Yahoo News Friday evening news briefing: Drivers told to 'cut shorter journeys'
Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines
Death sentences | Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered ministers to do "everything in their power" to secure the release of two Britons condemned to death for fighting Russian forces in a "sham" sentencing. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss discussed efforts to secure the release of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner with her Ukrainian counterpart today after the judgment by a Russian proxy court. Vadym Prystaiko, suggested prisoner-swap negotiations with Moscow were under way. Joe Barnes explains who Vladimir Putin wants back from Kyiv.
Covid | Why UK cases are rising for the first time in two months
Discovery | Greatest wreck since Mary Rose found off Norfolk coast
Boot emerges from glacier | Climber's death solved after 50 years
Christopher Eccleston | 'I'm white, straight and 58... and a pariah'
Wimbledon | Favourites to replace Sue Barker as BBC presenter
The big story: Stop using cars for short journeys – AA
The cost of fuel has hit eye-watering levels. As the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a new record of 183.2p, it takes more than £100 to fill the tank of an average hatchback.
Can soaring costs really keep rising? And what action will motorists have to take to balance household budgets?
Drivers were today urged to "cut out shorter journeys" by car, with the AA encouraging them to walk or cycle to save money.
"Almost one fifth of AA members are already doing this," said AA president Edmund King. "These crippling fuel costs are hitting home so drivers need to take all the steps they can to stay mobile."
The advice came as the motoring group also claimed that high streets are losing out on £23 million a day in "potential consumer spending" as that is the estimated extra amount drivers are spending on petrol compared with this time last year.
If you cannot leave the car at home, then changing your driving style can also save up to 15 per cent on fuel costs. James Foxall has 10 tips that will cut your bill if you use petrol or diesel.
The fuel crisis is fast becoming a flashpoint in the rising cost of living, with the Prime Minister coming under pressure to match European fuel tax cuts.
But what is behind the prices motorists are paying, is anyone profiteering and, crucially, will the Government really slash taxes?
Rachel Millard and Matt Oliver investigated the issue in detail to produce these charts showing where your money goes when you fill up.
Rail pay rises
Away from the forecourts, a "summer of discontent" threatens to cripple Britain's rail network.
Train drivers across three networks yesterday announced they will join thousands of other rail workers on strike, with union barons seeking to cause chaos in a dispute over pay. Here are full details of when there will be most disruption.
Telegraph data analysis today reveals that train drivers have seen their pay increase at almost 20 times the rate of the average employee.
Once inflation is accounted for, it equates to a 17 per cent real-terms increase. Ben Butcher crunched the numbers on how key worker pay compares.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has been accused by his own colleagues of "sitting on the fence" over the strikes. Tom Harris explains how Labour is tying itself in knots.
Businesses at risk
Small businesses survived crippling Covid lockdowns, but sky-high inflation will spell the end for thousands of them across the country.
Anne Wallace has been in the fish and chip business for almost 60 years. Her shop, Taylors in Stockport, survived the three-day week in the 1970s, the financial crisis and a pandemic.
But she fears that the current bout of high inflation now threatens to close its shutters for good. Rachel Mortimer speaks to her – and others struggling to keep afloat.
Comment and analysis
Ben Marlow | Sunak's fuel taxes are strangling Britain's arteries
Matthew Lynn | Rehashed 'benefits to bricks' policy is a trap
Katja Hoyer | Empty promises by Olaf Scholz will harm Nato
Ben Lawrence | Few films merit ban, even if they are offensive
Telegraph View | We must beware religious censorship
Around the world: Bid to block Rwanda migrant plan
The UN refugee agency has mounted a last-minute intervention to try to block Priti Patel's plans to deport migrants to Rwanda, as it backed an injunction to halt the first flights next week. Home affairs editor Charles Hymas reports that, in a late submission of evidence, the UNHCR claimed the scheme failed to meet the required standards of "legality and appropriateness". Meanwhile, Africa correspondent Will Brown has a special investigation on the asylum seekers in Rwanda who say they have been left in a "traumatising" poverty-stricken limbo for years.
Friday long-read: Paul McCartney at 80... with a little help from his friends
As music genius Sir Paul McCartney turns 80, Neil McCormick collects reminiscences from some of music's biggest hitters about meeting and working with the superstar Beatle – including Bono, Elvis Costello and Michael Bublé – and throws in a few of his own. Read the feature.
Sport briefing: England v New Zealand – latest
Ben Stokes and James Anderson struck with successive deliveries at Trent Bridge as England halted an early New Zealand charge today. Follow live second Test updates from chief cricket correspondent Nick Hoult. In racing, two horses with the same name are to run against each other for the first time in 28 years this weekend.
Editor's choice
Katie Morley Investigates | 'I lost £200k in a "crypto mugging" and the police were useless'
When the world is your office | Working from a sunlounger is not all it is cracked up to be
Backpacking with my teenagers | Why I decided to take a midlife 'gap year'
Business briefing: Bank confidence at all-time low
Public confidence in the Bank of England has slumped to an all-time low in another setback for its Governor, Andrew Bailey. For the first time, more people are dissatisfied than satisfied with its efforts at controlling inflation, according to its quarterly inflation attitudes survey. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 dropped sharply after data showed a surprise surge in US inflation to a fresh 40-year high, sparking a global sell-off.
Tonight starts now
New releases | If you are looking for something to watch at the cinema, these two films released today are worth considering. Tim Robey says All My Friends Hate Me is a sublimely cringey comedy about a birthday party gone excruciatingly awry. He gives it four stars. Set in 1960s Calabria, Il Buco is what Robbie Collin describes in his four-star review as a languid Italian stroll to the centre of the Earth. And Neil McCormick rounds up this week's new music releases, which range from perky pop to sensual reggaeton – and a jazz prodigy who sounds like the real deal.
Three things for you
And finally... for this evening's downtime
The death of Giri/Haji | His masterpiece crime drama was brutally cancelled by Netflix. But now, with The Lazarus Project, one of our most original television writers faces the future. Read Chris Bennion's fascinating interview with Joe Barton.
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