we are going to speak to edf energy in the next half an i to edf energy in the next half an hour.re, this case? that's right. as you said there. she — this case? that's right. as you said there. she was _ this case? that's right. as you said there, she was last _ this case? that's right. as you said there, she was last seen _ this case? that's right. as you said there, she was last seen in - this case? that's right. as you said there, she was last seen in the i there, she was last seen in the croydon— there, she was last seen in the croydon area of south london quite a few weeks— croydon area of south london quite a few weeks ago, the start ofjuly. police _ few weeks ago, the start ofjuly. police said — few weeks ago, the start ofjuly. police said they have had more than 100 sightings, or suspected of sightings of her. they are looking through— sightings of her. they are looking through 117 of those, trawling through— through 117 of those, trawling through cctv footage, and they have about _ through cctv footage, and they have about 50 _ through cctv footage, and they have about 5

philippe commaret — head of retail business at edf energy — was speaking ahead of the expected announcementlier this morning: in fact, when you look at the figures, without further support from the government, more than half of the uk households will be likely to be in fuel poverty injanuary, meaning they will have to spend more than 10% of their disposable income to pay for their energy bill. the government has outlined a number of measures to support people struggling with the rising cost of energy. to support older people, an extra £300 will be added to the winter fuel payment, the annual lump sum given every autumn. that's on top of the £400 all households in england, scotland and wales will receive to help pay rising fuel bills. for those on disability benefit, the government has confirmed that £150 cost of living payments will start to be made from 20th september, with the majority of payments coming in at the start of october. this comes ahead of friday's energy price cap announcement — which will set the maximum amount suppliers can charge households in england, scotland and wales f

ahead of that announcement philippe commaret from edf energy — one of the uk's major energy supplierspport from the government, more than half of the uk households will be likely to be in fuel poverty injanuary, meaning they will have to spend more than 10% of their disposable income to pay for their energy. staying with energy, a regular emergency planning exercise to help the uk prepare for the possibility of a shortage of gas supplies has been doubled in size. potential scenarios including rationing electricity will be wargamed over four days, rather than the usual two, as energy concerns gi’ow. a former executive at shell — now chief executive of portugese energy giant galp — told bbc radio 4's today programme the government needs to priortise the uk's energy security. i think government needs to move fast now, they really need to move fast. the european union is talking about reducing demand by 15%, driving the various countries across europe to do that. the uk needs to do similarly. it needs to increase insulation, put in heat pumps, invest in the north sea, build renewables fas

bring in one more tweet you have sent in to me, this is from sean, who says i feel so ill. 0ur edf energyhe day we will try to pull together the best advice and ask questions about what is going to be done to help people with their bills. britney spears has released herfirst new music since 2016 — a duet with sir eltonjohn. # hold me closer, tiny dancer. # whoo—oo. the new song hold me closer incorporates three of sir elton's classic hits — tiny dancer, the one and don't go breaking my heart. it's britney's first step back into the music industry after her release from a conservatorship that controlled almost every aspect of her life. joining me now is professor jennifer 0tter bickerdike, a cultural historian, author and professor of popular music at the bimm institute. her latest book, being britney, is a biography of the star. we spoke at the time of the conservatorship, it's good to have you back with us. let's talk about the music in a moment, but this is about a lot more than just the music. about a lot more than 'ust the music. �* , ,., , about a lot more than 'ust the music. �* , ,

fuel poverty this winter unless the government does more to help with people with bills, the energy company edfuncement of the energy cap for households — it will be bad news. the rise from last summer, where the cap meant an average househiold dual fuel bill at under £1,200 has already been concerning enough — reaching nearly £2,000 right now. and this week for winter, it is expected to exceed £3,500 — around £300 per month. unthinkable for millions of households, some of which will receive some help. and it could go higher. the industry calculates the majority of households will strug m. without support from the government, more than half of the uk households will be likely to be in fuel poverty in january. which means that they will have to spend more than 10% of their disposable income to pay for their energy bills. this is being driven by extraordinary and unprecedented rises in the price companies pay for gas. similar charts exist for electricity. this is the price paid for delivery of gas this winter — when it really matters. and it's the prices during this period including the invasion

