The rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May 2025 with the alleged display of a flag in support of the proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah at a gig in London on 21 November 2024. But the case against the Belfast-born Kneecap rapper was dismissed last September on technical grounds. At the time, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring told Woolwich Crown Court that the charge was "unlawful" and he had no jurisdiction to try the case - but prosecutors appealed against the decision. The High Court ruling was handed down remotely on Wednesday afternoon. Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Linden, said that "the judge was right to hold that he had no jurisdiction to try any summary-only offence alleged to have been committed on that date". In the 13-page decision, Lord Justice Edis said their decision "turned on a very narrow and technical legal issue and has nothing to do with whether the respondent committed the offence set out in the charge". In a statement released through his lawyers, O hAnnaidh said: "This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about 'terrorism', a word used by the British government to discredit people you oppress both in Ireland and across the world. "It was always about Palestine and about what happens if you dare to speak up. About what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy." Speaking at a press conference in Belfast shortly after the ruling, O hAnnaidh added: "This is bigger than us - whatever kind of stress that we felt, it's minimal compared to the stress put on the families in Gaza." He said the band has "lost gigs" and been "restricted" as a result of the court proceedings, but will continue to use their platform to talk about Palestine as they no longer fear "repercussions". Following the decision, a CPS spokesperson said: "The High Court has clarified how the law applies to the issuing of written charges in summary offences where attorney general permission was required for the director of public prosecutions to consent to a prosecution. "We accept the judgment and will update our processes accordingly." After O hAnnaidh was charged, he first appeared in court in June. At a second hearing in August, the rapper's lawyers argued prosecutors should have sought the permission of the attorney general, the chief legal adviser to the Crown, to charge him with a terror offence before informing him of the decision on 21 May last year. This permission was instead given the following day, which meant it fell outside the six-month timeframe in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought for this type of offence, the court was told.

A new report by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) & UK Theatre shows record audiences in 2025, with over 37 million people attending theatres across the country, The West End welcomed a record-breaking 17.64 million - almost three million more than Broadway. The findings support the theory that as digital content expands, and AI continues to integrate itself into almost every element of our daily life, shared, live experiences have become more relevant than ever. Data also showed the UK's theatre attendance reflected the full occupational spectrum of the population, largely mirroring the census - busting the myth that theatre is a niche pastime. But the glowing figures mask a growing financial strain. Why is British theatre still in the red? While production budgets have soared, venues have largely held ticket prices steady, with the across the UK resting at £41, and most West End tickets sold for £56 or less. Many theatres also offer free or subsidised ticket schemes. The resulting squeeze means 36% of theatres forecast an operating deficit this year, rising to 51% in the subsidised sector. Many will be forced to cut things like new work, community programmes, or regional tours. The report flags the importance of theatres within the civic infrastructure, training the writers, directors, designers, and performers who power the wider creative industries, sustaining local high streets and supporting over 100,000 full-time jobs. Figures showed 95% of theatres deliver programmes that contribute to social good, 86% run workshops with local schools, and 83% provide tickets specifically for local schools. The report calls for targeted policy changes to stabilise the sector and unlock further growth, including reforming business rates for theatres, strengthening theatre tax relief to support touring productions, introducing stronger incentives for philanthropy, and ensuring public funding settlements keep pace with inflation. It says such interventions would not be a subsidy, but an investment in a sector that already delivers substantial economic and social returns. For every £1 spent on a theatre ticket, £1.40 of further spending flows into surrounding restaurants, pubs, and shops, the report says. 'Rising costs on every front' Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, co-CEOs of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said: "Theatres across the UK are entertaining millions of people and producing work that inspires audiences around the world. Every day, our members are also running education programmes, supporting young people, and bringing communities together through live performance. "The public appetite for theatre is clear. But the organisations that make it possible are facing rising costs on almost every front. The challenge now is ensuring this success is sustainable, so theatres across the country can continue creating new work, supporting jobs, and reaching audiences everywhere." SOLT and UK Theatre represent theatre producers, managers, owners, and operators across London and the UK.

