BBC News Briefing

25 April, 2025

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

Alex Binley

Hello. Russia's foreign minister has said Moscow is "ready to reach a deal" on Ukraine. As US President Donald Trump's special envoy meets Russia's president, it remains to be seen what concessions - if any - Moscow is prepared to make. And as billionaire Elon Musk prepares to spend less time on US government work, we take a look at what this means for the Department of Government Efficiency. Plus, test your news knowledge and try our quiz of the week.

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TOP OF THE AGENDA

Trump envoy in Moscow to meet Putin

A soldier stands close to the camera and is slightly blurred. He is wearing khaki clothing and holds a gun. Close to his a missile is fired into the air

Although negotiations about talks are ongoing, the war shows no signs of abating. Credit: Reuters

Moscow is "ready to reach a deal" with the US to end the war in Ukraine, Russia's foreign secretary has said. Appearing on US TV, Sergei Lavrov said some elements still need to be "fine-tuned". This deal is expected to be the focus of a meeting on Friday between President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. That meeting will take place in Moscow, where a senior Russian general has been killed in a car bomb attack. In Ukraine, three people - including a child - have been killed in a Russian drone strike.

Get the latest

Klitschko on peace: The mayor of Kyiv has suggested Ukraine may have to temporarily give up territory in order to get a deal to end the war.

War's background: More than three years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. Here's why President Putin ordered it and what he hoped to achieve.

Russian general death: The killing of Yaroslav Moskalik is not the first time Russian military figures have been attacked since the start of the war, but targeted assassinations in Moscow are rare.

WORLD HEADLINES

A white house with a tiled roof has a large hole in the side of it, as if it has been hit by artillery fire. In front of the house are some trees

Israel admits its troops killed UN worker in Gaza

Israel had previously denied responsibility for the tank fire which killed Bulgarian Marin Valev Marinov.

More on this >

A woman wearing a black coat and scarf walks along a city street, holding a takeaway coffee cup. She has long dark hair and is looking across the street

California passes Japan as fourth largest economy

The US state has become the fourth largest global economic force after Germany, China and the rest of the US.

Read more >

Bolsonaro has dark hair which is greying around the temples. He is wearing a yellow T-shirt with a striped white, green and yellow collar. He appears to be hot - looking a bit red in the face and with sweaty hair

Health of Bolsonaro has worsened, doctors say

The ex-president is in intensive care and will undergo tests following intestinal surgery earlier this month, his team said.

More on Bolsonaro >

A yellow sign says 'elections Canada vote' on it in black, with an arrow pointing to the right. Another sign can be seen in the background, and the legs of a person walking along

What are Canadian parties pledging ahead of election?

From the relationship with the US to tackling price rises, here's what the parties are promising ahead of Monday's vote.

Find out >

A man wearing a beige T-short ridesa scooter along a road. In the background buildings are tilted and there is rubble, following an earthquake

Astrologer arrested for predicting new earthquake

In the TikTok video which was viewed 3m times, the man warned that an earthquake would hit every town in Myanmar.

What happened >

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Will Elon Musk really leave Doge and what happens when he does?

Elon Musk wears a black coat and cap and stands with his arms folded, in front of a window with yellow curtains. He is looking down at Trump who is closer to the camera and blurred. He is looking to the side and speaking

As a 'special government employee', Musk can only work for the government for up to 130 days per year. Credit: Reuters

Back in December, Elon Musk wrote on his social media platform, X: "The final step of DOGE is to delete itself." Earlier this week, it appeared he may have taken the first step towards achieving this, when he announced that he will be reducing the amount of time he spends working at the Department of Government Efficiency, in a move that has left many unanswered questions.

Read now

Evelyn De Morgan's apocalyptic Death of the Dragon (1914-18) is an allegory about World War One. It depicts an aneglic figure standing in front of a sea with a female figure holding up a hand towards it with a broken chain around their wrist. A second figure, on the right-hand side, is a man kneeling in a praying poise with chains around his wrists. There is also a dragon on each side.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Overlooked allegory

The paintings of Evelyn De Morgan explore the traumas of World War One.

Here's how