David Willey, who spent decades reporting from Rome for the BBC, reflects on the transformation of the Vatican under Francis – the eighth Pope of our former correspondent’s lifetime. I have suddenly realised with something of shock that I am already not only four years older than the late Pope Francis, but that my own...
AP His ascension to the papacy heralded many firsts. Francis was the first Pope from the Americas or the Southern Hemisphere. Not since Syrian-born Gregory III died in 741 had there been a non-European Bishop of Rome. He was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the throne of St Peter – Jesuits were...
There’s been a change in Paddy Pimblett. He hasn’t noticed it, but the people closest to him have. Pimblett’s team-mate Molly McCann, who retired last month, his coach Paul Rimmer, his wife Laura and his parents have all observed the change. They noticed it after the birth of Pimblett’s identical twin daughters, Betsy and Margot,...
James Waterhouse BBC Ukraine Correspondent BBC “The best salesman in history.” This was what Donald Trump once called Volodymyr Zelensky because of the amount of aid the US has given Ukraine. Whether or not a fair comparison, Zelensky’s role in keeping his country in the spotlight and convincing allies to invest has certainly been crucial...
Jake Wallace BBC News, South West BBC Murdo Searle first tried cheerleading while studying at university A man who started cheerleading while at university says the sport has “completely changed” his life. Murdo Searle said he “absolutely fell in love” with the sport after first trying it while studying at Saint Mary’s University in Twickenham....
Gray switched to a back three in an attempt to reverse Hibs’ fortunes, but second-half strikes from Jamie McGrath and Nicky Devlin had turned the game in Aberdeen’s favour after Joe Newell opened the scoring for the hosts. It was in second-half stoppage-time that the truly remarkable action took place though – six minutes that...
Simon Dedman BBC Political Reporter, Essex Reporting fromWethersfield, Essex John Fairhall/BBC Jacqui Braithwaite says the affect of the asylum centre has been negligible In March 2023, the government decided a former air base one mile from a small rural village in Essex should be used to house male asylum seekers. Two years on, what is...