the shortfall, if you like by edf, not raising energy prices by as much as the cost of energy, is goingr, by the whole country. again there is no immunity from the global rising energy prices. it is a question of how different governments choose... whether bill payers pay for it, taxpayers pay for it. all of these things are different options available. no simple solution or easy cost free solution when it comes to the big rising global energy prices. he comes to the big rising global energy prim-— comes to the big rising global energy prices. he said that all 0 tions energy prices. he said that all options had — energy prices. he said that all options had to _ energy prices. he said that all options had to be _ energy prices. he said that all options had to be consideredl energy prices. he said that all. options had to be considered and obviously, the way it is in france is a nationalised situation where there is the huge... the prices are not passed on, it is covered by the government. what is being talked about by keir starmer here, and as we were discussing some of the energy bosses

the national energy company, edf, says some nuclear power stations have had to reduce output becauses say there are lower yields, which could lead to higher food prices. here, not far from the palace of versailles, the water inspectors are on patrol. visiting this golf club, they want to ensure that restrictions are being respected, the rules are being followed. translation: this year, obviously, the situation l here is similar to what is happening in france as a whole. we are experiencing a period of drought that is quite exceptional. it's not just france. italy is experience its driest year since records began almost 200 years ago. in romania, the river danube is at its lowest level, with exposed sand dunes making navigation difficult. translation: i can tell you, the danube had a low level. before, but the elders say it's never been like this. we hope maybe a divine force can help us with some rain. even in the uk, a country not exactly renowned for high temperatures, they've experience the driest july since 1935. water restrictions are being imposed in the south—east and in parts

the national energy company, edf, says that some stations have had to reduce output because there is, which could lead to higher food are lower yields, which could lead to higherfood prices. not farfrom the palace lead to higherfood prices. not far from the palace of versailles the water inspectors are on patrol. visiting the golf club they want to ensure that restrictions are being respected and rules are being followed. translation: the situation here _ followed. translation: the situation here is _ followed. translation: tue: situation here is similar followed. translation: tte: situation here is similar to what is happening in france as a whole. we are experiencing a period of drought that is quite exceptional. tt period of drought that is quite exceptional.— exceptional. it isn't 'ust france. i exceptional. it isn't 'ust france. italy * exceptional. it isn't 'ust france. italy is i exceptional. it isn't just i france. italy is experience exceptional. it isn't just - france. italy is experience in its driest years since records began almost 200 years ago. in romania, the river da

the national energy company, edf, says some nuclear power stations have had to reduce output becauseto properly cool the reactors. and farmers are warning they've reduced yields, which could lead to higherfood prices. here, not far from the palace of versailles, the water inspectors are on patrol. visiting this golf club, they want to make sure the restrictions are being respected, the rules are being followed. translation: this year, obviously, the situation l here is similar to what's happening in france as a whole. we're experiencing a period of drought that is quite exceptional. it's not just france. italy is experiencing its driest year since records began more than 200 years ago. in romania, the river danube is nearing its lowest ever level, with exposed sand dunes making navigation difficult. "i can tell you, the danube had a low level before, "but the elders say it's never been like this," said this man. "we hope maybe a divine force can help us with some rain." with the heat likely to rise and no sign of rain in the coming days, things may well get worse before they get bett

. >> to finance the move, majority state owned utility edf has been ordered to sell cheap nuclear energy $26 billion aid package has been made available for businesses. in germany, taxpayers will receive a one-time tax allowance of 300 euros wh families receiving extra benefits. households will likely pay 500 euros more per year to cover the cost of lost russian gas supplies. italy has set aside 52 billion euros since januaryimed at supporting low income families. countries like bulgaria, greece and romania have capped household payments to power producers, but hungry has kept fuel prices low at the pumps. locals in the netherlands and spain will notice a cut in energy taxes. as the cost-of-living crisis batters the united kingdom, residents are likely to see another 80% increase in their energy bills. despite a 37 billion pound support package, the government has been urged to do more. >> the help coming from october onwards, everybody's bill will get 400 pounds off of that in terms of the additional increase now, but we know that is not enough. we've got to do more. >> despite the effo

european energy has extended the rally, adding pressure on politicians to do more. in france, the cost of power hit a new record after edfs nuclear reactors will take longer to come online. the u.k.'s prime minister is planning more help on energy bills, days after rising electricity costs are expected to be some 80%. president putin has ordered the russian military to increase armed forces by 130,000, the decree did not explain whether that would happen with a draft. so far, the kremlin has avoided a mass mobilization as it seeks to limit domestic fallout from the war. global monkeypox cases have declined for the first time, led by a drop in infections across europe. the who says new cases fell 21% in the last week but continue to rise in the americas. six countries have not reported new infections for three weeks now, the maximum incubation period for the disease. the white house chief medical advisor anthony fauci says he expected the u.s. would have moved past covid after the first year, but the disruption has lingered longer than he anticipated. he has been speaking days after announcing he is stepping down at the a