The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed its first vote by 304 votes to 203, a majority of 101. Ten Labour MPs voted against the plans, while 90 didn't vote at all. All those who voted against are from the party's left wing and have previously had vocal disagreements with the government on other policies. It had been thought the government might face a larger rebellion - although Justice Secretary David Lammy was bullish on Monday that the bill would pass. Not all of those who didn't vote will have actively abstained, as some will have been otherwise busy. Sky News understands that party managers were not forcing attendance at the vote. Chief political correspondent Jon Craig said that despite the few actual votes against the bill, this was still a major rebellion and an "ominous warning for the government". The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, Greens, and Your Party all voted against. The bill will now proceed for further scrutiny by MPs. It would remove the right to a jury trial for cases concerning crimes that carry sentences of up to three years. Under the proposals, only the most serious cases, such as rape, murder and manslaughter, would be heard by a jury. The plans have proved controversial, with over 3,200 lawyers writing to the prime minister on Tuesday urging him to "rethink". Speaking during the debate, Mr Lammy told MPs: "The choice before the House is stark. We cannot continue with this rising backlog. "Victims are currently worn down, people simply give up, cases collapse and offenders remain free. Free to roam the streets, free to commit more crimes, free to create more victims." Labour MP Karl Turner, considered the lead rebel against the plans, abstained after he said the government had agreed to put an opponent on the committee of MPs who will scrutinise the bill line by line. Speaking to Sky News after the vote, Mr Turner said his opposition to the proposals was "stronger than ever". "I'm now confident that we have the numbers for [an] amendment [to remove] the worst parts of this bill, the jury curtailment stuff, the magistrates extra powers," he said. But another Labour MP who supports the proposals, Natalie Fleet, told Sky News she was confident the legislation will pass. "I am standing up for this legislation because it is so important to me and the kind of country I want women to live in... we will see it on the statute books." Seven Labour MPs voted with the Conservatives on an amendment which would have killed the bill entirely, while 86 abstained. Former deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner voted with the government on both votes, despite allies claiming she was looking for reassurances from the government on the proposals. Responding to the bill's second reading vote, Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Lammy should "hang their heads in shame". "They have struck the first blow against out ancient legal right to trial by jury," he said. Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller said Labour MPs had "simply sat by" and allowed the government to "push through its disastrous and unpopular plan to slash jury trials".

Ferrari ran championship favourites Mercedes closest during last weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finishing third and fourth respectively after challenging eventual race winner George Russell early on. Vasseur said he was satisfied with the team's step forward in the Melbourne race after difficulties in qualifying but added there was still much for them to get on top of in the early stages of F1's new-look regulations, with the Chinese Grand Prix - the season's first Sprint event - quickly next up this weekend. Martin Brundle's verdict on F1's new cars and Australian GP weekendChinese GP: UK Schedule and how to watch Sprint weekendDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 "We know that we have tonnes of things to improve - on the strategy, on the engine, on the chassis, on the tyres, on everything," said the Ferrari team principal. "And for the drivers to be used to deal with the car as it is today. If you have the radio of everybody, you saw that it's quite a challenge. It's true for us, but it's true for the others. "The result will be based on our capacity to improve quickly." Ferrari had to wait until the season's fifth round to secure a Grand Prix podium last season but their early 2026 form both in pre-season testing and Australia has offered the promise of a possible challenge for the world championships. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has already said "we have a fight on our hands with Ferrari" this year. "The feeling is more positive than something else," added Vasseur. "We had a tough Saturday [in Australia], I think we didn't put everything together. We were fourth and seventh, it was quite hard, but we recovered part of this [in the race] "It's good to have two cars fighting also at the top, and we know that we have a very long list of improvements. "It's true for us, but it's true for everybody on the grid, and the result of the season and the season will be based on the capacity that we have to develop, to bring upgrades, to produce quickly. And this will be key for the season, for everybody on the grid. "Now I prefer to start the season in a good shape than in a bad shape, but it's still a long way to go." Vasseur guards against knee-jerk Hamilton verdicts Vasseur was also asked in his post-race briefing with the written media about Hamilton's performance in Melbourne - which saw the Briton finish on third-placed Leclerc's tail - and whether the seven-time world champion was 'back' after a disappointing 2025. "Very pleased with the performance of Lewis over the weekend, but I think we have to stop saying one weekend he's there, one weekend he's not there," said Vasseur. "It's a sport, sometimes we are doing a good session, sometimes not. [On Saturday] the quali, honestly, as a team principal, I was disappointed. [On Sunday] it was much better. "It's part of the game that we have to work all together, to push all together." Hamilton's hitherto best day as a Ferrari driver came at last year's Chinese Grand Prix, his second race weekend for the team, when he won the short-form Sprint. Shanghai again stages the season's first Sprint event this weekend but, in wake of the wholesale change to the technical rules since 2025, Vasseur cautioned: "The fact that we were in good shape in the China Sprint last year, I'm not sure that it has something to do with this week. "For sure, it will be difficult because we need time to adjust the strategy in terms of [energy] deployment and also on the driving." Sky Sports F1's Chinese GP schedule Thursday March 125am: Drivers' Press Conference8am: Paddock Uncut Friday March 131.05am: F1 Academy Practice3am: Chinese GP Practice (session starts at 3.30am)*5.