BBC News Briefing

11 June, 2026

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

Alex Binley

Hello. What actually led to the deadly Air India crash? The debate rages on as the report deadline looms. A Sherpa's survival after he went missing on Mount Everest prompts questions. And watch as one of the world's most iconic monuments is lit up by fireworks.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

What caused Air India flight 171 to crash? The furious dispute

All but one of the people on the plane were killed in the crash, along with 19 people on the ground. Credit: Reuters

Almost exactly a year ago, Air India flight 171 left Ahmedabad for London. It crashed less than a minute after taking off, killing at least 260 people. Under international law, a final report detailing what happened - or at least an interim one - must be published within a year. Ahead of Friday's deadline, no conclusions have been released. But a two-paragraph preliminary report, issued a month after the accident, generated a great deal of controversy and intense speculation about the pilots' actions. The inquiry itself has exposed deeper questions about whether national authorities can be trusted to carry out these probes. So, what do we know so far about what may have caused the crash? And could an update reverse the wave of cynicism that has engulfed the investigation?

Correspondent analysis

Analysis: Boeing's 787 Dreamliner was deemed the "safest" of planes, but whistleblowers were always less sure.

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Cockpit audio: Why a recording of the voices of the pilots has deepened the mystery of what happened.

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Sole survivor: Viswash Kumar Ramesh says he's the luckiest man alive, but PTSD from the crash has left him unable to speak to his wife or son.

WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHTS

Catch up on the unmissable moments and our expert analysis each morning.

Infantino: Facing the media for the first time in three years, Fifa's president could have stood up for the World Cup, but didn't, our correpondent writes.

Who will triumph?: Of the teams in the running to lift the trophy, who's most likely to win? Our pundits make their predictions.

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WORLD HEADLINES

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Three Indian sailors killed in US strike on oil tanker

The US military had accused Settebello of violating an American blockade by "attempting to transport oil from Iran".

Latest updates >

A boy with short brown hair wears a blue shirt and is using his phone. The photo is taken from over his shoulder.

Canada proposes teen social media ban

Unlike Australia's law, tech firms could sidestep the ban if they demonstrate they have policies to minimise harm to minors.

How it would work >

An orangutan sits in an enclosure. Wire fencing can be seen behind it and ropes surround it. The animal is covered in long ginger hair and has a round, black face.

Four days of rain killed 7% of world's rarest orangutans

November's rain and landslides in Sumatra pushed the endangered great apes even closer to extinction, a study found.

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A black and white image shows a young girl wearing a swimming costume on the beach. She is looking at the camera and smiling.

Australian inquiry into cold case murders begins

Giving evidence, the brother of a missing UK toddler said the family has lived with the consequences of police failure for 50 years.

More on the cases >

A group of men are celebrating in the street and pulling faces. They are wearing orange and blue ew York Knicks basketball vests.

Knicks fans go wild over huge NBA Finals comeback

After winning by one point in the final 1.2 seconds of the game, the New York team are just one win away from a series victory.

See the pictures >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Rioting: Twelve police officers were injured and a water cannon was fired during a second night of disorder in Northern Ireland. Get the latest.

Ryanair: The budget airline is being investigated by the UK's competition watchdog over charges it imposes on parents to sit next to their child.

Smacking: Hitting children as a form of punishment could result in lower school grades or lead to riskier teenage behaviour, a study has found.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Why Everest guide'