Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines
Partygate fines | Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie have avoided being fined in the latest batch of partygate sanctions handed out. Scotland Yard has announced that more than 100 Fixed Penalty Notices have now been issued as part of investigation into illegal gatherings in Downing Street.
- Wagatha Christie | Rebekah Vardy leaves court in tears
- Northern Ireland Protocol | We're not budging, EU tells Liz Truss
- Salmonella outbreak | Chicken sandwiches recalled from shops
- Discrimination | Calling men bald is sex harassment, judge rules
- Forget protocol | Prince William hugs delighted pensioner
The big story: Russia's warning over Finland Nato plan
Russia has warned that it will have to take "military-technical" steps in response to Finland's application to join Nato.
The foreign ministry accused the military alliance of seeking to create "another flank for the military threat to our country".
Earlier today, Finnish leaders said they were in favour of joining Nato and a formal decision would be made this weekend.
Finland, which shares an 810 mile border and a difficult past with Russia, has gradually stepped up its cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
Yet it was only after Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine that public opinion in Finland shifted in favour of joining the alliance.
Our live blog has the latest developments while Edward R Arnold analyses how Putin's Nato own goal has brought a sea change in European security.
Will Russia invade Finland? Daniel Capurro outlines why that will not happen if it remembers history - and arctic combat - correctly.
On the ground, Russia has been forced to use computer chips from dishwashers and refrigerators in their military hardware as a result of western sanctions, a top US official has said.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that a marketing agency in St Petersburg paid people to take part in a Kremlin-promoted march dedicated to the Russia's war dead.
An undercover reporter responded to an advert offering up to £5.65 to march on Monday in St Petersburg's "Immortal Regiment" parade.
Recession risk
Of course, the war in Ukraine is one of the factors contributing to the cost of living crisis, with Germany's economy minister accusing Russia of "weaponising" energy supplies.
In Britain, a split has emerged between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak over the introduction of a windfall tax on energy firms which have made excess profits during the war.
The Prime Minister said such a tax is not the "right way forward" after the Chancellor reportedly told Treasury officials to examine the idea.
Economists have warned that Mr Sunak's tax raid risks tipping the economy into recession as families and businesses are already struggling with surging prices.
Read why households' real expenditure is predicted to "buckle" but Ross Clark warns that unproductive Britain is already in recession - and he does not lay the blame with the Ukraine war.
Cost of nappies
Even with the cost of living dominating the agenda, the Prime Minister appeared not to know how much the energy price cap is or how much 24 nappies cost as the Government continues to look out of touch during the crisis.
During an interview regarding the fiscal squeeze the public are feeling, the Prime Minister appeared to avoid answering questions directly.
For those looking for some guidance on navigating the crisis, read how pensioners can earn £13,000 more as interest rates rise.
Tom Stevenson sets out how to turn a profit in the post-Covid market and here are seven ways to spot an inflation-beating investment.
Comment and analysis
- Con Coughlin | Total victory over Russia cannot be bought cheap
- Ben Marlow | 'Lockdown winners' are the 'reopening losers'
- Ben Wright | The housing market can only defy gravity for so long
- Jemima Lewis | Farewell to the iPod – doomed for doing one thing
- Michael Deacon | Meghan running for office would be Trump's dream
Around the galaxy: First image of Milky Way black hole
The supermassive black hole anchoring the Milky Way has been pictured for the first time by astronomers. Sagittarius A* is an enormous black hole at the centre of Earth's own galaxy which serves as the fulcrum around which the spiral arms rotate. Astronomers at the Event Horizon Telescope revealed the image of the black hole, three years after they published the first-ever image of any black hole. Read how scientists were able to create the image of the remnants of a once gargantuan star despite nothing being able to escape its enormous gravity, not even light, making imaging them directly impossible.
Thursday big-read
Top Gun: Maverick, review
Thrilling, moving and gloriously Cruisey, Joseph Kosinski's sequel to the 1986 hit is unquestionably the best studio action film in years. Robbie Collin reviews Tom Cruise's absurdly exciting return to the skies
Sport briefing: McCullum named England Test coach
Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been appointed as new England head coach, and is set to be in place to begin his role in the first Test against his home nation at Lord’s on June 2. Michael Vaughan explains why England's bold appointment makes him nervous. In tennis, Emma Raducanu's young career is becoming something of a conundrum - too fragile to play but too famous to stop. Molly McElwee analyses what her team needs to learn and this chart shows her record since her US Open win - and the different factors that have caused many of her losses. Also, read why the Wimbledon row over its ban of Russian and Belarusian players has pushed British tennis to the brink of disaster.
Editor's choice
- How healthy is your brew? | Why you should not ditch the cafetière just yet
- Hillsong | The megachurch that can't keep out of controversy
- House price hotspots | Where to invest in property along the Elizabeth Line
Business briefing: Cryptocurrency values collapse
Cryptocurrency owners are rushing to withdraw their funds amid a historic market panic that has been likened to a run on banks. The value of so-called "stablecoins", cryptocurrencies whose values are meant to be pegged to real-world currencies such as the dollar, have slumped as owners lose confidence in them. Meanwhile, fewer than one in ten companies have told staff they must come back to the office full-time, new data reveals as employees around the world insist on working from home. As home-working becomes entrenched, Matthew Lynn asks if we sacked working-from-home civil servants, would anyone notice?
Tonight starts now
Football: Spurs v Arsenal, Sky Main Event, 7pm | Things are going to the wire in all areas of the Premier League and this North London derby will be spicy. The fierce rivals are scrapping it out for that coveted fourth place and this game could be crucial (kick-off 7.45pm). Read more on this and the rest of tonight's TV listings. It comes with Newcastle set to launch a bid to sign England international striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin now they are certain of a place in the Premier League next season. Meanwhile, Manchester United are pursuing a deal for Frenkie de Jong but face an uphill battle to convince him to move to Old Trafford.
Three things for you
- Podcast | Planet Normal: 100th episode special live event
- Read | The truth about Britain's most hated woman
- Play | Telegraph Puzzles featuring today's crossword and sudoku
And finally... for this evening's downtime
'I've written a theme tune for the Queen' | Debbie Wiseman is musical director of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration. She tells Lucy Davies about her royal commission, which premieres tonight.
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