BBC News Briefing

13 November, 2025

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

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. After US lawmakers released thousands of files related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, my colleagues report on email exchanges mentioning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. In South Korea, correspondent Hyojung Kim speaks to students preparing for a famously difficult exam. And finally, watch as a humanoid robot falls on stage in Russia.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Epstein emails renew focus on Andrew

A close head and shoulders crop shows Andrew looking down towards the floor while wearing a suit and red tie against a neutral green background with heavy bokeh, in Ascot in 2019.

The documents have brought renewed focus on Andrew's past relationship with Epstein. Credit: Indigo/Getty Images

One of the Epstein email exchanges released by US lawmakers appears to confirm that a photograph was taken of Andrew with Virginia Giuffre. An email from Epstein appeared to tell a journalist: "Yes she [Giuffre] was on my plane and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew." The new information rebuts Andrew's 2019 claim in an interview with BBC's Newsnight that he had never met Ms Giuffre. In the interview, Andrew said: "It didn't happen. I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened" and "I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever." He has always denied any wrongdoing and has not faced any charges.

Read in full

Explainer: What you need to know about the release of the documents and their contents.

Lord Mandelson: Newly released Epstein emails show the two men were still in contact as late as 2016.

Watch: Democratic lawmaker Suhas Subramanyam explains why a congressional committee wants to formally invite Andrew to testify.

Trump signs bill to end longest shutdown

US President Donald Trump signed a spending bill on day 43 of the government shutdown, just hours after the House of Representatives voted 222-209 to approve it. North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher takes stock of the longest shutdown in US history.

Read Anthony's analysis

WORLD HEADLINES

People hold hands to form a human solidarity chain in Place de La Republique in central Paris.

France marks 10 years since Paris terror attack

The recent arrest of an ex-girlfriend of the only surviving attacker has focused minds on the issue of radicalisation.

Hugh Schofield reports >

Vapour rises from a chimney at the Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. Medupi coal-fired power station in Lephalale, South Africa, on Thursday, May 19, 2022. South Africas Eskom is increasing power cuts to prevent a total collapse of the grid as issues grow from lack of imports to breakdowns at its coal-fired plants

Fossil fuel emissions reach new peak, data shows

Planet-warming emissions from the burning of fossil fuels have reached a new record, but the growth rate has slowed.

What this means >

The wrapper of a Chinese oolong tea bag laid along side a pack of ketamine

Drugs disguised as tea wash up on Jeju island

Small bags of what appears to be Chinese tea have been washing ashore on the South Korean island since September.

What happened >

Leonardo DiCaprio wears a blue suit snd stands in front of microphones at a church lectern.

DiCaprio honours Jane Goodall at funeral in DC

The Hollywood star has remembered the primatologist as "gentle, curious, funny, witty, and absolutely unstoppable".

Watch now >

NEWS FROM THE UK

UK economy: Growth slowed by more than expected to 0.1% in the July-to-September period, official figures show.

Finding treasure: The number of unusual, historical items unearthed in England has hit a record high.

Royal Christmas: The Princess of Wales's annual Christmas carol service next month is set to be a star-studded event.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Inside one of the world's longest exams

Han Dong-hyun from Seoul School for the Blind reads a braille practice exam, with the standard printed version placed beside it

The test dictates whether people will be able to go to university, affecting job prospects and income. Credit: BBC/Hosu Lee

More than 550,000 students across South Korea are sitting for the Suneung exam. For most students, it is an eight-hour marathon of back-to-back tests consisting of roughly 200 questions across a range of subjects. Students with severe visual impairments are given extra time. For them, the exam can finish nearly 13 hours after it began - with no dinner break.

Read now