A MoD leak that exposed personal details of around 100,000 Afghans who had helped British forces triggered a covert legal clampdown, sparked ministerial apologies and prompted a £7 billion plan to bring thousands to safety in the UK to shield them from Taliban reprisals.

Confidence in the corporation’s leadership has been questioned after a string of editorial and governance lapses, prompting the culture secretary to seek firm reassurances on accountability and standards from the BBC director-general.

Medical breakthroughs are propelling cancer treatment towards a pivotal era, with experts predicting that innovative therapies and advances in genetic technology will transform care and improve patient outcomes.

Medical leaders caution that the continued junior doctors’ strike risks lasting harm to public trust, labelling the action “unjustifiable” and citing polls showing nearly half of the public opposed to walkouts.