BBC News Briefing

9 January, 2026

Alex has dark blonde bobbed hair and blue eyes. She is smiling and wearing a black, high-neck top with a pink jumper on top

Alex Binley

Hello. Under US President Donald Trump's administration, foreign policy appears to be moving in a different direction to the one it has followed since the end of World War Two. Senior correspondent Allan Little assesses where it's heading and what it means for the world. Almost a week on from the seizure of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, security analyst Gordon Corera takes a look at the unanswered questions surrounding the operation. And why not test yourself on a very busy week of news with our quiz.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Trump's plan to reshape the world order leaves Europe with a difficult choice to make

The NSS is damning about Europe's 'current trajectory' and raises questions about whether some European nations can be regarded as dependable allies in the future. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

For 80 years, what bound the United States to Europe was a shared commitment to defence and a common set of values. But the turbocharged events of the last week, along with the new US National Security Strategy (NSS), suggest that in America's eyes, that era is over. So, how does the US see the new world order? asks Allan Little. And if it is indeed moving away from the rules based international order, then what is it moving towards? From there he has one more big question: what does it mean for the rest of the world and in particular for Europe?

Read Allan's analysis

GET UP TO SPEED

A split image shows a large crowd of protesters outside buildings in the street. On the left is an elderly man with a white beard and glasses. He is speaking into two black microphones and is wearing a black robes.

Iran leader says protesters 'trying to please Trump'

Anti-government demonstrations have broken out for the 13th day in a row, as rights groups say 48 protesters have been killed.

More on this >

The faces of a man and a woman are seen close-up and from the side. The man is balding and has short dark hair and a beard and is wearing a black coat. The woman is wearing sunglasses and has long brown hair.

Owner of Swiss ski bar held in custody after fire

Prosecutors said Jacques Moretti is being held as a potential flight risk. He and his wife are suspected of manslaughter by negligence.

Read more >

Trump wears a navy blue suit, white shirt and red tie and is sitting in a black leather chair. He has his hands placed one on top of the other on a desk in front of him, and four people are seen standing behind him.

Trump meets oil executives over Venezuela investments

The US President has said America will decide which companies can extract oil in Venezuela.

Get the latest >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Deepfakes: The government said it would back potential efforts by the regulator to block X amid concerns its Grok tool is being used to make deepfakes.

Jailed: A man who coerced a woman into having sex with more than 100 strangers over three decades has been jailed for at least 16 years.

Princess of Wales: Catherine has marked her 44th birthday with a personal video on social media about the healing power of nature. Take a look.

AT THE SCENE

Minneapolis, Minesota

'Renee was everything that was good about our community'

A man with curly, light brown hair and a beard, wears glasses and a brown hoody. He is hugging a woman in a black coat with long brown hair. She is holding a piece of paper and her face cannot be seen. They are stood in front of two houses and snow can be seen on the ground.

Members of the community have been gathering at the scene of the shooting to pay their respects to Good. Credit: Eloise Alanna/BBC

People took to the streets of Minneapolis and other US cities for a second night on Thursday to protest against the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot in her car by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.

Madeline has long, dark brown hair that is parted in the centre. She is wearing a black shirt and is smiling and looking ahead at the camera.

Madeline Halpert, digital reporter

At the scene of the crash on Thursday, blood from the shooting could still be seen in the snow. People set up a vigil at the site to honour Good, lining the bank with candles and roses. Hundreds of demonstrators showed up throughout the day, shouting insults at ICE and offering their neighbours coffee on the cold winter day.

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Susie Hawyard, a minister, said she went to the scene of the shooting as soon as she heard the news to verify "with my own eyes" what happened. "I was horrified," she said. "I saw the car, I saw Renee's car, I saw Renee's blood."

Keep reading

Watch: Madeline reports from the scene of the shooting, where she has been speaking to members of the community.

"A beautiful spirit": A friend of Good's has told of how she was "like an older sister to me" during two summers they spent abroad as teenagers.

Watch: Video filmed by the ICE agent who shot Good has emerged, showing the moments before gunfire rang out.
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PICK OF THE WEEK

The continued mysteries surrounding the intelligence operation to capture Maduro

A man with greying, black hair and a moustache is sat in a chair. He is wearing a grey jumper and has ear-defenders on and a black eye mask. He appears to be strapped in to the seat, as if on a plane.

Speculation swirls around the identity of the source the US said was able to provide detailed intelligence on Maduro's whereabouts. Credit: @realDonaldTrump

From intelligence sources to intricate mission planning, a week on from the dramatic raid that captured Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, details of the intelligence surrounding the operation are becoming clearer, but some mysteries still remain. Security analyst Gordon Corera take a look at some of the unanswered questions.