in the uk on thursday charged with sexual offences against three men including four counts of sexual assault. prosecutors authorised charges against him last month but the actor could only be charged once he arrived in the uk. kevin spacey said he will voluntarily appear in this country and is confident of proving his innocence. the uk economy shrank in april for the second month in a row the first time it s contracted two months in a row since the start of the pandemic. all the main sectors of the economy services, manufacturing and production shrunk. some economists say the uk risks falling into recession but the government says it s focused on boosting growth. our economics editor faisal islam has been going through the numbers. thanks, sophie. as you say, the economy is shrinking again. and this time this it s not just a forecast. the latest figures came out this morning for the month of april and it showed a fall of 0.3%.
ireland protocol bill going on the government website injust ireland protocol bill going on the government website in just the last few minutes as i say. ministers making the argument they have been left with no choice but to act. they have been negotiating and talking to the european union for months to no effect they say, and that s why they are moving now, and they say it is essential to get devolved government back up and running in northern ireland. whilst the dup have welcomed what has happened today, they have not said they will be charging back into devolved government so that remains unresolved. also the legal position published by the government as well, they are making the argument this is a genuinely exceptional situation given the unique circumstances of northern ireland, and that is why reluctantly they have decided to act. this row though is onlyjust beginning. 0ur political editor chris mason, thank you. the proposed changes to the protocol are deeply divisive in northe
of hormone replacement therapies, or hrt, improved diagnosis and free hrt prescriptions in england to bring it in line with scotland and wales. this is about raising awareness, so women understand, partners understand, employers understand, and, most importantly, the government understand that they have a responsibility to put in procedures to help women to get the treatment and the services they deserve. over 600 organisations have now signed up to have menopause friendly working environments supermarkets tesco s and sainsbury s, big retailers john lewis and primark, hospitals, schools, universities and high street banks. and the latest is parliament here. some are trying breathable uniforms, better ventilated rooms, and training for managers. and getting it right can make such a difference. i got the help i needed, and it was like night and day. it was like a switch, like a light bulb moment, you know? and it turned everything around
we ll have the latest developments. also on the programme tonight. appeal courtjudges rule the first flight to take migrants arriving illegally in britain to rwanda can take off tomorrow. fears for the uk economy as figures show it shrank in april for the second month in a row. a judge rules that treatment should stop for this 12 year old boy who s been in a coma since he was found unconscious at his home. and how a british athlete picked up a pen during lockdown and landed himself at the prestigious royal academy summer exhibition. and coming up in sport on the bbc news channel. a 650th test wicket forjimmy anderson as england look good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the government has just published legislation changing
and made me feel like i could start all over again now! mps will continue to hear evidence about the menopause through out the summer. their final recommendations will be sent to the government. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. coronavirus lockdowns prompted millions of people to try new hobbies and interests. niall guite is a man who has excelled in sport, representing great britain at the special olympics the games for people with intellectual disability. but the pandemic led him to discover a whole new talent that has landed him at the prestigious royal academy. our sports correspondent joe wilson explains. for over 250 years, london s royal academy has represented the best of british art. there s been a summer exhibition here since the 1760s. it s where, right now, you ll find niall guite and his mum and two of his stadium pictures. and it looked a beautiful stadium to do