BBC News Briefing

7 March, 2025

Sofia has shoulder-length light brown hair and brown eyes and wears a green blouse.

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. US President Donald Trump has made more concessions on tariffs against Canada and Mexico. Correspondent Will Grant looks at how the Mexican president has been playing her diplomatic cards. Throughout the day, women in Afghanistan share with the BBC snippets of everyday life under Taliban rule - and you can get involved, too. And finally, King Charles III creates a playlist of his favourite artists. But first, test your news knowledge in our weekly quiz.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Sheinbaum succeeds as Trudeau struggles

Claudia Sheinbaum wears her brin hair in a high ponytail. She is smiling while pointing her finger in front of her.

Mexico's first female president appears to have found a way to work with her US counterpart. Credit: Reuters

President Trump has expanded the list of goods exempted from tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico this week. In announcing the change, Trump praised his Mexican counterpart, Claudia Sheinbaum. "Our relationship has been a very good one and we are working hard, together, on the border," he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. The statement drew a sharp contrast to the barbs reserved for the US's northern neighbour Canada and its Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom Trump has called "governor" in reference to his remarks on making Canada the "51st state" of his country. It is testament to Sheinbaum's diplomacy, writes Will Grant, that Trump seems to genuinely appreciate her tone, clarity and overall demeanour in their interactions.

Read now

Tariff exemptions: For the second time in two days, Trump on Thursday rolled back his taxes on imports from the US's two biggest trade partners.

Jack Daniels: The drink's manufacturer Brown-Forman has criticised Canadian provinces for pulling US alcohol off store shelves in response to tariffs.

Trade war: Trump's tariffs strike at the heart of China's manufacturing juggernaut.

WORLD HEADLINES

Smoke rises from a pile of rubble on a sunny day.

At least 18 wounded in overnight Russian attack

Energy and gas infrastructure also came "under massive missile and drone shelling", Ukraine's energy minister said.

Get the latest >

Four Syrian soldiers sit in the back of a white Toyota truck driving at nighttime.

Syrian forces clash with Assad loyalists

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 70 people have been killed.

What happened >

A mugshot of Brad Sigmon. HE has white hair, white moustache and blue eyes. He is wearing a white tshirt.

South Carolina man to be executed by firing squad

Brad Sigmon's execution would be the first in the US to use that method of capital punishment in more than a decade.

What to know >

The front side of the Gare du Nord train stration in Paris.

WW2 bomb discovery disrupts Paris train station

The bomb was found "in the middle of the tracks" in the area of Saint-Denis during overnight works, local media reported.

Find out more >

A file photo of Pope Francis shows him speaking into a microphone while sat on a white armchair with a gold motif on top. He is wearing the white papal robes, a teal cape, and a silver crucifix.

Pope Francis shares voice message from hospital

The short, two-line message was played during a nightly prayer service for the pope in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Listen now >

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

How Afghan women live under Taliban rule

Three girls are sat with their backs to the camera on low stone seats on a pavement in front of a meadow of wildflowers. The one sat in the middle wears a purple veil and appears younger than the two others sat by her side. The girls to either side of her are wearing a blue burqa, only their shoes peaking out. On their right, a young girl leans against the tree and looks into the camera. Her hair is covered with a pink veil and she is wearing a black dress, black trousers, and pink shoes.

The Taliban have sought to silence women in public and restrict their choices on clothing, education and travel. Credit: Nava Jamshidi/BBC

The BBC is spending the day with women across Afghanistan to understand what life is like under the Taliban government since it took power in 2021. If you have a question for the women about their daily life, you can write to [email protected], WhatsApp: +44 7980 682727 or this online form.

Read their stories

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Clean sound

Post-fire work has subtly altered how sound bounces around Notre-Dame's walls.

Read now

And finally...

King Charles III has created a personal playlist of music that lifts his spirits, brings back memories and celebrates music from Commonwealth countries. The full choice of tracks, with more royal commentary, will be published on Monday to mark Commonwealth Day. Here's a sneak peek at some of the featured artists.

US Politics Unspun newsletter

No noise. No agenda. Just expert analysis of the issues that matter most, from North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Subscribe here

MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS

The Essential List: The best of the BBC, handpicked by our editors, in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe.

World of Business: Gain the leading edge with global insights for the boardroom and beyond, every Wednesday. Subscribe.

Tech Decoded: Get timely, trusted tech news direct to your inbox, every Monday and Friday. Subscribe.

Thank you, as ever, for reading. Send us suggestions for topics or areas of the world to cover in this newsletter. Tell your friends and family about it! They can sign up here. You can take a look at all our newsletters here.

By the way, you can add [email protected] to your contacts list and, if you're on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading!

– Sofia

You've received this email because you've signed up to the BBC News Briefing newsletter.

Click here to unsubscribe

To find out how we use your data, see the BBC Privacy Policy.

BBC Studios Distribution Limited.

Registered Number: 01420028 England

Registered office: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FA, United Kingdom