BBC News Briefing

23 September, 2026

Doug has strawberry blonde hair and wears glasses

Doug Faulkner

Hello. Our political editor was in the room when the UK PM met President Donald Trump for the first time - he assesses how it went. Europe's car industry is in decline, but could a pivot to defence help to save it? And see the Prince and Princess of Wales Cruise the red carpet.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

How Burnham survived his first Trump meeting

Andy Burnham and Donald Trump sit side by side wearing suits and with UK and US flags behind them

This was a meeting on neutral territory, which perhaps dialled down the sense of occasion. Credit: Getty Images

Prime Minister Andy Burnham looked a little nervous as reporters trooped into the room to join him and the most powerful man in the world, writes Chris Mason. He'd have known "how explosive these rolling, free wheeling, live on camera encounters with Trump can go". But, for the most part, the compliments flowed from Trump. Potential points of friction - immigration, West Bank settlement sanctions - came and went without incident, although Trump did criticise the UK's deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The warmth about Burnham from Trump was self evident, Chris notes - but flashpoints down the track with the president are inevitable.

Read our analysis

Russian disinformation: The UK will set up a new centre to "stem the poisonous tide" of false information from the Kremlin, Burnham says.

Peace talks: Top Iranian and US officials held discussions at the UN on a day when Trump said he could "annihilate" the Islamic Republic.

Greenland: The US is to build two bases on the island after signing a defence deal that reaffirms Copenhagen's sovereignty over it.

WORLD HEADLINES

A silhouette of a woman in traditional clothing against a bright blue sky through a hole in a building

Reports of violence against women in Gaza surge - UN

There has been a sharp rise in reports, including early and forced marriage, according to the UN Population Fund.

Read more >

Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, raises a hand as she speaks on stage in a light purple cardigan

US warned to take action on debt costs by IMF

The intervention comes as government borrowing costs have surged after wars disrupted oil supplies.

Find out why >

Commuters face fines for loud music on buses

Passengers in Singapore can be fined up to $500 Singapore dollars ($391) for putting their feet on seats and other behaviour.

Get the details >

A black and whit picture of a hurricane weather pattern

Hurricane intensifies off the coast of Mexico

Hurricane Polo has become one of the most powerful storms of the season, but is not expected to make landfall.

Read more >

Booker Prize judges Rebecca Liu, Jarvis Cocker, Dame Mary Beard, Raymond Antrobus and Patricia Lockwood

Booker Prize judges reveal shortlisted novels

Past winners Marlon James and Douglas Stuart are in the running for the prestigious literary award again.

Read the full list >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Chagos deal: The UK is reviewing the agreement to hand the islands over to Mauritius, the defence secretary says, after Donald Trump called it "terrible".

Eyelid surgery: Patients are reporting problems from treatment abroad after having skin removed from above their eyes, doctors have warned.

Poison seller: A man who sold toxic chemicals to people who went on to kill themselves should "rot in hell", the mother of a British woman who died says.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Will the threat of war rescue Europe's car makers?

A dark green Ford Ranger pick up driving up a muddy slope out of some water

Ford is among the manufacturers competing to replace the British Army's fleet of vehicles. Credit: Ford

Once mighty, the European car industry is starting to look puny and is hoping surging defence budgets can help it flex its industrial muscles once more.

Under commercial threat from rivals in China, car makers are hoping a pivot to defence as Europe re-arms to deal with the menace from Russia could help slow declining production and job losses. Is it too late to save the auto industry?

Find out

A collaged representation of a woman receiving general anaesthetic during surgery

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

An unsolved mystery

General anaesthetics work reveals clues about the nature of consciousness.

Find out more

And finally... in London

Hollywood royalty met actual royalty on the black carpet in Leicester Square as the Prince and Princess of Wales renewed their friendship with Tom Cruise at a screening for his new film Digger. The veteran actor took Catherine's hand as they talked and laughed. Cruise knew Prince William's mother, Diana, and attended her funeral. See the pictures.