Welcome to Friday’s Early Edition from i.

In less than two weeks, Liz Truss will in all likelihood be declared Britain’s next Prime Minister. Yet she has faced mounting criticism on a number of fronts – in particular her pledges to tackle the cost of living crisis. But in recent days, the Foreign Secretary has also made a number of other, concerning gaffes. Earlier in the week she said she was “ready” to hit the nuclear button if needed – even if it meant “global annihilation”. And on Thursday night she sent alarm bells ringing after saying the “jury is out” on whether Emmanuel Macron is an ally of the UK. It comes amid disagreements between London and Paris, namely on migrant boats, Brexit and sewage. We’ll examine what’s been said, and the reaction, after the news.

Boris Johnson sought to shore up support for Ukraine as he urged the US, French and German leaders to “stay strong” against Russia’s invasion in a “punchy” call this week, sources told i. The Sunday phone call came amid British diplomats’ reported fears that EU support for Ukraine’s war against Putin could be fracturing in the face of soaring energy prices. The Tory source said Mr Johnson was “punchy” on what may be a valedictory call with the leaders and said his broad message was “do not let this slip”.

Deaths in England and Wales have been higher than usual this Summer – and experts say it cannot be purely blamed on fatalities from Covid. There have been more deaths from heart disease and bowel cancer in the past 10 weeks than usual – and one doctor says the delayed effect of the pandemic, long waiting lists and a workforce crisis is contributing to the cause.

The Government is facing warnings of child hunger – with schools reporting an increase in cases just as funding for breakfast clubs is cut. One in five schools with the poorest students said child hunger had increased in their community over the past year – and more report higher levels of poverty – polling seen by i revealed.

Synthetic mouse embryos that went on to develop a brain, nerve cord and beating heart tissue have been created by a joint UK/US research team. The embryos were made in a lab, without a fertilised egg or uterus. It is hoped the research could help understand human fertility and developmental disorders.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has been confronted during a television interview outside a hospital by a woman who angrily criticised the government for doing “bugger all” to fix record-high ambulance wait times. “Twelve years. You’ve done bugger all about it! People have died, and all you’ve done is nothing,” the woman, whose identity is unknown, was filmed saying.

Thousands of Russians have been allowed to visit the UK since Putin invaded Ukraine, despite calls by President Zelensky to ban his enemy’s citizens from travelling in Europe. After Boris Johnson emphasised his unwavering support for Ukraine during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, Government data analysed by i show how the door remains open to Russians who want to come to Britain to work, study and play.

There has been an escalation in shelling in and around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, sparking concerns the situation poses a “suicidal” threat. The plant has come under repeated fire in recent weeks. Here, an expert explains how attacks could release radioactive material into the air, potentially contaminating vast areas of land and water supplies.

The US Justice Department must release a redacted version of the search warrant affidavit which authorised the FBI to search Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, by midday on Friday a federal judge has ruled. The affidavit lays out why investigators believe there was probable cause that crimes had been committed.

A record heatwave gripping China’s southwestern provinces has forced residents into underground bunkers and cave restaurants to escape sweltering temperatures. Mass Covid testing in the city of Chongqing has also left thousands of residents standing under the sun for hours in hellish queues. Some experts say the intensity of the heatwave could make it one of the worst recorded in global history.

A pod of orcas are menacing sailing boats in the Bay of Biscay near Brittany, it has been reported. “They kept ramming us. We had the impression that it was a co-ordinated attack,” one yacht sailor said. The killer whales are said to be from a small group originally identified in the Strait of Gibraltar that feeds on the big tuna entering and leaving the Mediterranean. But global warming has sent the tuna further north, with the orca following.

major energy price rises. Regulator Ofgem will be announcing a new energy price cap, expected to be around £3,500, up from the current level of £1,971. 

Fixing Britain’s broken energy market is a Brexit dividend we could all enjoy, argues Paul Waugh. The new PM will be under pressure to combine the UK’s drive to net zero with cheaper bills for millions.

This year’s GCSE grades weren’t a disaster, but the Government has plenty to do on education, writes Ed Reza Schwitzer.

A new womb cancer test finally addresses pain, the most ignored issue in women’s health, writes Sarah Graham. After centuries of normalising women’s pain and discomfort, medicine is finally waking up to how damaging that can be to health outcomes, she says.

‘The cancellations were heartbreaking. This is a space for us.’ After two years off, the Notting Hill Carnival is back this weekend. Alannah Francis explores the impact of the cancellations – and looks at why this year it could be better than ever.

‘Summer childcare costs have forced me to leave my son, 13, home alone and in charge of his sisters.’ Sophie McLaren admits to Aasma Day she is leaving her three children home alone over the summer holidays as childcare costs are too high amid increasing bills.

The Champions League draw has been completed in Istanbul with Chelsea facing AC Milan and Liverpool being pitted against Ajax. Here’s the group fixtures in full for Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Man City, Celtic and Rangers.

The powerful James Webb telescope has captured the first clear evidence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet outside the Solar System. The planet, called Wasp-39 B is a gas giant orbiting a Sun-like star some 700 light years away, Nasa said. “As soon as the data appeared on my screen, the whopping carbon dioxide feature grabbed me,” a scientist on the team said. “It was a special moment, crossing an important threshold in exoplanet sciences.”

The mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope (Photo Laura Betz/AP/Source: Nasa)

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