welcome back to bbc news. let's turn to our main headlines here. israel hits beirut with a wave of attacks as their security cabinet meets right now to discuss a ceasefire deal with hezbollah. five people have been found alive and four bodies have been recovered after a tourist boat sank off egypt's red sea coast. mps at westminster are preparing to vote on friday on a bill to allow assisted dying in england and wales. we will speak to two mps on either side of the issue. breaking news — vauxhall�*s van—making factory in luton is to close, putting more than a thousand jobs at risk.

# the first cut is the deepest # honey, i know...# and rod stewart's return — 23 years after he last headlined at glastonbury, he will be back to play the legends�* slot. all of that is coming up. first of all, sport with you ferris. good afternoon. this week marks the beginning of the second half of the new champions league format. the 36 teams have all played four of their 8 games in the opening phase. and later manchester city will use their match against feyenoord to try and end their historic run of five straight defeats. remember pep guardiola had never lost more than three in a row during his whole managerial career before this streak of defeats. but his opposite number in the away dugout rejected the suggestion city are slowing down. i think they are top quality

players. obviously, they have been struggling a little bit with injuries, i know kevin has been out for the period, but also on his way back. i am quite sure that his legs are working really, really well and i know for sure his brain is working really well. for me, he is one of the best players in the world, still. so, yeah, they've got quality players, even though, as you said, the mayday have struggled a bit or more than they are used to. few would have had both bayern munich and their opponents on tuesday paris saint—germain in the bottom half of the league phase at this point, with the french champions in danger of elimination as they're only 25th. bayern are 17th, with two wins from four, and their striker harry kane has been defending himself from accusations he doesn't score enough in big games, with dortmund and bayer leverkusen to come after psg. i think if you look at my goals last season against some of the bigger teams, last season against some of the biggerteams, dortmund last season against some of the bigger teams, dortmund away, stuttgart, all those types of

games, yeah, maybe it has taken a little out of context, but i try and score in every game, try and score in every game, try and score in every game, try and help the team in every game, this week is a really big weekend we know that, as the striker in the team, the goal—scorer in the team, i want to help by scoring goals, for sure, but as always i make sure my performances are more than just goals. elsewhere on tuesday, the competition's surprise team so far — brest — have their toughest challenge to date. they're playing barcelona with striker robert lewandowski looking to become only the third player to reach 100 champions league goals after cristiano ronaldo and lionel messi. meanwhile, arsenal boss mickel arteta says he's looking for a statement win in lisbon when his side face sporting. the gunners have failed to win or score in any of their last four european away games. the boston celtics won for a sixth straight time in the nba, and for the first time this season had kristaps porzingis back in their ranks after he missed the celtics�* opening 17 games as he recovered from ankle surgery. meanwhile, og anunoby�*s career high a0 points helped the new york knicks to a 145 to 118 win over

the denver nuggets. the british player made 16 of his 23 attempts, including five three—pointers and all of his three free throws to eclipse his previous career high of 36 points. he also recorded five rebounds and four assists to help the knicks to their fifth win in six games. jacob bethell will bat at number three on his test debut in england's series opener against new zealand in christchurch on thursday. bethell, who is a suprise call—up having never scored a century in senior cricket but has impressed in the white ball formats for england, plays in place of wicketkeeper jordan cox who was ruled out with a broken thumb. regular number three ollie pope takes the gloves and slides down the order to number six, with captain ben stokes at seven. and taiwan's baseball team have come home to a hero's welcome after victory in a major international championship last weekend. this was the scene that greeted the team as fans cheers them on in their thousands. they were carried through the capital to the presidential office on the back of militaryjeeps and trucks.

