The World Tonight

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.

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.

The UK and India have finalised a major trade agreement, reducing tariffs on UK exports including gin, whisky and cars. The government says the agreement will eventually add £4.8bn per year to the UK economy, but the Conservatives say a National Insurance exemption for temporary workers from India is ‘two tier’ taxation. Also on the programme: India carries out air strikes on what it called ‘terrorist targets’ in Pakistan and Pakistani administered Kashmir; and we hear from Syria where families are trying to find the remains of their loved ones killed by the Assad regime.

Syria sits at a figurative crossroads - five months after an Islamist-led rebellion brought an unexpectedly swift end to the long, dynastic dictatorship of the Assad family. The former rebel leader who now rules Syria - Ahmed Al Sharaa – has been trying to convince the world of his efforts to pursue a path of peace and reconciliation. But a recent upsurge of sectarian violence, which has seen the deaths of hundreds of civilians, mainly from the Alawite minority, has called that into question. All this week we hear from our correspondent who has been in the country’s capital, Damascus. Also on the programme: 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe; and US President Donald Trump says he wants to reopen Alcatraz prison after more than 60 years.

The Reform UK party has made huge gains in local elections across England. Nigel Farage's party took control of ten council areas including in Labour heartlands like Durham. The party also clinched the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by six votes. We speak to Reform's Ann Widdecombe and explore the full range of election results, including successes for the Lib Dems. Prince Harry has said his father, The King, has stopped speaking to him in an exclusive interview with the BBC. The Prince was speaking after losing a legal challenge in the UK over his security arrangements. And the Trump administration has weighed into German politics again, criticising the country's domestic intelligence agency after they labelled the far-right AfD party as "extremists", allowing German authorities to intensify surveillance, including the use of undercover informants and monitoring communications, under judicial oversight.

President Trump says US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz will leave his post and be nominated to serve as ambassador to the United Nations - we get reaction from Washington DC. Also on the programme: polls have just closed in local elections across parts of England; Stoke-on-Trent’s Moorcroft Pottery goes bust after more than 100 years of trading; and we speak to the daughter of the man who created Thomas the Tank Engine, 80 years after the character first appeared in print.

As Donald Trump marks his first hundred days back in office with a rally in Michigan - we hear what Americans make of Trump 2.0. Also on the programme: we hear from an old friend and colleague of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on how he’ll approach his role; and as Tony Blair says phasing out fossil fuels is ‘doomed to fail’, we speak to his foundation’s director of climate policy.

In depth reporting, intelligent analysis and breaking news from a global perspective

Spain has declared a state of emergency after a massive power cut hit the country as well as Portugal. Tonight the Spanish Prime Minister says the cause of the blackout is still not known but nothing is being ruled out. Traffic lights, cash machines and street lights all switched off when the blackout hit. As voters prepare to take part in local elections, we head to Staffordshire to hear what’s on their mind. And can reading a book a day keep the upheaval of Donald Trump’s second term at bay? While President Trump’s first 100 days has delighted many of his supporters, we speak to a woman who has distracted herself from the tumult by reading a new book every day.

US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin had "constructive" talks in Moscow on Friday lasting three hours, according to an aide of Putin's. Ukraine and the US disagree over whether peace talks should encompass formally recognising Russian sovereignty over occupied Ukrainian territory, we explore the appetite of Ukrainians for conceding land to Russia. As we came on air the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission released interim guidance to highlight what it says are "the main consequences" of the recent Supreme Court judgement that in the 2010 Equality Act references to a person's sex must be taken to mean their biological sex. The guidance says workplaces and services open to the public should only permit people to use toilet facilities according to their biological sex. And what's behind the unlikely controversy surrounding the Bayeux Tapestry?

President Donald Trump insisted his administration is “putting a lot of pressure” on Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, after an overnight rocket attack on Kyiv killed 12 people. In a post on Truth Social earlier, the US President wrote “Vladimir, STOP!” and called the attack “bad timing”. But differences between the US and Ukrainian positions continue, particularly over the future of the Crimean peninsula. The National Autistic Society rounded on Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage after he said doctors were “massively over-diagnosing those with mental illness problems”. We ask what’s behind the spike in diagnosis of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). And as the Liberal Democrats propose fining people for playing music out loud on their phone aboard public transport, we ask how the issue should be dealt with.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves signalled openness to lower tariffs Britain imposes on US car imports in order to reach a trade deal with President Trump. A document circulated among US business groups and unions seeking views on a potential deal with the UK, focused on lowering UK tariffs on US cars to 2.5% from their current 10%. The former Chief Executive of Aston Martin tells us the Chancellor should accept the proposal. Meanwhile President Trump has rounded on his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky again, denouncing what he called "inflammatory statements" after Zelensky said he'd never recognise Crimea as part of Russia. And experts say bite marks found on the skeleton of a Roman gladiator are the first archaeological evidence of combat between a human and a lion.

In a stark forecast of the world's economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the Trump tariffs and market uncertainty will lead to slower growth and significant change. The IMF has also slashed the UK's growth prospects - we ask what that means for the government's "number one mission". Also on the programme: After last week's definitive ruling in the courts, the impassioned arguments over gender and sex have continued in the Commons. We ask our Political Editor Chris Mason where the debate over gender and trans rights goes next. And - as the Catholic Church considers its future direction - we ask how it can appeal to the younger generation.

We're live in Vatican City as Roman Catholics mourn Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the church - who's died of a stroke and heart failure aged 88. We look at his legacy, and ask what might come next for the church. Also in the programme: The head of the Pentagon has come out fighting - following a report he shared sensitive military data on a group chat, which included his wife and brother. And we report from the mountains of Pakistan on a plan to protect rare snow leopards - using AI.

Senator Chris Van Hollen has met Kilmar Ábrego García, the man in an El Salvador jail who has now become the new face of US politics. For the Trump administration, he is an example of their policy of deporting people they identify as “criminal illegal aliens”. For Democrats, there is debate about whether his case could sustain the anti-Trump cause. We'll hear from Democrat strategist Amanda Renteria. Also on the programme: US president Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to Russia and Ukraine, saying they would be fools to delay the peace process. Following this week's landmark ruling in the UK's Supreme Court, we look at how other countries treat trans people under the law. And celebrating Easter in the holiest of cities: a Palestinian Christian on the obstacles to attending church in Jerusalem.

It's the Italian Job at the White House this evening - as Italy's Prime Minister Georgia Meloni sits down with Donald Trump, the President says he's 100% sure that the US will reach a trade deal with the European Union. We're live in Washington DC - and ask what Europe might have to give in exchange for any deal. Also on the programme: Four people have died in a cable car accident, in a popular tourist spot near Naples. We have the latest. Jane's been taking a look at Monty Don's first-ever Chelsea Flower Show garden - designed with a little help from his beloved dog Ned. And is there anybody out there? Space scientists say they have the strongest evidence yet of life on another planet. We speak to two writers of science fiction.

Judges at the UK Supreme Court have unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. We get reaction from a former Labour - now Independent - MP, a long-time critic of Sir Keir Starmer's stance on the issue. And we also speak to an organisation involved in the case, which opposes the ruling - and ask what it might mean in practice. Also tonight: A US judge has said the Trump administration could be in contempt of court for disregarding his order to halt the departure of deportation planes to El Salvador. We have the latest. We speak to the parents who've won the right for the doctors involved in their daughter's end of life case to be named. And are TikTokers driving a record rise in mountain rescue call-outs?