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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.

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.

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.

Maikelys Espinoza, a two-year-old, was reunited with her mother, Yorelys Bernel, in Caracas after being among 220 migrants deported from the US amid ongoing mass deportations by the Trump administration.

23-year-old Valeria Marquez was shot during a TikTok livestream in her beauty salon in Zapopan, Mexico, shocking the nation and her 200,000 followers.

A safety report details how guests aboard the Bayesian superyacht resorted to using furniture as an “improvised ladder” to escape during its capsizing off Sicily last August.

Cassie Ventura testified about her “personal shame” and alleged rape by Sean Combs, describing violent incidents and blackmail during their relationship.

Vladimir Putin is absent from the Russian delegation attending ceasefire talks in Turkey, with junior officials representing Russia instead of top negotiators.