The Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, says protecting customers during a time of heightened global Gas Prices is an � absolute priority� for the government. Ministers have been holding urgent talks with representatives of the Energy Industry Today and more discussions about the way forward will take place on monday. There are some warnings the increased costs already affecting some businesses could also mean higher bills for domestic consumers. Its understood that four small Energy Companies are set to go bust next week. Strong global demand is one of the reasons prices are at record highs. Emma pinchbeck is the Chief Executive of Energy Uk and earlier she explained what customers can do if they have concerns. What is clear is that there are record breaking prices at the moment having an impact on the industry. There are processes in place so that if anyone ends up impacted by this, their supplierfails or if anyone ends up impacted by this, their supplier fails or indeed they are struggling to pay their Energy Bill there is support in place for customers but also the government is looking to see what it can do to help the mechanisms in event of any market failures. If you go to the Energy Uk website. I were looking at the high price of gas, the Energy Suppliers came up with additional as well as those of eddie obligated to provide for energy customers. Get their website they can go to Consumer Groups in the first thing to phone your supplier so if youre worried about paying your bill you should just get on the phone to your supplier. Should just get on the phone to your supplier. Robert buckley is an Energy Analyst at Cornwall Insight told us whats driving the increase in global prices. People keep talking about a perfect storm of increasing demand, constraints on supply of gas from russia, coming norway, and the increasing market. Lower production from and solar then perhaps you might have been expecting. So a real combination of factors. A vacation and European Problem with an overlay of issues specific to great britain. It really is about the difficult market for small suppliers particularly in the Domestic Market where they face a cap that limits the amount that they can pay and actually that cap sent some pretty perverse incentives to people about not trading with these Energy Suppliers because people on the other side of the markets think they will go bust so we are in a bit of self fulfilling prophecy where the Tariff Cap is causing as many problems as it solves. Travel companies say that Holiday Bookings have surged, since yesterdays announcement, that foreign Travel Rules are being relaxed in england. The travel � traffic light system� is being replaced with a single � Red List�. Fully vaccinated people will no longer need a pre Departure Test before returning from non Red List countries. Professor Lawrence Young is from the university of warwick. He says the new Testing Regime raises concerns about how new variants will be detected, with the new requirement for fewer tests. This is inevitably going to result in people bringing back more infections from abroad and you could say actually given the high levels of infection we already have in the country perhaps that is not as much of an issue. The key issue has to be the impartation of variance. We know that previous waves of infection have been driven by travellers returning to the uk. And look at what we are facing now with a Delta Variant that originated in india. So we must let our guard down. It is important we keep genomic surveillance going because we know that some of these variants can affect the efficacy of vaccination and that is the risk that we are running, actually. Let� s Take A Look at the latest coronavirus figures, and there were 30,141; new infections recorded, in the latest 24 hour period. That means in the last week, there was an average of 29,561 new cases per day. 8068 people were in hospital, across the uk, according to the latest figures, with 164 deaths that� s of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid i9 test. The average number of deaths per day in the last week, is now 143. 89. 3 percent of people aged 16 or over, have had theirfirstjab, while 81. 6 , are now double vaccinated. After the french president ordered the recall of ambassadors To Australia and the us, washington says it plans to hold talks with senior french officials in the coming days to calm the diplomatic storm. The french ambassador To Australia has now left the country, describing as a huge mistake its decision to unilaterally cancel a Submarine Contract worth tens of billions of dollars. Meanwhile, france� s Foreign Minister has been speaking about the strained relations with australia, the us and the uk on french national television. Here� s what he had to say. There has been lying, duplicity, a major Breach Of Trust and contempt. This will not do. Things are not going well between us. It means there is a crisis and at that point we make a symbolic gesture, that of calling our ambassadors. At the very same time you need to show our former partner countries that we are very dissatisfied, that there is a serious crisis between us. It also brings us to the point where we need to re evaluate our position and to defend our interest both in australia and the united states. United nations agencies have urged the taliban to re open girls� its schools in afghanistan. More than a month after the taliban seized power, secondary schools for boys have reopened and all male teachers have been ordered back to work. But the taliban have said nothing about reopening secondary schools for girls, despite the fact that female enrolment has been steadily going up over the past two decades. The bbc has refused to comment on reports, that two of this year� s Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers, haven� t been vaccinated against the coronavirus, and that Celebrity Contestants are reluctant to be paired with them. The broadcaster says the production of the latest series, which begins tonight on bbc one, has followed strict government guidelines, to ensure