13 March, 2026
Alex Binley
Hello. Four of the six US crew members on board a refuelling plane that crashed in western Iraq have died, US Central Command (Centcom) has said. We have the latest. After China’s biggest political meeting ended on Thursday, our correspondents report on the three main takeaways. And finally, meet the seal who’s gone viral after being repeatedly spotted in London.
TOP OF THE AGENDA
Deadly crash ‘not due to hostile or friendly fire’, US military says
File photo of a US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling tanker, seen in Israel in February. Credit: EPA
The US refuelling plane that crashed was involved in an “incident” with another aircraft, and neither hostile nor friendly fire was to blame, Centcom has said. It has not given an update on the two crew members who survived the crash. Meanwhile, with the price of oil hovering around $100 (£75) a barrel and Iran vowing to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the US has authorised countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum in a bid to curb price rises. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it wouldn’t “provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government”, but as business reporter Nick Marsh notes, “data shows that Moscow has already become a significant financial beneficiary” from the conflict.
- Oil prices: Why are oil prices fluctuating so much, and what could happen next?
- Analysis: In 2003, “mission accomplished” was declared weeks into the Iraq war. That haunts this conflict, writes security analyst Gordon Corera.
- Anti-missile system: The US is relocating parts of a missile defence system from South Korea to the Middle East, according to reports.
Middle East conflict
Keep up with essential news and insights from the BBC
WORLD HEADLINES
Israeli military drops abuse charges against soldiers
Five soldiers had been accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee who was left needing treatment for internal injuries
Immigration comments ‘may incite hate crimes’
A UN watchdog has warned “racist hate speech” used by Trump and other politicians has fuelled human rights violations.
UFC fighters to train FBI agents
Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes will visit the FBI Special Agent Academy this weekend for a “training seminar”.
Nasa targets early April for Moon mission
The delayed Artemis II mission will see astronauts fly around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
The Oscars: 17 fun facts about this year’s awards
We’re well into awards season and know who has dominated so far. So here are some lesser known nuggets ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.
NEWS FROM THE UK
- Alberta separatists: The King “expressed his concern” over the movement while meeting Indigenous leaders at Buckingham Palace, they said.
- Charity walk: Thomas Judge carried a fridge on his back for miles to raise funds for mental health support. But what happened to the donations?
- Dr Who: Two lost episodes of the series, not seen since 1965, have been found in a collector’s cardboard box. Take a sneak peak ahead of their release.
BEYOND THE HEADLINES
What we learnt from China’s biggest political meeting
China’s push to be the world’s leading superpower depends largely on President Xi Jinping’s ability to manage the economy. Credit: AFP via Getty Images
China’s biggest political gathering – the National People’s Congress (NPC) – has come to an end. Although it effectively functions as a rubber-stamp parliament, approving decisions made behind closed doors by the top echelons of the Chinese Communist Party, its announcements signal the priorities of the world’s second-largest economy. Our correspondents explain what we can learn about where China is heading from the tightly-controlled and heavily scripted meeting.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Tudor living
Plenty of houses around the UK still showcase 16th-Century living.
And finally… in London
Seals aren’t a common sight in London. However, one seal – who has been named Simon by a passer-by – has gone viral after she posted him on TikTok. Take a look.
US Politics Unspun
Expert insight into what really matters from North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, sent every Wednesday
MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS
- World of Business: Gain the leading edge with global insights for the boardroom and beyond, every Wednesday from New York. Sign up.
- The Essential List: The best of the BBC, handpicked by our editors, delivered straight to your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. Sign up.
- Tech Decoded: Get timely, trusted tech news direct to your inbox, every Monday and Friday. Sign up.
Thank you, as ever, for reading. Send us suggestions for topics or areas of the world to cover in this newsletter. Tell your friends and family about it! They can sign up here. You can take a look at all our newsletters here.
By the way, you can add newsbriefing@email.bbc.com to your contacts list and, if you’re on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading!
– Alex
Follow us here
You’ve received this email because you’ve signed up to the BBC’s News Briefing newsletter.
To find out how we use your data, see the BBC Privacy Policy
BBC Studios Distribution Limited.
Registered Number: 01420028 England
Registered office: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FA, United Kingdom
