BBC News Briefing

17 March, 2026

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

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. As the war in Iran enters a third week with no clear end in sight, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher looks at how the conflict could define Donald Trump's presidency. Health and wellbeing reporter Ruth Clegg hears from the young men pursuing the "looksmaxxing" aesthetic. And finally, watch a crowd in Mexico attempting a Guinness World Record for largest football lesson ahead of the World Cup.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Trump seeks to delay China trip over war

US President Donald Trump receives a model of a B‑2 bomber commemorating 'Operation Midnight Hammer' during an event on Monday

Petrol prices in the US have increased since the start of the war and could hurt Trump's popularity if they remain high. Credit: Reuters

In public remarks at the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump discussed the war in Iran and announced that the US had requested to delay a planned presidential trip to China in early April because of the war. Anthony Zurcher writes that Trump is confronting a lesson previous US leaders have learned the hard way - that war can consume a presidency, whether they want it to or not. None of Trump's present choices are without risk, he writes, and the odds of a quick and easy resolution are dwindling.

Read Anthony's analysis

War aims: Security correspondent Frank Gardner takes a look at what the US, Israel, the Gulf States and Iran want from the war.

Iranian footballers: After Australia granted seven players humanitarian visas to stay in the country, only two have decided to stay.

Get the latest: Israel says Iranian security chief Ali Larijani has been killed in strike. Follow live updates.

WORLD HEADLINES

Dozens killed after rehab centre hit in Afghanistan

The Taliban government has blamed the strike on Pakistan, which denied hitting any health facility.

What happened >

Gavin Newsom has combed back grey hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a blue suit and a shirt and his left index finger is raised as he speaks.

Trump mocks Newsom's dyslexia

Trump said people with learning disabilities should not be president, as he renewed jabs at the California governor.

Trump's full remarks >

Motorists wait in a queue to refuel their vehicles at a filling station in Wellawatte on the outskirts of Colombo

Wednesdays off in Sri Lanka to conserve fuel

The island nation is grappling with possible fuel shortages in the wake of the US and Israel's war with Iran.

More details >

Two people holding a flashlight while walking on a dark street.

Millions without power as Cuba's grid collapses

The country's chronic fuel shortages have been exacerbated by a recent US blockade on oil shipments to the island.

What to know >

Kouri Richins has her brown hair tied in a low updo and wears a black blazer in court.

Utah grief author guilty of poisoning her husband

A mother who published a children's book about grief after the death of her husband has been found guilty of his murder.

Read more >

NEWS FROM THE UK

UK-US relations: PM Sir Keir Starmer is confident that he is making the right choices with the war in Iran, writes political editor Chris Mason.

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Meningitis outbreak: A father says his family is "beyond devastated" after his 18-year-old daughter died of the disease.

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SNL UK: Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed have been named as the first three hosts of the new British version of Saturday Night Live.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Inside the world of looksmaxxing

Marvin, a young man looking to the side with a defined jaw, wavy hair and some facial hair

Influencers have brought looksmaxxing out of niche underground subcultures and made it more mainstream. Credit: @marv.maxed

A growing number of young men are going to great lengths to get what they see as the perfect face and body. As Ruth Clegg discovers, "lookmaxxing" involves a range of daily tasks - from workouts in the gym and a good skincare routine, to taking growth hormones and unregulated peptides. But some believe it's a gateway to a more sinister world.

Read now