BBC Nik Ward is disappointed the bill has passed and worries about its implications for vulnerable people Terminally ill people are a step closer to being able to choose when they die after MPs voted to support a proposed change to the law. The right to an assisted death will be granted to people with…

EPA On Friday, after weeks of fierce and passionate debate, MPs began their formal scrutiny of the bill that would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to seek help to end their own life. It was a day of tears, hope, relief and fear. This is the story of how it…

A council leader has branded the former government’s decision to issue a Best Value Notice over a four-day week trial at her authority as a “fruitless attempt to stoke up a culture war”. Liberal Democrat Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said she was pleased the formal notice of concern had not been…

Ross Russell Ross Russell found a bottle containing a 132-year-old letter deep inside the walls of Corsewall Lighthouse A rich picture has emerged of the three men who left a message hidden inside the walls of a Scottish lighthouse 132 years ago, thanks to the work of genealogists. Earlier this month BBC Scotland News revealed…

Alex Salmond remembered at St Giles’ memorial Former First Minister Alex Salmond has been hailed as a “political genius” at his memorial service in Edinburgh. High-profile figures including First Minister John Swinney and former prime minister Gordon Brown gathered at Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral. Salmond, 69, died of a heart attack while attending a conference…

Cate Blanchett has told the BBC she is “deeply concerned” about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the Australian actress said: “I’m looking at these robots and driverless cars and I don’t really know what that’s bringing anybody.” Blanchett, 55, was promoting her new film Rumours – an apocalyptic…

Reuters Rebel forces launched the largest offensive against the Syrian government in years on Wednesday. By Saturday, they had taken control of “large parts” of the country’s second-biggest city, Aleppo. The surprise offensive prompted the first Russian strikes on Aleppo since 2016, and saw Syria’s military withdraw its troops from the city. The attack was…

Significantly, Fifa emphasises that its human rights evaluations are “not about peremptorily excluding countries based on their general human rights context” and are instead “based on evidence of how effectively bidders intend to address human rights risks connected with a tournament”. Explaining the Saudi bid’s ‘medium’ risk assessment for human rights, Fifa’s report states that:…

Lando Norris gave up victory in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race to team-mate Oscar Piastri as they crossed the line ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell. As a payback for Piastri handing victory in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix sprint race to Norris earlier this month, the Briton slowed on the final straight to allow…

MasterChef producers have appointed a “rigorous” law firm to lead an investigation into the alleged misconduct of presenter Gregg Wallace. It comes after a BBC News investigation heard allegations of inappropriate sexual comments and inappropriate behaviour by 13 people who worked with Wallace across a range of shows over a 17-year period. We put the…