BBC News Briefing

13 September, 2024

Andrew McFarlane

Hello. The presence of a conspiracy theorist on the campaign trail with Donald Trump has been raising eyebrows in the US. Bernd Debusmann Jr and Merlyn Thomas run through Laura Loomer's background. I'm also serving up a taste of coffee made without beans, a spooky-sounding wedding and a wonderful tale of amateur footballers becoming celebrities, in what is my last selection of features as I move on from the News Briefing team. Thanks for reading over the past year or so, and for all the insightful comments and warm feedback that's landed in our inbox. It has been a pleasure. Have a great weekend!

GET UP TO SPEED

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is due to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House, where they're expected to discuss allowing Ukraine to fire long-range weapons into Russia. Get the latest.

Thirty-seven people - including three Americans, a Briton, a Belgian and a Canadian national - have been sentenced to death over an attempt to overthrow the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Justin Timberlake has been ordered to do community service and make a public safety announcement after pleading guilty to driving while impaired.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

The Trump supporter in the spotlight

Laura Loomer has dark hair tied back and wears sunglasses with a T-shirt reading: 'Donald Trump did nothing wrong!' In the background, news crews can be seen holding cameras and using smartphones.

Ms Loomer has twice run for Congress - with Trump's support. Credit: Getty Images

The presence of hard-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer with Donald Trump on the US presidential campaign trail has raised questions about her influence. Some Republicans blame her for Trump's repetition of baseless claims that illegal immigrants have been eating pets in an Ohio city.

Bernd Debusmann Jr & Merlyn Thomas

Who is Laura Loomer?

Born in Arizona in 1993, the self-styled investigative journalist has worked as an activist and commentator for organisations including Project Veritas and Alex Jones's Infowars. Now, she is known for her vocal support of Trump and for promoting a long string of conspiracy theories including claims that Vice-President Kamala Harris is not black, and that the son of billionaire George Soros was sending cryptic messages calling for Trump's assassination.

Why is she in the spotlight?

Ms Loomer is well-known for spreading a conspiracy theory that the 9/11 attacks were an "inside job" carried out by the US government. She joined Trump at an event on Wednesday commemorating the attacks, raising eyebrows and prompting outrage in some US media outlets. And on Tuesday, the 31-year-old travelled to Philadelphia on board Trump's plane for the presidential debate in the city.

How close is she to the former president?

The level of access Ms Loomer has to Trump is unclear. Ms Loomer did not respond to several requests for comment from the BBC. But on X, formerly Twitter, she said that she operates "independently" to help Trump. She told the Associated Press she did not work for the campaign and was "invited as a guest" to the 9/11 commemoration.

'I don't control Laura': Asked about Ms Loomer's influence during a news conference on Friday, Trump said only that she was "a supporter" and that he was unaware of her comments about 9/11.

Meanwhile, his rival: Kamala Harris has been highlighting a little-known aspect of her biography - the fact that she is a gun owner. From Washington, Sam Cabral explains why.

Latest polls: How did this week's debate affect opinions? Check our poll tracker to find out.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is balding and wears a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt and red tie. He smiles alongside South African Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, who has dark hair, a dark suit and wears a blue tie over a white shirt. Both wear pin badges featuring the South African flag.

The law putting South Africa's coalition at odds

A lingering racial divide in some schools has threatened the uneasy alliance, write Nomsa Maseko and Damian Zane.

Read why >

A green, brown and pink bag with the slogan 'coffee free coffee' appears next to two glasses of espresso

An espresso made without coffee

Beanless brews could become cheaper and environmentally kinder than coffee, say proponents. But do they taste any good?

The verdict >

Mathew Parfitt has short dark hair. He wears a black suit with a scarlet buttonhole rose and scarlet tie over a white shirt and is holding hands with wife, Hannah, who has long dark hair and tattoos on her arms and shoulders. She wears a black, sparkly dress a black-and-scarlet tiara. In the background, the words “till death” are spelled out on a light

The unluckiest day of the year?

We asked a couple who got married - wearing black, in a cemetery, on Friday 13th - whether they had been lucky in love.

Find out >

Your weekend listening: Brazil's war with Musk

The Global Story podcast explores why Brazil's Supreme Court has banned social media platform X - formerly Twitter.

Listen now >

THE BIG PICTURE

The village football watched by millions

The players from the Dangxiang Village team, dressed in red jerseys with navy blue trim and shorts, spray soft drinks and punch the air as they celebrate winning the Guizhou Village Super League title under the floodlights of Rongjiang’s football ground.

The league's popularity has boosted Guizhou province's economy. Credit: Katherina Tse/BBC

Thousands of fans pack the stadium, the players are social media sensations and millions have travelled to soak up the matchday atmosphere. But the stars aren't professional. They are farmers, students and shopkeepers, and they play for prizes such as pigs, in China's Guizhou Village Super League. Stephen McDonell explains what the fuss is about.

Read now

FOR YOUR DOWNTIME

Ice-cold wings

This 60-year-old plane is perfect for extreme flights over the Antarctic.

Here's why

And finally... in London

Two men have been charged after a Banksy artwork was stolen from a central London art gallery, authorities have said. Grove Gallery was holding an exhibition fittingly called Breakout: Banksy's London Rebellion. Here's footage of the - ultimately failed - heist.

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– Andy

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