BBC News Briefing

12 February, 2026

Andy has short dark hair. He is wearing glasses with a black rim and a khaki-coloured shirt. He is looking at the camera and smiling slightly.

Andy McFarlane

Hello. US President Donald Trump says revoking a key greenhouse gas ruling will cut energy and transport prices - but critics say it will damage health, wealth and the environment. As we pick over a fiery US hearing over the Epstein files, police in Norway have charged a former prime minister over his ties to the late sex offender. And scroll down for a shaggy dog story.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Trump revokes landmark greenhouse gases ruling

A freeway crowded with lines of cars, many with headlamps on, all bathed in the orange light of early morning in Los Angeles.

Many environmentalists are sceptical of the potential cost savings and fear it will adversely affect people's health. Credit: Reuters

US President Donald Trump has reversed a key scientific ruling that had underpinned all federal action to curb planet-warming gases since 2009. The "endangerment finding", which concluded that six gases including carbon dioxide and methane were a danger to human health, had formed the legal bedrock of federal efforts to rein in emissions. However, Trump has now declared it had "no basis in fact". While the White House says its reversal constitutes the "largest deregulation in American history", and will bring down carmakers' costs by $2,400 per vehicle, some analysts question its benefits. Environmental groups are set to challenge the move.

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NEWS FROM THE UK

'Utterly wicked': Nursery worker who filmed himself abusing young children jailed for 18 years.

Gender identity: Parents should be involved in "vast majority" of cases when child questions gender, government tells schools in England.

Cabinet secretary: Head of the Civil Service forced out of job.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Takeaways from Bondi's fiery Epstein testimony

Pam Bondi has long blonde hair and is gesturing with a pen as she talks into a microphone.

Bondi called one Democrat a "washed-up loser", while another stormed out during a heated exchange. Credit: Reuters

US Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the justice department's handling of the files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during an ill-tempered hearing on Wednesday. In the presence of survivors, lawmakers criticised what they said was a failure to redact victims' names.

Madeline Halpert

What was the thrust of the criticism?

Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said in some cases "nude images" of survivors were released, some of whom had their identities protected "for decades". Jayapal asked survivors in the room to stand and raise their hand if they had not been able to meet with the justice department, which led all of them to rise. Jayapal then urged Bondi to apologise.

How did Bondi respond?

Describing Jayapal's questioning as "theatrics", she said: "I'm not going to get in the gutter with this woman." The attorney general said at another point during the hearing that officials were doing their best to protect victims in the timeframe allotted by the legislation that required the files to be released.

What other issues were raised?

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has accused the justice department of improperly removing the names of people from the files who are not protected. Thomas Massie, a Republican, said the issue was "bigger than Watergate" and spanned numerous US administrations. "This is a political joke," Bondi said.

Read our takeaways

In Norway: Former PM Jagland charged with gross corruption over Epstein links.

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The background: Who is named in the Esptein files?

A couple dressed all in black and with black hair are dancing. The man is kissing the womans hand and her nails are painted red

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