BBC News Briefing

21 August, 2025

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

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. A wave of Russian strikes has hit Ukraine overnight, with an American manufacturer among the sites targeted. My colleagues have the latest. In China, correspondent Stephen McDonell reports on the progress achieved so far in the race to save the finless porpoise from extinction. And finally, an exhibition in London takes us inside Downton Abbey.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Biggest Russian aerial attack since July

Officials said the attacks included drones, hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missiles. Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Ukrainian officials have counted 614 drones and other missiles fired by Russia overnight in the biggest air attack since July. Several areas of Ukraine came under attack, including western regions where an American electronics factory was hit. President Volodymyr Zelensky said one person had been killed in the city of Lviv and 15 people had been injured in the region of Transcarpathia. The attacks came as US President Donald Trump spearheads diplomatic moves to halt the war. The Ukrainian leader has said he is willing to meet his Russian counterpart for talks "in any format".

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'Fortress belt': For Ukraine, the loss of territory in the Donetsk region would mean the fall of a bulwark against any future Russian advance.

First ladies' diplomacy: Why Olena Zelenska had her husband deliver a letter addressed to Melania Trump during his meeting with the US president.

Russian attacks: Earlier this month, BBC Verify found that the number of drones and missiles fired towards Ukraine have more than doubled since Trump returned to the White House in January.

WORLD HEADLINES

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC on 22 July 2025.

ICC 'deplores' new US sanctions on staff

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused the court of being "an instrument of lawfare" against the US and Israel.

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Xi Jinping waves at a crowd in front of a backdrop of hundreds of dancers. He is wearing a blue suit and a white scarf over his neck.

China's leader touts unity in surprise Tibet visit

Xi Jinping has attended a ceremony to mark 60 years since China created the autonomous region after annexing it.

What happened >

A man in a sweat-suit and flip flops walks away from stairs leading to a beach in Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey. Next to him his a red flag reading 'Danger Rip Currents'. The sky ion the background is overcast as Hurricane Erin nears the east coast.

Hurricane Erin thrashes North Carolina coast

Forecasters expect the storm, which is packing maximum sustained winds of 105mph (168km/h), to peak by Thursday.

What to know >

Close-up of a yellow sign warning of bear sightings in Japan, showing a drawing of a menacing black bear

'Bear victim' actually killed by son, Japan police say

An elderly man believed to have been killed by a bear was, in fact, stabbed to death by his son, according to the police.

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Frank Caprio is bald, has brown eyes and wears glasses. He is smiling and wearing a suit at a red carpet event.

'Nicest judge in the world' Frank Caprio dies aged 88

Beloved for his compassion and humour, videos from Judge Caprio's show Caught in Providence have had billions of views.

Watch the highlights >

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

The race to save China's finless porpoise

A Yangtze finless river porpoise underwater looks into the camera

Scientists say the porpoises get excited in the company of humans, and they certainly appear to be showing off.

The finless porpoise, one the last large animal species living in China's Yangtze River, is considered to be critically endangered. With the help of the local community and support from authorities in enforcing a fishing ban, scientists are starting to see progress in their efforts to protect the cetaceans.

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Seen over the shoulder of a man taking a picture on a phone, three people can be seen posining in front of a Lawson store in Japan. The front of it is white and blue, and Mount Fuji which is surrounded by cloud and has a snow-capped top, can be seen.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Ditch the travel bucket list

We all add the same places to our lists – and that's having a negative impact.

Here's why