BBC News Briefing

22 June, 2026

Alex Binley

Hello. Events have been moving swiftly in Westminster today - we'll bring you the latest. In Ukraine, Russian forces have infiltrated a strategic city which is seen as key to seizing the rest of the Donbas region. And finally, find out why a Nigerian wedding was really quite rare.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Why Andy Burnham looks likely to replace Sir Keir Starmer as next UK prime minister

Andy Burnham has short dark hair and wars glasses. He is wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt and silver tie and holding a phone up to take a selfie. He is surrounded by around 200 people who are all stood behind him and smiling for a selfie. They are in Westminster Hall and a large window is seen behind them.

Burnham was greeted with cheers from around 200 Labour MPs as they posed for a photo with him in Westminster Hall. Credit: PA

The UK could have a new prime minister as early as a month, political correspondent Jack Fenwick writes, after leading candidate Andy Burnham's most likely Labour Party leadership rival, former health secretary Wes Streeting, announced he was backing the ex-mayor of Greater Manchester for the top job. As yet, no other Labour MPs have said they will stand against him. What's more, "if there was any doubt the leadership election is over before it began" Burnham's reception in Westminster "ought to expunge it", writes chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman in our live page. You can get the latest, here. So, what happens next, and how can the UK get a new PM without holding a general election? Find out more, here.

Jack's analysis

GET UP TO SPEED

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Vance says Iran will allow nuclear inspectors in

The US vice-president said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency could happen this week.

What it means >

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Myanmar army killed 700 civilians in six months - UN

During the election period, at least 702 people were killed, including 224 women and 153 children.

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Three women and a man are standing in a group and taking a selfie in front of a pagoda and surrounded by blossom. Two of the women are wearing white kimonos with purple and yellow spots on. The third woman is wearing a pink kimono and the man is wearing a grey jumper.

Japan quintuples visa fees in first price hike since 1978

From 1 July, single-entry visa fees will increase from the current 3,000 yen ($18.69; £14) to 15,000 yen ($93; £70).

Why prices are rising >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Jeffrey Donaldson: A former MP has been found guilty of 18 child sex abuse charges, including one of rape. Here's what happened at trial.

Edinburgh: A man has appeared in court charged with five counts of attempted murder linked to terrorism, following alleged anti-Muslim attacks.

Hosting strangers: When a couple moved from India to Belfast, they found it hard to make friends - so they came up with a novel solution. What they did.

AT THE SCENE

Kyiv, Ukraine

Russian troop build-up threatens city seen as key to seizing Ukraine's Donbas

Two men hold a red flag with a hammer and sickle showing they are part of a Russian unit in a video posted by Russia's defence ministry. The men are wearing dark greeen military jumpsuits and carry guns.

Russia posted footage showing troops on the ground in Kostyantynivka. Credit: Russian defence ministry

Russian troops have infiltrated the strategic city of Kostyantynivka in eastern Ukraine and are now trying to surround it. If it falls, Russian forces would be able to push towards Ukraine's last remaining strongholds in the east and move closer to seizing the Donbas completely - one of the Kremlin's key objectives in the war.

Abdujalil's face is seen and he is speaking. He has short grey hair and is wearing a lilac shirt with a coat on top

Abdujalil Abdurasulov, senior journalist

The entire city is now effectively in a "grey zone", no longer controlled by anyone, Ukrainian soldiers have told the BBC. "They [Russian forces] get into areas behind our backs and in urban conditions it's extremely difficult to push them out," says a Ukrainian drone pilot who operates in that area and prefers to remain anonymous.

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The fall of Kostyantynivka "is a matter of time", says Ukrainian frontline monitoring project DeepState. Once that happens, logistical operations in the area will be more complicated and even remaining in Kramatorsk will become "extremely dangerous", it reports.

Keep reading

Analysis: Kyiv's strike on a Moscow oil refinery brought the Kremlin's war in Ukraine closer to home, writes Russia editor Steve Rosenberg.

Watch: Will Russian President Vladimir Putin change tactics after frequent Ukrainian drone attacks?

Take a look: Some Russian families have been using AI to 'resurrect' loved ones killed in Ukraine.