UK Edition
Boris Johnson had hoped he could put partygate behind him. After some months studying the evidence, the Metropolitan Police issued the Prime Minister with one fine – for his "birthday party" in Downing Street.
Yet the emergence of new pictures puts Scotland Yard under pressure to explain why he was not also fined for attending a No 10 gathering at which he raised a toast with colleagues.
In a series of images, Mr Johnson can be seen holding a glass of fizz with a group of people at a leaving party for Lee Cain, his former director of communications.
It was held on November 13 2020, during the second lockdown, and leaves Mr Johnson with fresh questions over whether he misled Parliament.
Crime correspondent Martin Evans says the Met is facing calls to explain how its investigation was conducted.
The partygate report by Sue Gray could be published as soon as today. Last night, it was reported that Mr Johnson had urged the senior civil servant to drop plans to publish her findings. Our profile of Ms Gray says she has proved to be no pushover.
Whatever the law and the police interpretation of it, the reality is the photographs are not a good look for a prime minister who had just plunged the country into the strictest of Covid lockdowns.
Robert Mendick, our chief reporter, was offered a series of suggestions by No 10 sources for why Mr Johnson had escaped a damaging fixed penalty notice on this occasion – dubbed fizzgate.
If you are finding it hard to keep up with the parties, remind yourself of the chronology with our timeline of all the government gatherings during lockdown (that we know about) and what Covid rules were in force at the time.
Windfall tax could be handed straight out in cheques
The windfall tax on oil and gas giants being prepared by the Treasury could be spent partly on higher benefits payments for more than five million of the poorest Britons.
One of the proposals being scrutinised to help with the cost of living is to increase Universal Credit before it is next due to be lifted.
Another would involve the Treasury agreeing to send cheques worth hundreds of pounds to help the poorest, with further jumps in energy bills expected in the autumn.
Political editor Ben Riley-Smith explains the two policy ideas being weighed up as Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak consider the best way to provide financial support as inflation soars but growth stutters.
Associate editor Camilla Tominey says the decision is proving far from a breeze for Mr Johnson - not least as it is a key Labour policy that Tory MPs voted down only last week.
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Daily dose of Matt
In his latest cartoon, Matt finds a funny historical parallel on the windfall tax. Plus, see how you can buy one of Blower's Platinum Jubilee jigsaw puzzles.
Also in the news: Today's other headlines
How monkeypox could become endemic | Monkeypox could become entrenched in Europe if the outbreak jumps to pets, health officials warned, as cases in Britain tripled to 57. All but one of the UK cases are in England, with the UK Health Security Agency identifying 36 additional infections to go with the 20 previously known patients. As Joe Pinkstone and Sarah Newey report, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said it was important to "manage exposed pets".
- Home-working | Higher earners more likely to stay at home
- BBC | Corporation 'open-minded' about issue of future funding
- Oktoberfest party | Regimental Sergeant Major 'fell into lavatory'
- Policing | Black history lessons to be compulsory for all officers
- Pictures | Queen tours Chelsea Flower Show in golf buggy
Around the world: Ukraine 'must give Russia territory'
Henry Kissinger has urged Ukraine to "match the heroism they have shown with wisdom" and cede territory to Russia in order to strike a lasting peace deal. The 98-year-old US statesman said the country should become a buffer zone between Russia and the West, and that a deal must be reached within weeks. It came as a Ukrainian intelligence chief said that Vladimir Putin survived an assassination attempt at the start of the war and the country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, called for tougher sanctions against Russia. Follow the latest in our live blog.
Comment and analysis
- Douglas Murray | Nato's united front is now crumbling
- Tim Stanley | BBC's attempt at clarity leaves all confused
- Suzanne Moore | Won't cook, but will watch TV food shows
- Celia Walden | Can wolf-whistling really be called evil?
- Reader letters | Civil Service head should not quit over parties
Editor's choice
- World food crisis | Why gene-edited crops could be the answer to global problem
- Hospitality conundrum | Why is British service so awful compared to Europe?
- Review | 'Sheila Hancock's memoir made me believe in Brexit Derangement Syndrome'
Sport briefing: Raducanu survives scare
Emma Raducanu marked her French Open debut with a mind-over-matter victory, in which she came back from a set down against an even younger opponent: 17-year-old Czbch Linda Noskova. Reporting from Roland Garros, tennis correspondent Simon Briggs says Raducanu's play was scrappy and underpowered. It came as Naomi Osaka became the first big-name player to suggest she will skip Wimbledon due to the removal of ranking points, in what would be a huge blow for organisers.
Business briefing: Banks in free speech row
The head of one of HSBC's rivals has defended "free speech" after HSBC suspended a senior banker for criticising the febrile tone of the climate debate. The chief executive of Standard Chartered said "it's increasingly difficult to speak out against anything" after a backlash against Stuart Kirk, HSBC's head of responsible investing. Meanwhile, the Queen's property empire and the Duke of Westminster are lobbying for an overhaul of listed building rules that would allow them to install heat pumps in swathes of historic properties across London.
Tonight's dinner
Quick and easy heritage tomato tart | This dish by Pip Spencer is a joyful celebration of the tomato season. View the recipe and try our Cookbook newsletter for more.
Travel: How to plan the perfect summer ski holiday
As the mercury rises, you would be forgiven for thinking it is time to trade your skis for a sun lounger. However, the summer months can prove to be a unique time to visit the mountains and enjoy time on the pistes in the world's highest ski resorts, while the masses flock to the coast. Lucy Aspden has all you need to know about the resorts set to open for the summer – and which have a raft of other activities on offer.
And finally... for this morning's downtime
Eight things you never knew about dolphins | Dolphins may be known as the "dogs of the sea", but they are far brighter than your average labrador – and a lot more surprising. A study published by biologists suggests bottlenose dolphins use coral reefs as medicinal scrubs, lining up to patiently scour their bodies, as if using antibacterial wipes. Guy Kelly explores a few more things to know about the good, bad and occasionally ugly world of dolphins.
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