BBC News Briefing

7 July, 2026

Alex has short blonde hair and blue eyes. She is smiling and wearing a black turtleneck

Alex Binley

Hello. French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen has announced she'll run to be president - we'll bring you more on the court ruling that made this possible. We report on a reunion between two cousins separated since 1991. And watch as the stars of The Odyssey grace the red carpet.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Marine Le Pen to run for French presidency and appeal conviction in top court

The head and shoulders of Le Pen are seen from the side. She is smiling and has shoulder-length white hair and is wearing a very pale pink jacket.

Marine Le Pen has led France's leading nationalist party since 2011. Credit: Reuters

Le Pen has said she will run to be president in elections next year, despite losing an appeal against an embezzlement conviction. On Tuesday, the Paris appeal court upheld the 57-year-old's conviction over the misuse of EU funds, but shortened her sentence and reduced her ban on holding public office, clearing the way for her to challenge for the top job. The court also ruled she will have to wear an electronic ankle tag under house arrest for a year. Le Pen said she would now appeal to the country's highest civil court, meaning the requirement to wear the tag is suspended until the Court of Cassation delivers its verdict - likely early in 2027. Le Pen has unsuccessfully run to be president three times, but now leads opinion polls.

GET UP TO SPEED

A close-up image shows a woman with long black hair. She appears to be frowning slightly and is looking to the side.

Monaco bomb attack suspect found dead

The Ukrainian woman's body was found buried in a forest in the Kyiv region with gunshot wounds to the head, officials said.

What we know >

Trump is speaking into the ear of Erdogan. Both men are wearing navy blue suits and blue ties. Erdogan has grey hair and wears black sunglasses. Trump has whiteish blonde hair.

Nato grapples with challenge of rearming Europe

But the US president's inflammatory remarks on arrival punctuated the image of unity, our security correspondent writes.

Frank Gardner's analysis >

The head and shoulders of Prince Harry are seen outside and he is stood infront of a red brick wall. He has thinning ginger hair and a beard and is wearing a dark blue suit.

Harry loses privacy case against newspaper publisher

The High Court judge said the prince and six other claimants had failed to prove the allegations of unlawful information gathering.

More on the case >

A city with a large river running through the middle of it is seen from a distance at night. Clouds are in the sky and a tornado can be seen.

Rare tornado lashes central Chinese cities

Videos show debris flying through the air as the storm swept through Ezhou and Huanggang in Hubei province.

Watch the video >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Nigel Farage: The Reform UK leader has said he will resign as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election which he will stand in. Here's his reasoning why.

Hunger strike: The family of a British couple detained in Iran said they're "desperately worried" over reports they have been denied medical care.

Murder inquiry: An investigation has been launched after a mother and two children were found dead. The suspect is believed to have left the country.

AT THE SCENE

Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border

The bazaar allowing families to reunite after three decades of separation

Two men in white shirts are stood next to each other, smiling. One has short grey hair and the other has short black hair and stubble. They are stood in a room with other people in it. The man with grey hair has his arm around the man with black hair's shoulders.

Ibrat (right) and Ilhom (left) had not seen each other in decades before their emotional reunion. Credit: Ibrat Safo

From Our Own Correspondent: The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to independence for its 15 composite republics, but in some cases, communities and even families were divided as new borders were drawn. Ibrat Safo grew up in Uzbekistan, his cousin Ilhom in Turkmenistan which introduced strict visa rules and became one of the most heavily guarded states in the world. After decades spent apart, a new border-town bazaar allowed a poignant reunion.

Ibrat Safo, reporter

The bazaar means people can see each other visa-free, albeit with the usual airport-style checks when you cross the border. We head to a restaurant in the bazaar, and there Ilhom is with his family and his eldest teenage son, who, I learn, Ilhom named after me. “I wanted him to be like you,” he says. I feel incredibly honoured, but very sad too. All these years, I didn’t even know.

“It’s great, now we can see each other," I say, but what about coming to visit me in Uzbekistan, I ask? “Getting a visa is not that much of a problem… it only takes 10 days,” he says, glancing around. I sense he is worried that someone may be listening, so is trying to sound as upbeat as possible.

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