SNP MP Joanna Cherry says she has been 'cancelled' over gender views // SNP MP Joanna Cherry has told BBC Scotland she has been cancelled by an Edinburgh venue for "being a lesbian with gender-critical views". She was due to appear at The Stand during the Fringe Festival in August. The venue has cancelled the event after staff said they were not comfortable with her views on transgender issues.
GETTY IMAGES | Ms Cherry said she was planning to talk about her career in politics as well as her feminist views at the event Welsh language oath asks people to curse at God // A citizenship oath written in Welsh has been criticised for an error asking people to literally curse at God. Wales' education minister Jeremy Miles says he will write to the UK government to remind them to use the language accurately. It comes after an emergency mobile text alert in Welsh used a made-up word.
Ukraine war: US denies masterminding Moscow drone attack // The US has denied Russian claims it masterminded an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin on Wednesday aimed at assassinating President Vladimir Putin. A day after accusing Ukraine of carrying out the alleged attack, Mr Putin's spokesman said it had been done with Washington's support. US National Security spokesman John Kirby called it a "ludicrous claim".
Sue Gray chose not to engage with Labour job inquiry, minister says // Former civil servant Sue Gray has chosen not to be interviewed as part of a Cabinet Office inquiry into talks with Labour about a senior party role, a minister has said. Ms Gray quit the civil service after being offered a job as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff. A government appointments committee is investigating whether she breached civil service rules over the move.
Serena Williams: Tennis legend reveals second pregnancy at Met Gala // Tennis legend Serena Williams confirmed she is pregnant with her second child at the Met Gala on Monday.The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion told reporters at the New York fashion show there were "three of us" on the red carpet when she arrived with her husband Alexis Ohanian. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Olympia, in September 2017.
Ed Sheeran wins Thinking Out Loud copyright case // Ed Sheeran did not copy Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On when composing Thinking Out Loud, a US court has ruled. The British singer-songwriter had denied stealing elements of the song for his 2014 worldwide hit.
Ed Sheeran leaves Manhattan Federal Court and speaks to media after he was found not guilty in a music copyright trial on May 4, 2023 in New York City. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images Maurizio Cattelan: Banana artwork eaten by Seoul museum visitor // A South Korean art student ate a banana that was part of an installation by artist Maurizio Cattelan, saying he was "hungry" after skipping breakfast. The artwork called "Comedian", part of Cattelan's exhibition "WE", consisted of a ripe banana duct-taped to a wall at Seoul's Leeum Museum of Art. After eating the banana, the student, Noh Huyn-soo, taped the peel to the wall. The museum later placed a new banana at the same spot, reported local media.
Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert shows off air due to TV writers' strike // Late-night comedy shows have been taken off air in the US after a strike by writers brought production to a halt. More than 11,000 television and film writers are on strike as their union seeks a deal for better wages and job security. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike is the largest of its kind since 2007 and has impacted some of television's most-watched shows.
Future of Test cricket could be like Wimbledon, says Rajasthan Royals owner Manoj Badale // The future of Test cricket might be short once-a-year events like the Wimbledon tennis tournament, according to Rajasthan Royals lead owner Manoj Badale. One of the biggest issues cricket faces is the scheduling with some sides playing two series in two different formats concurrently in recent years. Badale estimates some of the world's best players can play cricket on 220-230 days of the year, across T20, one-day and Tests.
Nikita Mazepin: Russian driver begins High Court bid to get sanctions lifted // Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin has begun High Court action against Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to get British sanctions against him lifted. Mazepin and his father Dmitry were sanctioned by the UK, Canada and European Union in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Billionaire businessman Dmitry Mazepin was deemed a close associate of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Napoli win Serie A for first time in 33 years to spark street party // The city of Naples was transformed into an epic street party. Roads were filled with people singing, dancing and hugging one another, while children played football around them. People jumped in fountains in jubilation, while others waved huge Napoli flags as they darted about on their scooters. The reason? On Thursday, Napoli became the champions of Italy. As soon as the final whistle was blown in their game at Udinese, with Napoli's 1-1 draw enough to clinch the Serie A title, hundreds of people crammed together in piazzas, singing of their joy.
GETTY IMAGES | Many Napoli fans watched the match via big screens at their own Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Tinder swipes left on Russia a year after invasion // The owner of the dating apps Tinder and Hinge has announced it will stop operating in Russia, more than a year after the war in Ukraine broke out. Match Group said its brands were taking steps to "restrict access" to services and would withdraw from the Russian market completely by 30 June. The move comes after many global companies cut ties with Russia after the invasion in February 2022.
UK to ban all cold calls selling financial products // The UK is to ban all cold calls selling financial products as part of a national crackdown on scams. Unsolicited calls offering any financial product will be covered by the ban, with a view to stopping fraudsters selling sham insurance products or cryptocurrency schemes. A new fraud squad will also be set up with 500 staff, up from 120 now.
AI investigated in UK over fears of domination // The UK is set to review the artificial intelligence (AI) market to make sure its benefits are available for everyone and that no single firm will dominate. The investigation by the competition watchdog will look at the software behind chatbots like ChatGPT. The industry is facing scrutiny over the pace at which it is developing technology to mimic human behaviour.
GETTY IMAGES Number of people getting mortgages rises sharply // The number of mortgages approved in the UK for people buying a home rose sharply at the start of spring, Bank of England figures show. The number of loan approvals for house purchases rose 18% between February and March, rising from 44,100 to 52,000.It reflects signs of greater activity in the mortgage and housing sector following a slump late last year.
