13/05/2025

Members of the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of an assisted dying bill. The initial vote on the bill's general principles was carried by 70 votes to 56. As with the similar legislation currently passing through Westminster, it will need to clear more phases of parliamentary scrutiny before it can become law.A man who has served almost 38 years in prison for the murder of a woman has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after new DNA evidence emerged. We look at the technology that enabled his release.And a new museum of Prime Ministers will open this week in London.

The government has published a white paper outlining its plans to reduce immigration to the UK. Keir Starmer warned that immigration could turn Britain into an ‘island of strangers’. Also on the programme: the Trump administration is to grant dozens of white South Africans refugee status; and Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli announces his retirement from the Test format.

Pope Leo XIV is finishing his first full day as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. We report from Peru where he was a Bishop until last year, and hear from a friend of JD Vance, who helped the Vice-President convert to Catholicism, on how likely it is that there'll be friction between the American-born Pope and the Trump administration.The brewing conflict between India and Pakistan shows no signs of abating as India reports dozens of drone incursions across its border. We speak to a British-Kashmiri novelist on his reflections.And people in Syria haven't had much to laugh about, but Damascus's comedy scene is showing signs of a revival.

A review finds that opportunities were missed to protect 10-month-old Finlay Boden - who was murdered by his parents during lockdown. We ask a leading child protection expert how much safer children are since the pandemic. Also on the programme: Is Scotland about to become the first UK nation to allow assisted dying? We speak to the MSP who's publishing a bill tomorrow. Cambridge City Council has ordered an "eyesore" sculpture of the late Prince Philip to be taken down. How do you stop dodgy art popping up in public spaces?

As a new Pope is elected, we hear from one of his old school friends. Also: the US and UK announce a deal on tariffs, but are the industries involved happy with the outcome? Bill Gates on his plans to give away his fortune and close his Foundation. And as VE Day commemorations come to a close, we hear how a national dish has featured on many of the day's menus.

Pakistan's Prime Minister says the country has responded to India's air strikes by downing Indian jets during the operation. New Delhi has yet to respond to the claims that its planes were shot down. Diplomats are asking whether Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's remarks mean Pakistan will desist from responding directly to the attack. We explore whether other countries can temper the conflict.The first vote has taken place in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope, but no choice has been made.And researchers have used AI and scanning technology to "digitally unfurl" an ancient scroll that was burnt by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius almost 2,000 years ago.