the safety of everyone on the show. A short time ago we heard from our correspondent Aruna Iyengar explained how the Vaccination Status of the two had come to light. It isa it is a hugely anticipated, very, very popular show. 13 Million people tuned in for the last fire back in September 2020 when Bill Bailey be comedian one. Now there� s been reports in The Sun that two of the dancers have refused to be vaccinated and the Press Officer i spoke to from strictly completely denied that that was a story at all and said that basically, that they would not confirm or deny that and that they really wouldn� t be able to comment on anybody� s covid Vaccination Status. What they did confirm, though, was that one participant has tested positive on the show is they have not confirmed whether it is a Dancer Or, professional Dancer Or contestant. They say the show is following all the covid guidelines, all the participants are being regularly tested. The Launch Programme which is being shown tonight was recorded last saturday and the positive case was discovered the next day. The first live show will be on the 25th Of September so at this stage it does not mean that the positive tested person will necessarily have to drop out. No partners have been swapped as a result of this and they have said that it is not a legal requirement to be double jabbed and that the programmers following all covid protocols. That the programmers following all covid protocols. Meanwhile, moves of a different kind in paris has thousands of spectators turned out to watch the french Acrobat Nathan Paulin walk from the Eiffel Tower across the seine and onto the trocadero, 70 metres up in the air. He� s known as a slackliner who walks along a suspended length of flat webbing rather than a tightrope. The 23 year old daredevil performed some tricks during the 670 metre crossing, hanging off the tape. The stunt was part of a festival of live art performance. And we� ll be taking an in Depth Look at the papers with our reviewers Joe Twynham and Lucy Beresford that� s coming up after the headlines. The national news with the Clive Myrie is up the government holds urgent talks with Energy Suppliers. Costs are climbing, due to global shortages, with warnings domestic bills could go up, too. Food production costs have been affected. The Meat Industry warns there could be supply problems. The government says Energy Security is an absolute priority and we� re not heading for a winter crisis. Also tonight. As america admits a Drone Strike killed ten afghan civilians by mistake, relatives say the us apology isn� t enough. This was america� s last act of war before it pulled out of afghanistan, and the decision to fire the missile smacks of panic. And what a legacy. Pop up clinics for freshers� week. The drive to get students covid jabbed, as University Life gets back to normal. Commentator thats unbelievable and some stunning fielding helps the Kent Spitfires Beat Somerset in the T20 Blast Cricket final. Good evening. The Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, says the government doesn� t expect Energy Supply emergencies this winter as wholesale Gas Prices rise sharply. He was speaking after holding urgent talks with Energy Companies, following steep rises in costs that have already seen some businesses go bust, and badly affected the Food And Steel industries. The fear is domestic consumers could soon see higher bills. Here� s our business correspondent, katy austin. Gas is a key source of the energy that heats our homes and powers our industries. Since the start of the year, wholesale prices have soared, almost doubling in the uk, prompting the government to hold urgent talks with the Energy Industry Today. Reasons for the increase include lower wind and solar output, high demand, and reduced supply from russia. The unprecedented costs are already taking their toll four small Energy Suppliers have recently gone bust with more set to follow as soon as next week. The conversations with government right now are about where we may or may not need additional targeted support for customers or users. The industrial sector is, obviously, a really high priority. Steelmakers, which need a lot of energy, are worried. If theyre at this price now, whats it going to be like in the winter . If it carried on like this, im fearful, notjust for the Steel Sector but all energy intensive sectors, and then downstream operations because thats what we do. Were at the start of the Supply Chain we sell to manufacturers. High Energy Prices have already forced two large Uk Fertiliser plants in the north of england to close one consequence is a shortage of their crucial by product, Carbon Dioxide, and that could hit Food And Drink businesses. Because it� s used to stun some animals before slaughtering and for meat packing. Meat processors fear the shortage could hit production. It� s used to extend Shelf Life through packaging, notjust on meat but on all foods. At a time when we� re struggling because of the Haulage Shortages in this country to keep the Supply Chain running, to actually lose Shelf Life and have a shorter Shelf Life on the products going on to shelves is going to cause even more disruption, so this is a really serious problem for us. The owner of one large Poultry Group which includes Bernard Matthews called the Carbon Dioxide problem a massive body blow. The online Food Delivery Company ocado says it now has limited stock of some frozen foods because it can� t get enough dry ice. The Trade Body representing major supermarkets says the disruption could not have come at a worse time, with the Lorry Driver Shortage already causing issues. The rising price of gas is mainly being felt by businesses at the moment but it is likely to feed through in terms of higher bills for consumers at a time when the Cost Of Living is already rising. The Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says britain can meet demand for gas and the government doesn� t expect Supply Emergencies this winter. But some things are beyond their control. With wholesale prices, there are global factors at