Good evening. Scotland's new First Minister has dismissed suggestions that police delayed arresting Nicola Sturgeon's husband until after the SNP leadership election as a "conspiracy theory".
The big story: Yousaf hits out at 'conspiracy theory'
Speaking to journalists at his Bute House residence, Humza Yousaf was questioned about the timing of yesterday's dramatic raid on the home Peter Murrell shares with Nicola Sturgeon.
"To me that sounds like a conspiracy theory, that we were in cahoots with Police Scotland about the timing," Mr Yousaf said.
Gordon Rayner details the many unanswered questions for Ms Sturgeon and the police after the raid at her home. Senior SNP figures have questioned the timing of the dramatic raids, which took place days after Mr Yousaf, with the backing of the party establishment, narrowly won the leadership race over Kate Forbes.
You can get up to speed with all today's developments on our politics live blog.
Neil Johnston and Daniel Sanderson report that the SNP’s former justice secretary is under pressure to reveal details of a meeting with Scotland’s police chief just a week before Ms Sturgeon resigned.
Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon has pulled out of an event she was due to speak at this evening amid a police investigation into the SNP’s finances.
Charlotte Gifford explains how the former SNP leader drove the wealthy out of Scotland.
Russia will not negotiate on Crimea, Kremlin insists
A senior Russian official has said that under no circumstance will the Kremlin negotiate with Ukraine about handing back Crimea.
Sergei Tsekov, the Russian senator for occupied Crimea, was responding to comments from an adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine would be prepared to negotiate with Russia after a successful Spring counteroffensive. Mr Tsekov said: “We don't even want to talk about it. Some complete nonsense ... Crimea will never return to Ukraine."
The Ukrainian president has said he wants to recapture all of occupied Ukraine, including Crimea, although his Western backers have warned against it because they worry it may result in Vladimir Putin triggering Moscow's nuclear weapons.
During a day of high-stakes global diplomacy, Emmanuel Macron told Xi Jinping that he was counting on him to "bring Russia to its senses" over the war in Ukraine.
Con Coughlin writes that the French president’s trip to China shows he has learnt nothing from Ukraine.
King Charles hands out Maundy money
King Charles has handed out Maundy money for the first time as monarch during a service at York Minster.
The ancient ritual traditionally takes place on the Thursday before Easter Sunday every year. Last year Charles represented his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who withdrew from the service because of mobility problems.
Our Social and Religious Affairs Editor Gabriella Swerling details what is so special about the ‘Maundy’ coins.
And Simon Heffer explains the secret behind Queen Camilla’s rise in popularity.
Evening Briefing: Today's essential headlines
Sheffield | A 12-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was struck by a car in Sheffield.
- Sainsbury's | Shoppers upset over 'disgusting' vacuum-packed mince
- Edinburgh | Man who murdered pregnant wife by pushing her off Arthur's Seat jailed for 20 years
- Politics | Tory MP in fake gambling firm investigation is ‘not one of ours’ says minister
- Australia | Wild platypus kidnapping sparks police manhunt
- Pope Francis | Sex is a ‘beautiful thing’, says pontiff
Comment and analysis
- Ross Clark | Ban smart motorways and reinstate the hard shoulder for our safety
- Tom Stevenson | Emerging markets are exhausting – but persisting with them could soon pay off
- Ben Marlow | Like the streets of Paris, Macron’s ambition to be France’s saviour is in flames
- Kristian Niemietz | The NHS is well-funded and still killing people
- Jeremy Wilson | Frank Lampard's back – and there's method in Todd Boehly's madness
World news: French protesters armed with flares storm BlackRock in Paris
Dozens of trade unionists invaded the French offices of US-based investment firm BlackRock in protest against Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms on Thursday. We have the latest reports from the ground in Paris.
Interview of the day
Jack Harrison: What really happened between Leicester and Leeds on deadline day
Exclusive: Leeds winger reveals how “vulnerable” he felt when his £22 million switch to Leicester was scrapped two hours before the deadline
Business news: Amazon offers French staff a year’s pay to get them to quit
Amazon is offering French staff up to a year's pay to get them to leave as the tech giant struggles to cut thousands of workers in the EU. Matthew Field details what other big tech company is offering similarly lavish severance deals across the Channel.
Editor's choice
Money | Your wealth is under attack – this is how much you will lose
Wine | Five reasons you'll soon be pouring everyday wine from anything but glass bottles
Health | What your headache is trying to tell you
Sport news: Frank Lampard returns to Chelsea
Frank Lampard said returning to Chelsea was an "easy decision" after being named caretaker manager until the end of the season. At his first press conference he proudly declared: "This is my club." Sam Dean explains who is in the frame for the permanent role.
Today's Matt cartoon
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And you can find today's political cartoon here.
Three things for you
- TV | Dreamland, Sky Atlantic, 9pm
- Review | Beef, Netflix: grab a bite of the best new series of the year
- Revealed | The degrees that will net you the highest salaries
And finally... for this evening's downtime
10 of Britain’s most haunting – and beautiful – vanished places | The fate of these once-thriving places hints at the precarity of our own towns and cities – and of humanity itself, writes Dr Matthew Green.
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