Author: News Desk

Friday’s headlines are dominated by the debate around legalising assisted dying in England and Wales (Scotland has its own separate bill). Politicians, health experts and scholars are offering their opinions ahead of Friday’s debate.

The bill passed the first stage of the Commons last November – but since then there have been dozens of amendments added by both sides. A vote to pass or reject the bill is not likely to take place on Friday, but rather in June.

UK businesses are calling on the government to reset relations with the EU ahead of a summit hosted in London next week. More than 400 UK firms have urged the government to take “practical steps” to reduce red tape, ease staff mobility, and coordinate on climate, defence and energy.

On the international front, there’s widespread coverage of the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza as Israel continues to block aid (including food) and continues to heavily bomb the strip. Donald Trump is concluding his tour of the Middle East where he has signed huge investment deals.

At least 80 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza as violence intensified and ceasefire talks stalled. Some local sources put the toll at over 120. The renewed assault follows Donald Trump’s regional tour, where he proposed turning Gaza into a “freedom zone” managed by the US — a revival of an earlier controversial plan that implied permanent displacement of Gaza’s population.

The UK’s leading business lobbying group, the CBI, is calling for a major reset in relations with the EU, saying the current post-Brexit setup is “no longer fit for purpose”. Ahead of a UK-EU summit on 19 May, the group has urged both sides to rebuild trust and take “practical steps” to reduce red tape, ease staff mobility, and coordinate on climate, defence and energy.

Justin Bieber’s spokesperson clarified that he is not a victim of Sean Combs, emphasising the need to focus on the genuine victims of Combs’ alleged misconduct.

MPs are set to debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill again on Friday, following major amendments and months of committee scrutiny. The bill, first passed in November by 330 votes to 275, would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to seek assisted dying.

Chef Steven Smith suggests implementing deposits instead of minimum spends in restaurants to combat no-shows, which have greater financial repercussions.

The lifting of US sanctions may herald economic relief and reconstruction for war-torn Syria, providing a chance for stability and refugee returns.

A court in Thailand issued arrest warrants on Thursday for 17 people in connection with the deadly collapse of a Bangkok skyscraper.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has launched a criminal investigation into allegations of rape and sexual assault against music legend Smokey Robinson, with the Special Victims Bureau currently assessing the early stages of the probe.

Belgium’s parliament voted decisively to abandon its planned nuclear phaseout, with 102 votes in favour of the motion.