france is the standout, and president macron has essentially told the biggest energy company, edf, thatlls in france by 4% this year. most people in the uk would bite your hand off right now if you told them their bill would only go up by 4%, so they are much more comfortable with what we are facing at the moment there is indifference, the french energy system is much more reliant on this one giant company which is state back and is in the process of being fully nationalised. france already owns 86% of edf and by the end of this year will earn it in its entirety so it is easier for the government to say, look, you will take the losses on this, you're going to absorb this for the country, effectively but edf has turned round and said we may be partly state owned but we are actually going to sue the government, because we are being asked to absorb something above and beyond our ability, just to help our customers. if the uk was to go down a similar route and say, that's it, you cannot charge any more for energy, you would have a real risk of many companies going bust, so why then does in

limits price rises to 4%, this is something edf is having to do because the french government is the biggest stakeholder in india, spain and portugal have energythe whole of the country. what do you think is the right answer from —— from an economic point of view to do in the uk? from -- from an economic point of view to do in the uk?- of view to do in the uk? there is no right _ of view to do in the uk? there is no right answer, _ of view to do in the uk? there is no right answer, there - of view to do in the uk? there is no right answer, there are l is no right answer, there are be so bad choices, i think fundamentally what needs to be done is first of all, to target low income households with subsidy payments, secondly, what needs to be done is basically looking at the whole energy infrastructure, because this is a problem across the whole of, and investing for the future so this is not the sort of problem that will be and it should be remembered that this is notjust triggered by the russian invasion of ukraine, it was already a problem last summer with rising prices and therefore it isn'tjust about therefore it isn'tjust about the russian

energy companies. this morning we heard from the boss of edf who told us he's worried customers are facing a catastrophic gap between that and the tariff that we can't realistically pay. it's become clear in recent weeks those sky—high estimates, those forecasts of what the tariff could be if it continues being in line with wholesale costs are just realistically impossible for a lot of people to pay. the key idea, gaining a lot of traction within the industry is it would freeze peoples bills at the current level or slightly higher for a couple of years. in the short term that would be paid for by the banks loaning money into a fund which these suppliers could then access and subsidise our bills, keeping them frozen at this level a slightly higher. who pays in long—term kids back key question because scottishpower think it could be about £100 billion. it would be paid for over the next ten to 15 years with the big question is paid by who. there is ideas for that put up a very similar policy to the wand at the labour party are advocating. they field it could be paid through windfall tax we've seen. the ene

at the same time you have got the energy company— same time you have got the energy company edf urgingry to .et about for so long, as they try to get people to spread their direct debits, — get people to spread their direct debits, spread the extra costs over a longer— debits, spread the extra costs over a longer period of time. their bills coutd _ a longer period of time. their bills could rise — a longer period of time. their bills could rise perhaps sooner than expected _ could rise perhaps sooner than expected. it won't necessarily happen — expected. it won't necessarily happen. the energy suppliers don't have to _ happen. the energy suppliers don't have to do — happen. the energy suppliers don't have to do that. if anybody does find themselves facing higher bills than they have been doing, they can talk to— than they have been doing, they can talk to their— than they have been doing, they can talk to their energy supplier about that _ talk to their energy supplier about that. , ., ., , ., ., ,, ., that. they are obliged to talk to them. thank you. we are going to be talking to the

edf. for us we need action and quickly. nationalising companies is not something you can do overnight and the bottom line is energy costs have it is how we distribute those payments. i'm not sure nationalisation, it is certainly not going to get the answers we want by the time those higher energy bills hit our doorsteps in october. higher energy bills hit our doorste -s in october. . ,, , ., , doorsteps in october. thank you very much indeed — doorsteps in october. thank you very much indeed for _ doorsteps in october. thank you very much indeed for being _ doorsteps in october. thank you very much indeed for being with _ doorsteps in october. thank you very much indeed for being with us. - doorsteps in october. thank you very j much indeed for being with us. thank you for your time. breaking news from the world of tennis. serena williams has said that she is "evolving away from tennis." she has hinted she is retiring from the sport that she has dominated for much of her career. she has won a total of 23 singles grand slam titles, she has written a piece for vogue magazine and said, "i have never liked the word retirement. i