BBC News Briefing

4 July, 2025

Alex has bobbed dark blond hair and blue eyes and is wearing a grey, high-neck top over a pink jumper

Alex Binley

Hello. With Donald Trump set to sign his sweeping tax and spending bill into law, my colleagues at BBC Verify fact-check three of the claims he's made about it and assess the impact it could have on US national debt. Experts speak to culture reporter Ian Youngs about whether Diddy could stage a successful comeback after serving a prison sentence following his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. And rumours swirl around a viral new band which many claim is in fact AI. Plus, try our quiz of the week.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Trump to sign sweeping tax and spending bill into law

US President Donald Trump is wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt and red tie with a white baseball cap on that says 'USA' on the front and '45-47' on the right side of it. He is holding a fist up to the camera

On Thursday, Trump told supporters in Iowa 'there could be no better birthday present for America' than Congress passing the bill. Credit: Reuters

US President Donald Trump is set to sign his landmark tax and spending bill into law, a day after Congress narrowly passed it. The "big, beautiful bill" as Trump calls it, will enact key parts of his agenda, including tax cuts and the immigration crackdown. Trump began his victory lap at a rally on Thursday, telling supporters it will unleash economic growth, but he must now convince sceptical Americans, as polling suggests many disapprove of parts of the legislation. My colleagues at BBC Verify have fact-checked three of the claims about the bill and explain what the legislation could do to US national debt. The White House signing event on Friday comes ahead of US Independence Day celebrations.

More on this

GET UP TO SPEED

Burnt timbers show the outline of a building. They stand next to a large crater which is on the beach and full of rubble. Three men can be seen inspecting the site and the sea is behind them

Dozens killed in cafe strike targeting Hamas operative

It raises questions over whether Israel’s use of force is proportionate, as required by international law, writes our reporter.

Read more >

Donald Trump appears to be speaking or shouting in a close-up image of his face. He is wearing a dark blue suit and a US flag can be seen in the background

Trump says US to start sending out tariff letters

The move comes ahead of a deadline that could see much higher import taxes on goods coming into the US.

Latest on tariffs >

An elephant walks along outdoors. It has two large tusks

Elephant kills UK and New Zealand tourists in Zambia

The pair were trampled by a mother that was with her calf, after guides' efforts to stop it by firing shots failed, police said.

More on what happened >

Three men can be seen on a stage, singing and playing guitars

Oasis reunion tour kicks-off in Cardiff

The gig in the Welsh capital is the first time the band have played together in 16 years. They began with their song 'Hello'.

Latest updates >

AT THE SCENE

Syria

Druze worry about being left behind in post-war Syria

View of inside of burnt out car with a young boy standing on one side of the vehicle looking in

More than 100 people were killed in sectarian violence in a suburb south of Damascus in April. Credit: Omar Jaj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images

The Druze - a community with its own unique practices and beliefs, whose faith began as an off-shoot of Shia Islam - have historically occupied a precarious position in Syria. But recent attacks have left many worried that the country is drifting toward an intolerant Sunni-dominated order with little space for religious minorities. Syria's government has repeatedly stressed the sovereignty and unity of all denominations of Syrian society, including the Druze.

Lina has long curly brown hair and brown eyes and is looking straight ahead at the camera. Only her head and shoulders can be seen and she is wearing a white top

Lina Sinjab, Middle East correspondent

When the gunfire started outside her home in the Damascus suburb of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, Lama al-Hassanieh grabbed her phone and locked herself in her bathroom. For hours, she cowered in fear as fighters dressed in military-style uniforms and desert camouflage roamed the streets of the neighbourhood. A heavy machine gun was mounted on a military vehicle just beneath her balcony window.

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"Jihad against Druze" and "we are going to kill you, Druze," the men were shouting. She did not know who the men were - extremists, government security forces, or someone else entirely - but the message was clear: as a Druze, she was not safe.

Keep reading

Deadly clashes: Sectarian violence involving Islamist factions, security forces and Druze gunmen is another sign of the fragile security situation, writes Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher.

Church attack: A suicide bombing at a Damascus church last month has left many Christians in Syria fearing the new government is not doing enough to protect them, Middle East correspondent Lina Sinjab reports from the capital.

Future concerns: After several months under Syria's new government, though great strides have been made in gaining some social freedoms, there are growing concerns around what democracy will look like but also around the role of Islam in the new regime, writes Lina Sinjab.

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