BBC News Briefing

27 August, 2025

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

Alex Binley

Hello. Indian goods entering the US now face some of the highest tariffs in the world after import taxes of 50% came into force. A jailed political activist in Iran has told the BBC how she believed she would die in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Evin Prison. And finally, take a look at some of this year's best wildlife photos.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Modi urges self-reliance as India braces for tariff impact

Narendra Modi wears a birght orange turban and orange jacket over a white shirt. He has a white bead and wears frameless glasses. He is raising a finger and appears to be giving a speech. He is seen side-on and a building can be seen in the background

Modi has urged small shop owners and businesses to put up 'Made in India' boards outside their stores. Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Donald Trump's steep 50% tariffs on Indian goods imported into the US have kicked in, weeks after the American president upped the current penalty over Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. Amidst fears the steep import taxes could deal a blow to India's economy, Delhi has entered firefighting mode, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising a Diwali gift in the form of a "massive tax bonanza". He called for more self-reliance in the country as its export-driven industries brace for the impact of the tariffs. And although the external crisis shows no sign of ebbing, experts say that tax reforms that put more money into the public’s hands could help soften some of the blow.

Tariffs explained: Why does Trump use import taxes and could they raise prices for US consumers?

Factories' fears: Despite measures by the Indian government to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, many business owners are worried about the effects the levies will have.

Russian oil: India will continue to buy oil from wherever it "gets the best deal" in order to protect the interests of its 1.4 billion people, the country's ambassador to Russia has said.

WORLD HEADLINES

A village of brightly coloured houses with black roofs sit on the edge of the sea shore. All the land is covered in deep snow and a mountain can be seen in the background

US diplomat summoned over Greenland 'operation'

It’s been alleged that American citizens have been conducting covert operations to promote Greenland joining the US.

What happened >

A split image shows two men. The man on the left is wearing a black police uniform and hat and has his arms behind his back and is smiling. The man n the right is outdoors, crouching down next to a brown dog. He is also smiling and wears a checked shirt and jeans

Police killed in Australia shooting named

Police say the suspect - named as local man Dezi Freeman, 56 - is heavily armed and "still at large".

What we know >

Trump wears a navy blue suit, white shirt and dark red tie. He has white-blond hair and is speaking an desturing upwards with his hand. A number of flags can be seen behind him

Trump calls for death penalty for DC murders

The president said it would be a "preventative measure" but didn't say how he would seek to implement the change.

Could it happen? >

A tall, thin, grey rocket launches into the sky. Huge orange flames and grey smoke covers the ground it is launching from.

SpaceX Starship completes successful test flight

Elon Musk's rocket, earmarked for use in a 2027 mission to the Moon, has had several catastrophic failures in previous launches.

Watch the video >

Artwork looted by Nazis spotted in estate agent ad

The Italian master painting was stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish art dealer in Amsterdam more than 80 years ago.

Read more >

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

'I thought it was the end of my life': Inside Israel's attack on Iran's Evin Prison

A man stands pointing upwards inside the shell of a building. Everything is destroyed and there are huge piles of rubble everywhere. The man is wearing a dark top and trousers. The walls of the building have been destroyed and trees and sunlight can be seen in the background.

The prison became the site of the deadliest Israeli strike on Iranian soil in terms of civilian casualties. Credit: Getty Images

As Israel hit Iran's Evin Prison with missile strikes in June, Motahareh Goonei believed she would die in the notorious jail after guards wouldn't open her door. Despite this, prisoners rushed to help injured staff, the political activist said. Witness accounts, satellite imagery and verified footage obtained by the BBC reveal new details of the attack and of those who died.

What happened

Aerial view of a table where a series of dark-coloured plates display leftovers of chicken and crustaceans.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

No fixe prix

A Michelin-starred restaurant champions a "Pay What You Can" initiative.

Here's why