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference*6am: F1 Academy Qualifying*6.45am: Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 7.30am)* Saturday March 142.25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up*3am: CHINESE GP SPRINT*4.30am: Ted's Sprint Notebook*5.30am: F1 Academy Race 1*6.30am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*9am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook* Sunday March 152.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*10am: Ted's Notebook* *Also on Sky Sports Main Event Formula 1 heads to Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

Anthony Russell, 43, is charged with murdering 52-year-old Huntley at HMP Frankland, near Durham. He appeared before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Wednesday via videolink. Wearing a grey sweatshirt while sitting at a table, Russell spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the proceedings. He will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday. A spokesman for Durham Constabulary previously said that "a man has been charged with murder following an incident at HMP Frankland in Durham". The force said "emergency services were called to reports of an assault in the workshop" on the morning of 26 February. "Ian Huntley, 52, was taken to hospital with serious injuries but died" on 7 March, the spokesperson added. Huntley was convicted of the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002. He killed them after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets, then dumped their bodies in a ditch. The crime made Huntley one of Britain's most reviled killers, with the murder shocking the nation and raising questions about how a man with a history of sexual allegations against him had been allowed to work at a school. He was convicted of the murder of both girls in December 2003 and sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, of Orlando, Florida, appeared in court on Tuesday after shots were fired at the star's LA home. The incident happened on Sunday afternoon, when Rihanna was home with partner A$AP Rocky and their three young children, as well as her mother. Nobody was injured. In addition to attempted murder, police said Ortiz had been charged with 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited vehicle or dwelling. The three shooting charges related to Rihanna's house, her trailer - which she was inside at the time - and her neighbour's property. The assault charges cover Rihanna, her family, two members of staff, and two people in the neighbouring house. Read more from Sky News:Mixed review for British theatreSix dead in 'deliberate' bus fire No other details of the incident, such as the suspect's possible motivation, were discussed in court. Ortiz's lawyer Jamarcus Bradford initially entered a not guilty plea on her behalf, but it was withdrawn ahead of an arraingment hearing later this month. She is being held on a $1.8m (£1.4m) bail. The hearing took place in a courtroom just a few floors from where rapper A$AP Rocky went through a trial last year.

There was an ominous warning for the government in the voting figures on its controversial jury trial reforms. The numbers revealed that in the two votes, 93 Labour MPs failed to support the government in the first vote and 100 in the second. Politics Hub: Follow the latest There may not have been that many Labour MPs voting against the government. But this was a major rebellion, nevertheless. It means that David Lammy's controversial bill is already in trouble. Defeats look highly likely during the line-by-line committee stage. And that's before it reaches the legislative minefield of the House of Lords, packed with top barristers and retired senior judges. So why were the voting numbers in the Commons ominous for Mr Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who, after all, used to be director of public prosecutions? First, Kemi Badenoch's Tory amendment to the Courts and Tribunals Bill, declining to give it a second reading, was defeated by 311 to 203, a majority of 108. Then, minutes later, the second reading was approved by 304 to 203, a slightly smaller government majority of 101. On the first vote, just seven diehard left-wingers - yes, the usual suspects - voted with the Tories. No prizes for guessing the identity of these rebels. They were Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, John McDonnell, Bell Ribiero-Addy and Nadio Whittome. Loyalist MPs among those who abstained But 86 abstained. That's far more than government whips must have been expecting. And they included loyalists not known for rebelling. Then, in the second vote, the same seven left-wingers were joined in the opposition lobby by three more, Kim Johnson, Jon Trickett and Ian Lavery. And in both votes, the Labour MPs recorded as not voting were certainly not just the usual suspects, though some of the abstainers were indeed from the left. 👉Listen to Politics At Sam And Anne's on your podcast app👈 Those not voting included several senior MPs who chair select committees: Debbie Abrahams, Fleur Anderson, Tonia Antoniazzi, Liam Byrne, Bill Esterson, Dame Emily Thornberry, Dame Meg Hillier, Dame Chi Onwurah, Sarah Champion, Florence Eshalomi. Charlotte Nicholls, who dramatically revealed during the debate that she was raped after she became an MP, and the rebels' leader, Karl Turner, also abstained. But there was one piece of good news for the prime minister. Angela Rayner, who allies had claimed was unhappy with the jury trial proposals, voted with the government in both votes. Read more from Sky News:Rethink plans for jury trials, lawyers tell StarmerMagistrates and judges to use more AI, says Lammy However, unless Mr Lammy makes significant concessions to the rebels ahead of the committee stage, she may not do so next time. So the majority of over 100 at the second reading were pretty meaningless. And the large number of abstentions spells big trouble ahead.

