BBC News Briefing

15 September, 2026

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

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. President Donald Trump has said fears about AI are a "hoax" - but could Congress act? In Egypt, a popular US cartoon character has become a satirical symbol. And finally, we bring you the highlights - and the winners - from the Emmy Awards.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Congress divided as calls grow for action

A view of the US Capitol on a sunny, cloudless day

Proposed AI safety bills include independent reviews, a federal "kill switch" and a data centres moratorium. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Trump's view that "the only control" needed to tackle AI is a "strong and smart" president is, unsurprisingly, not shared by senior Democrats in Congress. However, despite House Speaker Mike Johnson facing a barrage of questions about AI in the wake of tech bosses' calls for regulation, new safety legislation is unlikely any time soon, our correspondents report. Trump's staunch opposition to new guardrails means that Republicans are unlikely to break from him. Time is also a challenge, with the House due to go on recess at the end of the week. And Democrats are themselves divided. There are diverging legislative proposals already on Capitol Hill, showing a lack of consensus in Congress - but also an urgency to take action. What could happen next?

Read full analysis

China's message: The country has criticised what it called "threat narratives" over AI governance.

AI warnings: How real are the concerns that the technology could threaten humanity?

Simple explainer: What you need to know about artificial intelligence and how it's used.

WORLD HEADLINES

The Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) is pictured in northern Greenland, on October 4, 2023. It shows a large satelitte dish in front of containers, with a cloudy orange sky in the background.

US confirms space weapons deployment

It's the first time such offensive capabilities have been acknowledged, but no details were given about the weapon's operation.

What we know >

Nato jets down drone that entered Lithuania airspace

Authorities said fighter pilots have shot down a drone that likely entered the country from neighbouring Belarus.

What happened >

Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina Anderson are seen close up with a plane behind them. She is on the right in a blacktop, tan trench coat and black sunglasses. Her hair is pulled back. He is wearing a blue suit and red tie.

Putin ally paid for part of Donald Trump Jr's wedding

The couple's festivities on a private island in the Bahamas were partially funded by oligarch Umar Kremlev.

Read more >

China tightens travel restrictions for citizens

The law will apply to anyone thought to be a threat to the country's industrial or technological security.

More details >

Miley Cyrus, Cher and Madonna wear Mackie designs.

Fashion designer Bob Mackie dies aged 87

From old Hollywood's Marilyn Monroe to singer Sabrina Carpenter, he dressed top stars, on and off the stage, for decades.

See his designs >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Retirement funds: The state pension is expected to rise by £488 ($657) a year in April, reigniting a debate around generational fairness.

Balaclava ban: The city of Nottingham has introduced the measure following residents' complaints about people wearing face coverings.

Harry and Meghan: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have changed their children's school, days after they started, over security concerns.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

How SpongeBob became the star of a controversial Egyptian trend

A man wearing a red keffiyeh sits in the doorway of a shop with items of display outside, in a bazaar in Old Cairo

The Facebook group was named after the Arab name for SpongeBob's underwater home of Bikini Bottom. Credit: EPA-EFE

The character SpongeBob SquarePants has become an unlikely symbol of political dissent in Egypt. A Facebook group started posting AI-generated versions of the hit cartoon that criticised the government, gathering 1.8m followers in just a couple of weeks. The content has since spread widely across social media, even after the group was suspended, amid reports of official scrutiny.

Read now

A yawning woman with long brown hair wears brown pyjamas and a pink, satin eyemask. Her eyes are shut and her head is on a pillow. Cartoons are shows next to her head showing papers, alarm clocks and the letter Z.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

How to catch up on sleep...

Early nights and lie-ins might not be as effective as you think.

What to do

And finally... at the Emmy's

What a night for Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, who has become the first person to win two lead acting prizes in a single night at the prestigious US awards ceremony. See the full list of winners and, of course, the most striking looks from the red carpet.