it was after taiwan won the wbsc premier12, a baseball competition featuring the 12 highest—ranked national teams in the world, beating japan in the final in tokyo. and that's all the sport for now. much more on our website, much more on the champions league as well. thank you very much. here is the uk, mps at westminster are preparing to vote on friday on a bill to allow assisted dying in england and wales. the proposals would apply to terminally ill adults who are aged 18 or over and are expected to die within six months. our political correspondent harry farley has been speaking to three labour mps about the decison they'll be making. my dad's diagnosis was a complete shock. he had some symptoms. none of us expected it to be terminal cancer. the decisions made this week on assisted dying are, for many mps, personal

as well as political. this law would fundamentally change the relationship between a patient and their doctor. my dad died of terminal cancer a few years ago, and i know that if, as would have been allowed under this law, his doctor had suggested to him that he should think about killing himself because he was terminally ill, that would have terrified him. polling suggests that most of the public would support a change in the law on this. what would you say to those who say this is about autonomy and people deserve the right to choose when they die? i understand the argument that's being made, and it is about giving a pretty small and very articulate group of people, who i do feel real empathy towards, giving them the choice that they seek. the problem is that giving them the choice they seek puts a much larger, very vulnerable group of people in harm's way. behind the arguments is the memory of a loved one lost.

it's partly because of my dad, i think, that i'm sitting here now. he first brought me to parliament when i was a school kid, and it's a great sadness to me that he wasn't i wish very much he was here to be part of it. and do you think he would have opposed this change as well? 100%. i know he would have. my dad was really larger than life. he was a wonderful man, he was great fun. and he was a farmer. he loved the countryside, and he's really given that love to me. similar experiences have led others to different conclusions. last year he became really ill and he was given a terminal diagnosis. the last few days were incredibly difficult. he was in a lot of pain and it was really, really, really hard to see someone you really love going through that. he struggled to breathe, and so seeing him like that

made me realise that we needed a change of the law and that we need to be able to choose, and that's what i'd like for other people. has that been a difficult process to reach that decision or...? it's certainly not a decision i've taken lightly, but that was the biggest factor, seeing a death close at hand. and a choice that you wish that your dad had? absolutely. i don't know if he would have taken that choice or not, of course, but i wish he would have had that choice. while some have made their decision, many mps are still wrestling with how they'll vote. approaching the election, i was fairly sure that - i was in favour of, you know, some measures to allow- assisted dying. but having looked at this . process, i have got doubts. sean's wife has multiple sclerosis, which is an incurable but not terminal illness. she wouldn't be in scope for this bill, but it's shaping his thinking. we have talked about, you know, this issue of assisted dying, -

not necessarily sort of anticipating it, . but clearly, what would i you do in this situation? what are your views on it? she's very much pro choice for the individual. - i remain very much on the fence. - i'm not as certain as i was before. i the gravity of friday's decision weighs on many mps. whatever the outcome, all sides agree it will be a pivotal moment. harry farley, bbc news, in westminster. let's spend the next few minutes talking to dr simon opher, who led a cross—party group of mps and rachel maskell, chair of the all—party parliamentary group against assisted dying and the all—party parliamentary group on ageing people. thank you for being live on the programme. to

you, simon, you have been very vocalin you, simon, you have been very vocal in your support of this bill. to summarise why. i have been a gp _ bill. to summarise why. i have been a gp for— bill. to summarise why. i have been a gp for about _ bill. to summarise why. i have been a gp for about 30 - bill. to summarise why. i have been a gp for about 30 years, | been a gp for about 30 years, so an average i look after four 25 patients per year with terminal cancer and i havejust terminal cancer and i have just had terminal cancer and i havejust had so many appearances —— four orfive, and i've had so many experiences where if someone could take their own lives, they would have done and it would have relieved suffering. one patient actually hung themselves than go through the terminal diagnosis, and ijust terminal diagnosis, and i just want terminal diagnosis, and ijust want to give patients a choice at the end of life. i suspect not many of them will take it. rachel, let me bring you in. you have reached the opposite conclusions. on what grounds? first of all, we know that palliative care is not available to everyone in the countrx _ available to everyone in the country. 100,000 people each year— country. 100,000 people each year are — country. 100,000 people each year are not able to access that — year are not able to access that for— year are not able to access that. for most, it is far too late — that. for most, it is far too late and _ that. for most, it is far too late and it _ that. for most, it is far too late and it is also inequitable in who— late and it is also inequitable in who gets it and who doesn't. so we — in who gets it and who doesn't. so we really do need to focus

