starting to struggle with their living costs, and are fearful about what's to come. basically, i've got two things. one is debt, obviously... at a citizens advice bureau drop—in session, we find marina — a former care worker. she has long covid, anxiety and depression. no longer in work, she's applied for universal credit, is £875 in rent arrears, and often sits in the dark to save money. to actually fear, every day, how you're meant to live... it's just something else. didn't think i'd get this age and be worried about things like this. you just think it's going to be normal.

the government says various discounts and payments will help uk households with the cost of living, but there are still concerns as our energy bills are set to soar even further this winter. i don't think it will ever go back to how it was. will gas prices always be high? well, no, because eventually we've got to stop using it altogether. so this is a wake—up call of the direction we're going in. but for now, people are planning for trickier times ahead. andrew at the hot sausage company in ipswich town centre hasn't replaced a worker who's just left, and he's diversifying — doing weddings and corporate events. he says his stock prices have shot up 20%. we put our prices up last year, and we've had to put them up again this year — only by small incremental amounts, but you're scared of putting your prices up because you feel you might lose market share. five miles outside ipswich, the village of chattisham, and the rural coffee caravan is on its monthly visit. alongside the tea and cake, this charity signposts people

to various services — and rising energy prices aren't far from people's minds. well, if i can't afford it, i won't put it on because i won't get into debt — i've never been in debt in my life. i'd just cut back on food, as well, if i had to. i'd have a tin of soup and a roll! and, you know, hopefully that would warm you up! when you hear of anyone struggling about any bills that they are having, especially the energy bills, it's talk, make sure that they talk to their suppliers, because burying your head in the sand only makes this sort of situation worse and it only gets bigger and bigger. there could be other pots of small grants available that people can access that they don't know about and potentially we don't know about them at the moment, but if they are out there, then we'll find them and hopefully we'll sort of be able to pass it on to the people that need it. citizens advice predict, by october, a quarter of us won't be able to afford ourfuel bills — with even more people hitting financial hardship in the new year. jo black, bbc news, ipswich.

our business editor simonjack is with me now. you've been following this story throughout. first of all, an 80% rise in energy bills, and much worse to come next year. how did it come to this? it's all about the wholesale cost of gas, predominantly. that is not controlled by the government, not controlled by the government, not controlled by the regulator or the companies. that is set by international supply and demand. the supply has been interrupted, as european countries have either shunned russian gas or seen it shut off. we saw a big spike after the invasion of ukraine. in recent weeks what we have seen is companies scramble to get supplies for this winter. an international bidding war for non—russian supplies, things like liquid natural gas, and that has sent the price shooting up, and thatis has sent the price shooting up, and that is the thing driving the big costs. as we saw in those pieces, the bad news is that doesn't look

like it's going to change anytime soon, so we are getting dreadful projections forjanuary and april next year which will put... in october alone, next year which will put... in 0ctoberalone, put next year which will put... in october alone, put half all 0ctober alone, put half all customers, 9 million people in fuel poverty, meaning they spend 10% or more of their money on energy bills. in some cases these projections for january and april, these all rival people's mortgage payments or income taxes as an outgoing so it's a dire prognosis. a new prime minister in ten days. what are the options to help people find a way through this? at the moment we have nothing solid on the table. we have the existing support, which is £400 off all bills which will start to be paid from october. an additional 650 for 0ctober. an additional 650 for people on qualifying benefits, but that support was put in place when bills were expected to hit 2800 in october. clearly we are well above 0ctober. clearly we are well above that and are almost certainly going higher than that. there is enormous

pressure on whoever is the next by minister to announce additional support. rishi sunak announced he would do more of the same, targeted support will stop the labour party has had to freeze all bills, costing 29 billion over six months, probably more with the new projections will stop the energy industry says to freeze all bills for two years at the cost of more than £100 billion to be paid back over 20 years. these are radical solutions. it will be, whoever gets in number ten, job number one and perhaps the task that defines their premiership, how they deal with this cost of living crisis. ,, ., , , ,, ., crisis. simon jack, business editor, thank you- — to find out more about what rising prices mean for you and how to save money on your energy bills, you can follow our live page on the website, bbc.co.uk/news. russia, which, as we've heard, has been accused of controlling energy supplies as a weapon against the west, is now burning off large amounts of natural gas at a facility near its border with finland, according to analysis shared

with the bbc. energy experts say the gas would have previously been exported to germany via the nordstream 0ne pipeline. they estimate that £8 million worth of gas is being burned off every day. ukraine's president says europe faced the prospect of a radiation disaster on thursday when a russian—occupied nuclear plant was disconnected from the country's power grid. president volodomyr zelensky said the zaporizhzhia plant was only able to operate safely when back—up electricity kicked in. fires had earlier damaged overhead power lines, cutting the plant off. there is growing concern over fighting near the complex, which is the largest nuclear plant in europe. a 36—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of olivia pratt—korbel. the nine—year—old girl died after a gunman chased another man into her house in liverpool on monday.