Despite a horror run of four straight defeats under Tudor, Spurs have confirmed he will take their press conference to preview their game at Liverpool, live on Sky Sports on Sunday. Sky Sports News answers the key questions amid a crisis at Tottenham... Transfer Centre LIVE! | Tottenham news & transfers⚪Spurs fixtures & scores | FREE highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Tottenham games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! 🔔 What's the mood like inside the Tottenham training ground? Sky Sports News' Gary Cotterill: The mood here, frankly, is one of disbelief, certainly among fans who drive past and comment and ask me what's going on, and fans who come here to see what's going on. We saw the CEO, Vinai Venkatesham, arrive here bright and early on Wednesday. I assumed that was because Igor Tudor is staying in the hotel inside the training ground and, even though the players aren't in, they were going to have a meeting and that the Igor Tudor period would be over. But it seems not. If Tudor is sacked who will make the decision? Sky Sports News' Lyall Thomas: So, the process that took place when Thomas Frank was sacked was that the senior leadership group at Tottenham, which includes CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, recommended to the ownership and the board that it was time to make a change. That's certainly the process that will be followed again, but it will be the owners Vivienne and Charles Lewis who have the final say on whether or not the head coach should be changed. And there's also another interesting name in there that Spurs fans may not have heard of before, and that is Nick Beucher. He is the son-in-law of Vivienne Lewis and is said to be increasingly influential in key decisions there. So, he would also have a say. Why did Spurs decide to go with Igor Tudor in the first place? Sky Sports News' Michael Bridge: Igor Tudor was given the role because he was known to put out fires, but at Tottenham, he's lit even more flames after a disastrous night in Europe. It was supposed to be a game which was considered a free hit, but it's caused more damage and disaster, and the players, the club, are at absolute rock bottom. He was Fabio Paratici's recommendation, a man who is no longer at the football club. Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol: I really don't know anyone in the world of football who thought he was the right man for the job. When Tottenham decided to sack Thomas Frank, what they had to do is get somebody who had experience of English football. Now, Igor Tudor, he was a good player. As a manager, he's got a pretty decent record, but there's nothing in that record that suggested he was the right man for the job, either in the short term or the long term. Look at all the other Premier League clubs who've replaced their managers this season. They all went for somebody who had experience of playing and managing in the Premier League. I do not understand why Tottenham went for Igor Tudor. It can't get any worse, can it? Sky Sports News' Gary Cotterill: Igor Tudor's appointment as the latest Tottenham Hotspur head coach was announced by Spurs on February 14, but we first became aware that he was going to be getting the job on Friday February 13. Yes, Friday the 13th. And frankly, his almost four weeks in charge has been cursed. Four games, four defeats, 14 goals conceded, the worst ever record for a Tottenham Hotspur boss. I think things can get worse; they're going to go out of the Champions League, there's very little doubt about that. They've got Liverpool away at the weekend, and then they've got Nottingham Forest in the six-pointer. They could find themselves by the international break out of the Champions League, in the relegation zone, with time running out. Who should Spurs look at next? Sky Sports News' Michael Bridge: Spurs must decide now if they're going to roll the dice one more time before the end of the season. Only this time the options will be even less than before. Does a manager really want to come in and look after a side whose confidence is at an all-time low? Does that manager really want to be the manager who sends a club the size of Tottenham Hotspur into the Championship? I think now we're looking at slim pickings. But despite that, they must make a decision urgently as time is running out. After Antonio Conte in 2023, Tudor becomes the second Spurs manager to say "I have been involved in a situation like this before". Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol: Tottenham are in a desperate situation. The most important thing is that they stay in the Premier League. To do that, they need somebody who knows the league inside out, who knows the club inside out. If I was a chief executive of Tottenham, I would be calling Tim Sherwood and Robbie Keane. That is who they need. Either one of them, I think, have what it takes to give Tottenham a fighting chance of staying up.