play. Katy austin, bbc news. Our politcal correspondent, Nick Eardley is here. The Business Secretary held Talks Today and tomorrow and going into next week, so that is a sign of how serious it is . Serious it is . That is right. We have heard serious it is . That is right. We have heard some serious it is . That is right. We have heard some in serious it is . That is right. We have heard some in the serious it is . That is right. We | have heard some in the energy serious it is . That is right. We have heard some in the Energy Sector calling this a crisis and although thatis calling this a crisis and although that is not a phrase that the government is using, ministers are taking it seriously. The message from the Business Secretary after those Talks Tonight was that he does not think that supply is a cause for immediate concern and he is not anticipating a big crisis this winter but the government is having to grapple with the very real possibility that the price of wholesale gas stays extremely high and the potential significant ramifications that has come at the knock on effect of that. Labour argued that the government has not done enough to prepare for this and that the country has been left vulnerable and they are warning about a Cost Of Living crisis. It is notjust about a Cost Of Living crisis. It is not just energy about a Cost Of Living crisis. It is notjust Energy Prices but also inflation and the end of the universal Credit Uplift and some other Supply Chain issues we have talked about over the last few weeks like to covid and brexit, as well. The government says the rise in Gas Prices is worldwide and not something it controls, and it argues the Energy Price Cap will help many households escaped the worst impact of this. But there are going to be more talks in the next couple of days and ministers are trying to work out how long this high cost could remain in the potential impact it could have. Nick eardley, many thanks. The french Foreign Minister, jean yves le drian, says there have been lies and duplicities, surrounding the new pacific security pact, signed by america, the uk, and australia without consulting france. President macron has taken the unprecedented step, of recalling his ambassadors to washington and canberra, in the growing row between the nato allies. From paris, Hugh Schofield reports. For the americans, the australians and the british, it� s a New Alliance to ensure stability in the pacific and thwart the strategic ambitions of china. But australia� s decision to buy nuclear submarines from the us has left the french feeling stunned and humiliated. Their contract with australia has been simply binned. Ordered back home by President Macron, the french ambassador to canberra was as polite as he could be about the reasons for france� s anger. I think this has been a huge mistake. A very, very bad handling of the partnership because it was not a contract. It was a partnership. This evening, the Foreign Minister, jean yves le drian, spoke again on national television. Translation there has been lying, duplicity, a major Breach Of Trust and contempt. This will not do. Things are not going well between us. It means there is a crisis. I am with the president of france and that makes me feel better. They laugh just a few months ago, it was all smiles at the G7 Summit in cornwall between president s biden and macron, and all talk of cooperation and shared challenges. But behind the scenes the french are convinced that the three english speaking nations were hatching the plan to cut them out. The fallout is potentially very great. This puts a big rift down the middle of the nato alliance, pushes france towards doing more with other european countries, puts britain very much in the camp of the americans in dealing with the indo pacific, but britain needs a functioning nato alliance. My worry is that this does deep damage to nato, going well beyond the diplomatic row over an arms deal. As they assess the damage, the french are asking themselves tough questions. Who now can be relied on as a serious Military Ally . Noticeably, here at the french foreign ministry, The One ambassador who has not been recalled is The One to london. One reason being put about is that the french regard the british role in the new pact as being that of a junior partner, but it does also suggest a willingness to keep lines of communication open. The souring of relations is in stark contrast to when President Macron visited an australian submarine in 2018. With an election coming early next year, he has, perhaps, to act tough, but his angry reaction has broad support. For most people, it� s not the government that� s been humiliated, but france. Hugh schofield, bbc news, paris. Let� s Take A Look at the latest coronavirus figures, and there were 30,141; new infections recorded in the latest 24 hour period. That means in the last week, there was an average of 29,561 new cases per day. 8,068 people were in hospital, across the uk, according to the latest figures, with 164 deaths, that� s of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid 19 test. The average number of deaths per day in the last week is now 143. 89. 3 of people aged 16 or over have had theirfirstjab, while 81. 