let's talk to our correspondent alison freeman who is in liverpool. yes, it was this morning that merseyside police confirmed that they had in fact arrested a 36—year—old man on suspicion of the murder of 28 mega —— 0livia pratt—korbel here on monday night. he has also been arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder. we know that 0livia's mother and the man who was running away from the gunman, joseph nee were also injured with gunshot wounds during the shooting. the four say the suspect, he was from the huyton area, was arrested last night after an armed operation took place in merseyside —— the force say. he is still being questioned by police and remains in custody. you can see behind me the numbers of tributes, balloons and flowers that had been laid in memory of olivia have been

growing and this morning's the area's two premier league clubs joined with those tributes. former liverpool player in rush and former everton player ian snodden laid flowers. from everton, they said, no words were lessened the plane or explain such a tragedy, our city stands united forever in our thoughts. 0n the liverpool card, it said, rest in peace, 0livia. with deeper sympathy from all of us at liverpool football club. and it ended with a rather poignant know. you'll never walk alone. alison, thank you very much. alison freeman reporting from liverpool. the time is 13:18. our top story this lunchtime: energy bills for millions of households in england, scotland and wales, to rise by 80% in october. england's cricketers build a lead on the second day of the test match at old trafford against south africa. and coming up in sport on the bbc news channel: matt fitzpatrick is in the mix at

the season—ending tour championship, but will still start day two six shots behind the leader, scottie scheffler. it's the moon landing, but not as we know it. remastered photographs, revealing extraordinary new details of man's first mission to the moon, have been published for the first time. andy saunders left his dayjob to restore thousands of images of the apollo missions, which had been locked away in frozen nasa archives. 0ur science editor rebecca morelle has the story. three, two, one, zero... lift—off. we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. the voice of presidentjohn f kennedy on the apollo missions,

which ushered in a golden era of human space exploration. tranquility base here. the eagle has landed. but now, the missions are being seen through a new lens, exposing some long—lost secrets. andy saunders has spent more than a decade trawling through 35,000 images held in nasa's archives, studying each one frame by frame. and even though some looked far from promising, what they contained was extraordinary. so this was an image of interest. so on quite a simple level, first of all, we just look and we'll build up and start to stretch that contrast and pull out... oh, my goodness. ..what is actually in that frame. and lo and behold, there's commanderjim mcdivitt on apollo 9, in 1969. each image has been digitally restored and enhanced, pixel by pixel, to give us the clearest view we've ever had of the moon landings. from vistas of the cratered surface

to the eagle lunar module, and a glimpse of what everyday life was really like for the astronauts. and they've even revealed the golf ball lost on the lunar surface five decades ago, as alan shepard took his hobby into space. only 12 people have ever walked on the moon. charlie duke was one of them. he's been on hand to check whether the restored pictures capture what the experience was really like. it's a spectacular terrain and the beauty of it — sharp contrast between the blackness of space and the horizon of the moon. i'll never forget it. it was so dramatic. now others will soon get to see this for themselves. next week, nasa's new megarocket will attempt to launch for the first time. eventually, it will be returning humans to the moon. that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

for 50 years, we've been captivated by the apollo missions — witnesses to history as it unfolds — but soon, the moon will be viewed through the eyes of a new generation. rebecca morelle, bbc news. more than 100,000 royal mail postal workers are on strike, in a dispute about pay. today is the first of four days of industrial action — with more due this month and next — and the postal service has warned that letters won't be delivered and parcels will be delayed. jon donnison reports. # put your hands in the air # simple simon says...# no question about who is on strike today. postal workers the latest to walk out during this summer of discontent. and with inflation running at around 10%, the issue a familiar one. we deserve a pay deal, a pay rise. we've been offered 2%, which is attached with strings,

and itjust doesn't cut it. the price of everything is going up. people are having to do more overtime in order to get more money, which means that they're then not at home with their families. our people are furious, after working through a global pandemic, taking the risk delivering to our customers, the risk of taking covid back to their families and that, and they deserve much more than an imposed 2% pay rise, and we simply will not accept that. and singing to the same tune and pressing the flesh on the picket line in east london, the head of the communication workers union. they're just fed up and sick and tired of the way the company are treating them. the company made 758 million record profits in april. they gave away over £400 million to shareholders, rewarded themselves with huge record bonuses for apparently hitting their targets, and then imposed a 2% pay increase on the workforce,

