Author: News Desk

Several of Thursday’s newspaper front pages lead on the new government plans to address overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales. Yesterday, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans including early release and building new prisons.

Police are intensifying efforts to locate the mother of three abandoned babies found in east London, appealing for public DNA samples and focusing on 400 targeted homes.

Thursday’s headlines see coverage of the government’s plans to ease the pressure on prisons across England and Wales, as a report says prisons will run out of space by November. The government has announced a series of measures which include early release for some offenders as part of the plans to tackle the overcrowding. The government also announced they will build three new prisons – but despite the dire state of the prison system, the plans still might not be enough to tackle the problem.

The UK economy grew unexpectedly in the first three months of 2025 – a major win for the government, especially the chancellor, who’s been under increasing pressure over the state of the economy and the government fiscal plans. The ONS said the growth was driven by the service sector and production. But the joy might be short-lived, the figures mark the period just before the US imposed tariffs.

More than 40 people have been killed in a wave of intensified Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip, according to hospital officials. At least 36 bodies were taken to medical facilities in the south, including 26 killed overnight in Khan Younis, amid continued bombardments.

Rihanna is set to release her new track “Friend of Mine” on Friday, marking her first music release in three years, tied to the upcoming Smurfs film soundtrack.

The UK economy grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of the year, outpacing expectations and marking a stronger start to 2025 than analysts had predicted. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that growth was primarily driven by a resilient services sector, alongside significant gains in industrial production.

Sir Keir Starmer is in Albania to strengthen measures against migrant smuggling gangs, aiming to reduce both legal and illegal migration levels.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced emergency measures to limit how long certain offenders can be recalled to prison, as the government faces projections that England and Wales will run out of prison space by November.

Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea are all pursuing Brighton’s João Pedro as they seek to enhance their attacking options this summer.

Since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, there have been many attempts to implement a lasting end to the violence of its ongoing war in Ukraine.