6 are now double vaccinated. Travel companies have seen a surge in Holiday Bookings, after the announcement that Covid Rules in england are being relaxed for people going abroad. In future, countries will be ranked simply as low or high risk, instead of red, amber and green. Those who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to take a Covid Test before returning from a low risk area. Dozens of universities have set up Pop Up Clinics and Walk In Centres for students to receive covid vaccines, as the new academic year begins. Students who are not yet vaccinated are being urged to getjabs during freshers� week. Megan paterson has the details. A new addition to the usual freshers� week festivities at Oxford Brookes University Pop Up Clinics and grab a Jab Drop ins, all aimed at encouraging as many students as possible to get vaccinated, amid some concern about covid spread in young people. We are aware just before the summer there was quite a high increase in Covid Infection rates amongst the 18 24 year olds, so we� re really keen to try and sort of capture them just as they� re coming back to university, to make sure in the environment they live in maybe in shared houses that we minimise the spread and the transmission of covid as much as possible. Obviously, we want people to really enjoy their University Terms and so it� s to really make it possible for them to do that. In england, 72 of young people aged between 18 and 2a have already had theirfirstjab. Among them is holly, now waiting for her second. It is as much about her own freedom as protecting others. Were socialising with other people and id like to be vaccinated, and eventually id like to be able to go on holiday. Im worried about Family Members getting it, as well, because theyve got to go to work and all of those things. So financially they need to be able to go off to work, so its important for me to get it as welt with so much disruption to College And University terms last year, it� s hoped they will return face to Face Teaching as the norm. We do want to have students back on campus, but we want them to feel safe. We want everyone in the University Community to feel safe. I think the first thing that we� re really focusing on with all students is do take the opportunity to get vaccinated. We know that vaccinations are the best protection that individuals can take. It� s the best protection for the University Community as a whole. Many universities will still ask students to wear masks and will manage timetables to avoid overcrowding. Nhs teams hopeful that, coupled with increased vaccination, will not only maximise student enjoyment, but also reduce pressure on services as we go into the winter months. Megan patterson, bbc news. Relatives of the family of ten afghan civilians, killed in an american Drone Strike in afghanistan last month, say the attack amounted to a war crime. Us officials have admitted the air strike, which killed seven children in kabul, was a mistake. From there, Jeremy Bowen reports. This is all that remains of the Toyota Corolla that the americans tracked for hours, as they convinced themselves entirely incorrectly that it was packed with explosives. Five of the seven dead children were playing in the car when it was hit. Its owner, Zemari Ahmadi who they believed, wrongly, was an islamic State Bomber had just driven it home from his work with an american aid organisation. The survivors have moved out. After their terrible loss, they want Compensation And Resettlement in a safe country. This was america� s last act of war before it pulled out of afghanistan, and the decision to fire the missile smacks of panic. And what a legacy. It isn� t necessarily the Parting Shot of the americans, because they still have the capacity to hit targets from the air. The us relies increasingly on drones. Across the road, the neighbours are still traumatised by what they heard and saw. Parisa said, there was an explosion, i picked up brain and Human Flesh from the ground. America� s latest deadly blunder shows how dangerous its drone strategy can be for civilians. Jeremy bowen, bbc news, kabul. In the last few minutes, the Kent Spitfires have been crowned cricket� s T20 Blast champions. They beat sussex in the semi finals, before going on to defeat somerset in the final. Adam wild has been watching a dramatic day� s play, at edgbaston. This was cricket� s longest day four teams, three matches, two finalists. Now to find one winner. A countdown that had begun in the morning. Somerset pulling off a Semifinal Victory as spectacular as, at times, it seemed unlikely. That was before kent bludgeoned their way through the afternoon to join them. The evening showpiece, then, a test of stamina in the stands, as well as out in the middle. Kent, the first to take aim, the bat of Daniel Bell Drummond getting things moving. The fall of wickets, though, in quick succession stalling that progress, at least for a moment. A big finish, that� s what kent needed. That is precisely Whatjordan Cox provided, passing 50 with another magnificent stroke. 168, the target set for somerset. So how would they respond . Well, Will Smeed was going for it. The crowd really enjoying it. No one, it seems, more than him. If that catch was impressive, just watch this. Cox on the boundary somehow keeping the ball in play and back to a team mate. That� s unbelievable. Kent brilliant even a final six couldn� t get somerset close enough. Cricket� s longest day belongs to kent. Adam wild, bbc news. That� s it. From me and the team, have a very good night. It has not been a bad start to the weekend and for many it has been dry with some sunshine and quite warm, 25 in west london. That was how the day finished in wakefield but a different looking Weather Picture in parts of warwickshire with the Heavens Opening and heavy downpours here, and on the Radar Picture you can see the showers. Working northwards into england and then we have a few stripes of rain further west. Rain is starting to develop, turning heavy at the moment and it will porsche North And East it will porsche North And East it will push. Maybe the Odd Rumble of thunder mixed in. Across East Anglia and much of the east midlands, not much rain at this stage. But into sunday, these areas of rain will continue to push east over time and eventually as they reach east england, probably during the afternoon mainly, it will grind to a halt and the amount of rain we will get from this will vary from place to place but some could be looking at around 30 110 millimetres of rain enough to cause localised flooding, but further west the weather improves. For most a fresh feel to the weather by the time you get to the weather by the time you get to the afternoon. Next week, a quiet start to the week, predominantly dry monday and tuesday but mid week onwards, low pressure will move in bringing Heavy Rain and strong winds andindeed bringing Heavy Rain and strong winds and indeed gales will blow in later in the week