on improving palliative care. yet in— on improving palliative care. yet injurisdictions on improving palliative care. yet in jurisdictions where assisted dying has been introduced, palliative care has fallen— introduced, palliative care has fallen down those league tables as opposed to those jurisdictions which do not have a change — jurisdictions which do not have a change in the law. beyond that, — a change in the law. beyond that, i'm _ a change in the law. beyond that, i'm really concerned about— that, i'm really concerned about coercion. we know that we live any— about coercion. we know that we live any coercive society. we only— live any coercive society. we only need _ live any coercive society. we only need look at the algorithms that they are driving _ algorithms that they are driving us down certain channels online and, of course, we hear— channels online and, of course, we hear about coercion in so many— we hear about coercion in so many circumstances, whether it is around — many circumstances, whether it is around relationships, across wider— is around relationships, across wider society. therefore, for a piece — wider society. therefore, for a piece of— wider society. therefore, for a piece of legislation to suggest even — piece of legislation to suggest even a — piece of legislation to suggest even a doctor, and we think about— even a doctor, and we think about the _ even a doctor, and we think about the authority dr has a very— about the authority dr has a very patient, could raise with their— very patient, could raise with their patient and assisted death, _ their patient and assisted death, that is what is written within— death, that is what is written within the bill, that is highly coercive _ within the bill, that is highly coercive. do within the bill, that is highly coercive. , ., ,, within the bill, that is highly coercive. ,, ,, ., coercive. do you think we know enou:h coercive. do you think we know enough in _ coercive. do you think we know enough in terms _ coercive. do you think we know enough in terms of _ coercive. do you think we know enough in terms of the - coercive. do you think we know enough in terms of the factuall enough in terms of the factual basis of this decision? said

there been some impact assessment?— there been some impact assessment? ., ., . assessment? you are correct. they should — assessment? you are correct. they should be _ assessment? you are correct. they should be impact - they should be impact assessment. we have only had the biii— assessment. we have only had the bill for two weeks, no time at all— the bill for two weeks, no time at all to— the bill for two weeks, no time at all to assess the contents of the — at all to assess the contents of the bill. we are not voting on friday— of the bill. we are not voting on friday whether we are for or against — on friday whether we are for or against assisted dying, it is on the _ against assisted dying, it is on the clauses of the bill, there _ on the clauses of the bill, there is— on the clauses of the bill, there is not enough time. we have — there is not enough time. we have to — there is not enough time. we have to have the critical analysis, the in—depth understanding, not only the impacts— understanding, not only the impacts on individuals, the impact _ impacts on individuals, the impact on the nhs, and other services, _ impact on the nhs, and other services, as well as the impact on the — services, as well as the impact on the judicial system. that work— on the judicial system. that work not _ on the judicial system. that work not being done means that there _ work not being done means that there is— work not being done means that there is no— work not being done means that there is no understanding formerly of the consequences of this legislation going through. platinum i guess. simon can address— platinum i guess. simon can address the point that rachel made — address the point that rachel made if— address the point that rachel made if we sort it out, —— sorted _ made if we sort it out, —— sorted out _ made if we sort it out, —— sorted out palliative care, we would — sorted out palliative care, we would address a lot of the problems of would address a lot of the problems o— would address a lot of the problems 0 problems of that you racing our problems of that you racing your first — problems of that you racing your first answer _ problems of that you racing your first answer about - problems of that you racing your first answer about the | your first answer about the quality of life in those final months. —— you raise. i

quality of life in those final months. -- you raise. i don't auree months. -- you raise. i don't agree with — months. -- you raise. i don't agree with that. _ months. -- you raise. i don't agree with that. even - months. -- you raise. i don't agree with that. even in - months. -- you raise. i don'tl agree with that. even in areas of excellent palliative care, and i've been part of that as well, people would still prefer to have control of the end of their lives. certainly, i disagree with that. and also, there's quite a lot of evidence fact having assisted dying improves palliative care in areas it has been approved, california and australia, we have a living model is very similar to have a living model is very similarto our own have a living model is very similar to our own societies where it has been incredibly successful. what is also interesting is the coercion, the fear of coercion, i have talked to doctors involved in this in australia and california, they have seen no evidence of this. in fact, before they took their decision, there was this worry it would be a problem. they said it has not existed and coercion invite goes the other way, when someone decides they want to end their lives, their family usually try to coerce them not to do it. so coercion seems to go the different

