Welcome to your early morning news briefing from The Telegraph - a round-up of the top stories we are covering on Friday. To receive twice-daily briefings by email, sign up to our Front Page newsletter for free.

       1. One million to be pulled into higher rate of tax

       More than one million people are set to be dragged into the higher rate tax band by 2026, with economists warning that Britain is facing the biggest cost of living crisis for a generation.

       The Treasury's plan to freeze income tax thresholds – which comes at a time of rapid wage and price inflation – will push more than 1.2 million workers' earnings above the 40p threshold in the next four years, according to analysis by the House of Commons Library. Read the full story.

       2. Colston Four case could be reviewed to avoid setting a dangerous legal precedent

       Protesters cleared of toppling Edward Colston’s statue could have their case reviewed under moves being examined by ministers, The Telegraph understands.

       Suella Braverman, the Attorney General, has powers to ask the Court of Appeal to determine if the law was applied correctly, to avoid setting a dangerous precedent for future cases. Read the full story.

       3. Book thief mystery as publisher arrested in alleged scam to steal famous authors' manuscripts

       It was a mystery that gripped the publishing world - who was the secret fraudster behind a scheme to steal unpublished manuscripts?

       The scammer targeted hundreds of victims by assuming the identities of editors, agents and literary scouts, in a global fraud spanning five years. Read the full story.

       4. Novak Djokovic's father accuses Australia of 'crucifying' his son in Covid vaccine row

       Novak Djokovic's father accused Australia of "crucifying" his son as the row over the world tennis number one's detention in Melbourne over Covid restrictions escalated into a full blown diplomatic conflict between Canberra and Belgrade.

       Srdjan Djokovic, who earlier compared his son to Spartacus - the gladiator who led a slave revolt against Rome - accused Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, of "trampling over Serbia". Read the full story.

       5. Boris Johnson in ‘wallpaper for access’ row over Lord Brownlow’s plans for exhibition

       Boris Johnson agreed to consider proposals for a new festival in private messages with a Tory donor who helped fund the redecoration of his Downing Street flat, it has emerged.

       Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row, who originally provided funds as part of the ￡112,000 makeover of the flat, discussed with the Prime Minister his plans to hold a new Great Exhibition festival. Read the full story.

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