BBC News Briefing

1 July, 2025

Sofia has long brown hair and brown eyes and is wearing a green top.

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. The US Senate has narrowly passed a mega-bill on tax and spending. My colleagues Brandon Drenon and Ana Faguy report on the vote. In the latest episode of From Our Own Correspondent, Russia editor Steve Rosenberg finds an economic summit in St Petersburg to be very focused on defence. And finally, watch as millions of "lovebugs" swarm a hiking spot.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

JD Vance casts tie-breaking vote in Senate

U.S. Vice President JD Vance walks past security at the U.S. Capitol. He has brown hair, blue eyes and a beard. He is wearing a blue suit and blue tie with a US flag pinned to his lapel.

Three Republicans voted with Democrats against the bill. Credit: Reuters

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has been approved by the US Senate, with Vice-President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote after more than 24 hours of debate. The spending bill now heads back to the House, or lower chamber, where it still faces more opposition. Last month, disagreements over the legislation led President Donald Trump to fall out with his ally, Elon Musk. The dispute between the two reignited this week, with Trump suggesting that Doge, the cost-cutting agency Musk helped set up, could be used to hurt the billionaire's companies.

More on the bill

GET UP TO SPEED

Male and female Danish soldiers stand to attention. They are wearing green berets and camouflage overalls with the Danish flag displayed on the left arm.

Danish women to face conscription by lottery

Under new rules, both men and women turning 18 are required to register to be assessed for potential military service.

What to know >

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, wearing a sage-coloured blazer and white top, arrives with fellow cabinet members before a cabinet meeting at Government House in Bangkok on 1 July

Thai PM suspended over leaked phone call

Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing pressure to resign over her leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

Here's why >

President Trump stands in front of cage with multiple bunk beds inside.

Trump tours controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Around 1,000 migrants are expected to be held in the new immigration detention centre in Florida as soon as next month.

Read now >

BTS wearing yellow suits, pictured on stage at the American Music Awards in 2021

K-pop band BTS confirm new album and tour

Now that all seven members have completed military service, the group said they would begin working on new music.

Read more >

AT THE SCENE

St Petersburg, Russia

Russia puts military might on display

Russian President Vladimir Putin has blond-gray hair and blue eyes. He is speaking at the summit and he is wearing a blue sit and a red tie.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin spoke at the gathering on 20 June. Credit: Reuters

From Our Own Correspondent: The St Petersburg International Economic Forum is usually seen as an opportunity to entice foreign investment into Russia. This year, the summit seemed to be much more geared towards defence – and the promotion of Russia’s military might.

Steve Rosenberg, Russia editor

Ever since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the goal of economic prosperity has come a distant second to the Kremlin’s main objective: defeating Ukraine. And the St Petersburg International Economic Forum did little to hide that.

‌

True, there were lots of shiny, sparkling display stands and company presentations, futuristic robots and AI galore. But on arrival the very first thing you saw, on display outside, was the latest range of Russian military vehicles. Inside, the Ukrainian regions that Russia has seized, occupied and claimed to have annexed had been given their own display stands and were flying Russian flags.

Listen now

Inside Mariupol: The BBC has spoken to more than half a dozen people to piece together a real picture of what life is like in the Russia-occupied city.

Ukrainian strike: Three people have been killed and 45 taken to hospital following an attack on a factory in the city of Izhevsk - more than 1,000km (620 miles) from the border, Russian authorities say.

Azerbaijan tensions: The death of two brothers in Russian custody have laid bare a diplomatic rift between the former allies.

Lois Land and Superman face one another amid a pile of rubble

‌

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

July's top 10 films

From superheroes to dinosaurs, here's what's hitting the big screen.