weather. seems to go the different weather-— seems to go the different weather. ., , , weather. that is interesting. rachel, weather. that is interesting. rachel. a — weather. that is interesting. rachel, a dress _ weather. that is interesting. rachel, a dress i _ weather. that is interesting. rachel, a dress i said - weather. that is interesting. rachel, a dress i said i - weather. that is interesting. | rachel, a dress i said i would come back to coercion because a lot of vulnerable people concerned about being worse. i do think there are specific safeguards? two doctors, judge involved before any sort of authorisation, then that person has to self administer as well? first of all, coercion is very real command as a collation who worked with people in acute medicine at the end of their lives, heard countless times people say to me they did not want to be a burden on the family —— coercion is very real, as a clinician who worked with people in acute medicine at the end of their lives. or they simply wanted to give up their hospital beds at the end of their lives. so not necessarily malign coercion is a realfactor. we have to look at the safeguard processes, joe mac doctors may not be known to the patient, and anyjudge, who

does not have to see the patient themselves —— two doctors. there is no detail of what the consultation of the judge will be. we know the paperwork the records centre will be inefficient to make any judgment —— insufficient. james monday said it moves the judge from a position of a judicial decision to be part ofjust signing forms. that is not certainly providing the protection republic really does deserve. .,. protection republic really does deserve. ,, ., deserve. rachel, simon, we could go _ deserve. rachel, simon, we could go very _ deserve. rachel, simon, we could go very little - deserve. rachel, simon, we could go very little while - deserve. rachel, simon, wej could go very little while but we are out of time —— that the public deserves. we still have a few days of debate and i'm sure it will be used in terms of hearing more from both sides of hearing more from both sides of the very motivational. thank you both forjoining us. —— very emotive issue. around the uk and across the world, you're watching bbc news.

you're watching bbc news. let's stay with uk politics. here in the uk, the government is pledging to reduce the benefits bill by getting more people into work. bbc verify�*s ben chu has been looking at those proposals in more detail. the government says it wants to get britain working and is outlining new policies to achieve that. let's start by looking at the problem the government is trying to address. the government is concerned about inactivity. that's not the same as unemployment, which is people looking for work who can't currently get it. inactivity is people who are not looking for work, so essentially the government wants to get more people out of this group and into work. and one of the reasons inactivity is increasing is increasingly long—term sickness. our best estimate of the number of working age people not in work because of a long—term illness is up from around 2 million in 2019 to around 2.8 million today.

most of those people are on benefits. spending on working age health and disability benefits stands this year at £56 billion, and it is projected to rise to £75 billion in 2030 as more people becoming inactive. this is the spiralling benefits bill referred to by the work and pensions secretary liz kendall. so what are some of the policies the government is proposing that would tackle all of this? well, one is a youth guarantee. so every young person has access to education or training and the threat of benefits being removed if they don't take it up. two, replacing the apprenticeship levy on companies in england with a more flexible growth and skills levy. three, devolving powers to mayors and councils to connect local work, health and skills support in the ways that meet the needs of their specific areas. four, measures to overhaul the health, disability and benefits system

so it benefits support people to enter and remain in work. the last one will be a particular challenge and here's why. in the election campaign, labour claimed that the tories' tax plans were not fully funded because their policies to cut £12 billion from the welfare bill in this parliament were already factored into spending projections by the government's official forecaster. that was a valid point at the time but it now means this government has to deliver a chunk of those planned welfare bill savings, around £3 billion. employment and welfare experts think well—designed policies can encourage more people into work and that this would be beneficial for the individuals involved. previous governments have managed to reduce working age inactivity with some help from economic growth. yet experts also caution that bringing down the welfare bill isn't necessarily the same thing and that this has been historically not simple to achieve. breaking news. it links up to

the increased tensions between the increased tensions between the uk and russia. newsjust coming in that russia has banned from entering the country 30 british cabinet members, members of parliament and defence officials and journalists, in response to what the foreign ministry has described as a measure in response to the british's side's hostile actions. the statement has just been released and mentions a few politicians by name, angela rayner, the deputy prime minister, yvette cooper, shabana mahmood, rachel reeves, and other members of shabana mahmood, rach