BBC News Briefing

20 February, 2026

Alex has short blonde hair and blue eyes. She is smiling and wearing a black turtleneck

Alex Binley

Hello. US President Donald Trump has said he is ashamed of "certain members" of the Supreme Court after it struck down his sweeping global tariffs in a major blow to his economic agenda. With more than 90 people killed by avalanches this winter, we take a look into whether we're seeing more of the deadly events. And find out what 'Chinamaxxing' is, and why it's taken social media by storm. Plus, test your news knowledge with our quiz of the week.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Trump announces new global tariff as he hits out at 'disappointing' Supreme Court ruling

Trump called the two justices he nominated and who ruled against him 'an embarassment to their families'. Credit: Reuters

The Supreme Court's decision "represents a rare check" on Trump's "broad use of executive authority", writes North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, after six justices ruled the president exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs via a law reserved for national emergencies. In response, Trump announced a new 10% levy on global imports which could be in place for 150 days before requiring congressional approval. The Supreme Court's decision may weaken "Trump's hand when trying to force other nations to make concessions to the US", writes Anthony. He also notes that the court is considering other major cases involving controversial uses of executive power and "this may not be Trump's only setback in the coming months". You can read Anthony's full analysis here.

Latest updates

GET UP TO SPEED

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Andrew could be removed from royal line of succession

The King's brother remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles, including "prince", last October.

What could happen? >

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Nasa targets March to send humans around the Moon

The 10-day journey around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth would be humanity's furthest trip into space.

How it could be done >

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Dog trained to dump rubbish, Italy authorities say

Video shows a small dog leisurely walking down a road in Sicily carrying a bag of rubbish in its mouth before dropping it.

Watch the video >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Crime: A man has been charged with drugging and sexually abusing his unconscious wife alongside a number of other men.

Chicken welfare: Chains such as KFC and Nando's have ditched a pledge to improve chicken sourcing standards in the UK as poultry demand soars.

$200K costs: A couple were handed a huge medical bill when their baby was born prematurely in the US, despite their insurance covering pregnancy.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

More than 90 deaths this season: Are we seeing more avalanches?

The backs of three people can be seen. They are lookng at snowy mountains as avalanches crash down the slopes opposite them.

The French Val d'Isere resort described the situation as of Thursday as perhaps the worst this century. Credit: Antoine Martignon

A deadly avalanche in California on Tuesday killed eight people and has left another unaccounted for. Across the Atlantic, in the Alps, dozens of people have also been killed by them. While, avalanches at this time of year in the northern hemisphere are not unusual, this winter's death toll is higher than normal.

Robert Greenall, digital journalist

What's causing the avalanches?

California has been coming out of a so-called snow drought, and when new snow falls, it's unable to bind to old snow underneath, and remains loose. Europe has seen two major storms in a week and a large amount of heavy snow combined with strong winds.

Is climate change to blame?

Climate change is likely to lead to snow-droughts followed by heavy snow, while warmer temperatures can weaken the snowpack and cause so-called wet avalanches, and also adversely affect a person's chances of surviving one. However, many factors impact the risk of avalanches, and climate change is just one.

What about human behaviour?

The changing behaviour of skiers is also contributing to increased risk. According to a guide in France, people are increasingly going off-piste, skiing in areas where authorities are less able to control the risk of avalanches. Experts says skiers should listen to avalanche forecasts and follow local advice.

Find out more

California rescue: The race against time to reach skiers trapped in California avalanche.

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Watch: A skier who filmed the scene after being hit by the aftermath of an avalanche in Italy tells the BBC of the "panic" as it hit.

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Double avalanche: On Tuesday, three people were killed in two avalanches in France. Three others died in another just days before.

PICK OF THE WEEK

The trend boosting China's soft power

Women wearing traditional costumes pose for photographs in front of a Chinese temple. They have many ornaments in their hair and the temple behind them is lit up. The woman on the left wears a red outfit while the woman on the right wears a light pink one. Both outfits are trimmed with white fur.

'Chinamaxxing' is a social media trend that sees people embrace and adopt Chinese culture. Credit: AFP via Getty Images

Chinese soft power is having a moment - the country's wellness practices are in vogue, Labubu dolls have been one of the most sought-after toys, bubble tea is a thing and tourists are flocking to the "cyberpunk city" of Chongqing. As 'Chinamaxxing' takes over TikTok, just a few years on from the Sinophobia of the Covid pandemic, why is China suddenly cool?

Here's why