Plus: All aboard China's 'silver train' ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. US President Donald Trump has welcomed Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House. My colleague Laura Gozzi details the warm relationship between the two leaders. In China, our correspondent Stephen McDonell boards a "silver train", a service designed with older travellers' enjoyment - and spending habits - in mind. And finally, the World Press Photo picks its 2025 winners.
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | The 'Trump whisperer' looks for balance |
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| | Trump says there will "100%" be an EU tariff deal while welcoming Meloni to the White House. Credit: Reuters | Italy's Meloni was the first European leader to visit Washington since earlier this month, when Trump announced 20% tariffs on the EU, which were then suspended for a 90-day period. At this fraught moment, she is seen as someone who can walk a tightrope between representing the interests of the EU and remaining in the US president's good books, writes Laura Gozzi. Key points of the talks were trade and a ceasefire in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff were in Paris to discuss an end to the war with other European and Ukrainian top officials. Trump said he expects to sign a minerals deal with Ukraine next week. |
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| Six injured in shooting at Florida State University | One person was taken into custody after the shooting, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner. | What we know > |
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| Trump threatens Harvard with foreign student ban | In an ongoing dispute, the US government has threatened to ban Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. | Read more > |
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| | | Fyre Festival 2 postponed, US media reports | The reboot of the 2017 festival whose organiser landed in prison for wire fraud is facing scheduling and location issues. | Get the details > |
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| A train for retirees to spend and relax | | China has a growing ageing population and it is struggling with a low birthrate. Credit: BBC/Rachel Yu | Retirees are a key target of China's endeavour to increase domestic spending to lessen reliance on foreign trade. The government wants them to spend some of their savings, and initiatives like the "silver trains", tailored specifically to older travellers, aim to do just that. |
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| | Stephen McDonell, China correspondent |
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| | On board the Star Express, the cocktails are poured and the karaoke microphone is passed around, as retirees party their way through China's south-western Yunnan province. The roast goose is being devoured with shots of baijiu, a Chinese white spirit alcohol.
"We have been working hard all these years," says 66-year-old Daniel Ling, who is travelling with a group of retired or semi-retired friends. "The important thing when we reach this age, is to know what is the right thing to do - and that is to really enjoy life." |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | South African safari | An area once largely depleted of wildlife is now home to around 5,000 animals. | |
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And finally... through the lens | A haunting image of a young Gazan boy recovering from injuries he suffered in an Israeli airstrike has been named World Press Photo of the Year for 2025. Take a look at this and other winners from a series of regional categories, with arresting images capturing the moments after Trump's assassination attempt, life among the Ngāi Tūhoe people of New Zealand and Zambia's elephant whisperers. | |
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US Politics Unspun newsletter | No noise. No agenda. Just expert analysis of the issues that matter most, from North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. | |
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MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS | | The Essential List: The best of the BBC, handpicked by our editors, in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe. | | World of Business: Gain the leading edge with global insights for the boardroom and beyond, every Wednesday. Subscribe. | | Tech Decoded: Get timely, trusted tech news direct to your inbox, every Monday and Friday. Subscribe. | |
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