not negotiated in post. this morning, workers were calling for the boss of royal mail to resign. but he says the total pay offer, which is pegged to meeting modernisation targets, is over 5%. we have spent the last few months with the _ we have spent the last few months with the union trying to have a discussion— with the union trying to have a discussion around change and they have simply not engaged. and i'm available — have simply not engaged. and i'm available any time, i'm available today, _ available any time, i'm available today, i'm — available any time, i'm available today, i'm available tomorrow, whenever— today, i'm available tomorrow, whenever it is that they would like to talk— whenever it is that they would like to talk about change. but we need that change to pay for more pay. and try that change to pay for more pay. and by the _ that change to pay for more pay. and by the way, _ that change to pay for more pay. and by the way, the more change, the more _ by the way, the more change, the more pay — by the way, the more change, the more -a . �* ., by the way, the more change, the morea. , , , ,, more pay. both sides in this dispute sa the more pay. both sides in this dispute say they are — more pay. both sides in this dispute say they are still _ more pay. both sides in this dispute say they are still up _ more pay. both sides in this dispute say they are still up for _ more pay. both sides in this dispute say they are still up for continued i say they are still up for continued negotiations, but there seems little sign of a breakthrough at the moment, and there are three further days of strike action planned in the next two weeks. jon donnison, bbc news. in east london. talks to end scotland's bin

strikes resume today, as industrial action spreads to more areas. workers in 20 council areas have now joined the dispute over pay. the industrial action started in edinburgh last week, before affecting other parts of the country, including aberdeen, dundee and glasgow. liz truss has been criticised for comments about the french president, emmanuel macron, and his friendship with britain. ms truss, the favourite to become britain's next prime minister, said the "jury was out" on the french president. she was responding to a question on whether he was a "friend or foe". emmanuel macron has responded to the remarks saying britain is "a friend, strong and allied...whoever its leaders are". police in australia have made their largest—ever seizure of the drug methamphetamine, with a street value of nearly £1 billion. officers in new south wales found almost two tonnes of it concealed in slabs of marble, after they searched a ship that had arrived

from the united arab emirates. the action has been fast and furious again on the second day of the second test match at old trafford. at lunch, england's cricketers had reached 212—5. that put them 61 runs ahead of south africa. joe wilson reports. it isa it is a craft, the work, the precision required to shake the bids of wood for the world's best batters. hang on, you are not? no, thatis batters. hang on, you are not? no, that isjonny bairstow. looking to lead england's batting on day two, the shot went exactly where bairstow wanted. the next one didn't. edged, caught and gone for 49, south africa really needed that. and this is pretty much the well�*s fastest bowler. 57 mcivor england definitely needed this. he has been battling to prove his worth in the team. —— zak

crawley. crawley got to 38, another success. england would take runs however they could come. this mis—hit took them into the lead in the match. this is ben stokes. that was not a miss hit. that is a six. and that is how england could stretch ahead. flexibility was not easy for stokes, though. a few minutes later, we saw him in pain like this, like we have seen before. running repairs were required and stokes continued. watching here. yes, serena. timing and execution everything. play the shot and hold the pose, go on, keep going. just a little longer. he of course needed a partner and with him was ben foakes. england would love a day of them batting, that is ambitious, but they certainly made it to lunch. well, after a light salad or a bowl of muesli or something, stokes and

foakes would be resuming, striding out here in ten minutes two metres to my left and england would love to turn that lead of 61 into a 150. they can do it, we have sunshine here, it could be an afternoon of slow and steady progress. who am i kidding? nothing in cricket any more is slow or steady. definitely not! thank you very much indeed. britney spears has released her first single since being freed from her conservatorship — the legal arrangement which controlled her life for more than a decade — and the song is a duet with sir eltonjohn based, in part, on his 1972 hit tiny dancer. our music correspondent, mark savage, has been listening. # hold me closer...# the unmistakable sound of britney spears. # 0h! # hold me closer, tiny dancer...# this is the first time fans

have heard new music from the singer since 2016... free britney now! ..and it's the first since she was freed from a 13—year legal arrangement that stopped her making basic decisions about her personal life. what am i going to do now that the conservatorship's over with? speaking on instagram last year, britney said that returning to music might not be her first priority. i'm just grateful, honestly, for each day and having to have the keys to my car and being able to be independent and feel like a woman. and owning an atm card, seeing cash for the first time, being able to buy candles. it's the little things for us women, but it makes a huge difference. it was music legend eltonjohn who eventually tempted the star back into the studio. # and i think it's going to be a long, long time...# he was planning a follow—up to cold heart — a duet with dua lipa that became a global number one last year — and it was his husband, david furnish, who suggested getting

britney on the track. they met in los angeles this summer to record it and elton previewed the song to diners at a french restaurant earlier this week. # hold me closer, tiny dancer...# released at midnight, the song's already had a warm welcome. "i hope she gets all the support in the world, after the hell she's been through," said one fan online. critics weren't so kind, with the telegraph calling hold me closer "one of the most pointless records in pop history", although the guardian said the song was "filled with power and poignancy". writing on twitter, britney said she was "overwhelmed" to be singing with one of her heroes. # hold me closer, tiny dancer...# her fans hope that this will be the first of many new songs. mark savage, bbc news. let's see what the weather is doing. here's ben rich. it isa

it is a bank holiday for some others, not