BBC News Briefing

20 May, 2025

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

Alex Binley

Hello. The UN's humanitarian chief has told the BBC that 14,000 babies could die in the next two days if aid doesn't reach them. Amidst the rise of AI, we take a look at the benefits and concerns of using a chatbot for counselling. And finally, a big mirrored dinosaur sculpture in New Zealand is splitting opinions.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Aid needed urgently to save Gaza babies, UN humanitarian chief says

A crowd of children holding pans and bowls in their outstreched hands surge forwards. They are waiting at a food kitchen

Aid agencies have warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine. Credit: EPA

Fourteen-thousands babies could die in Gaza in the next 48 hours if food aid does not reach them, a top UN official has told the BBC. After pressure from allies, Israel agreed to let in a "minimal" amount of aid on Monday, following an 11-week blockade. But UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the BBC that only five lorries have so far entered the enclave and that aid has not yet reached people. Meanwhile, Israel's offensive is continuing in Gaza. Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu said "the war can end tomorrow" if Hamas releases its hostages and lays down arms.

Get the latest

Overnight strikes: Almost 40 Palestinians were killed in just 30 minutes of overnight Israeli airstrikes, medics say.

Analysis: Goodwill is running out as allies demand Israel ends its Gaza offensive, writes international editor Jeremy Bowen.

'Unprecedented attack': Khan Younis residents have been told to move to western Gaza in one of the largest evacuation orders of recent months.

WORLD HEADLINES

The torsos of two people are seen. One is holding a poster which shows a black and white image of the face of a woman

US to pay $5m to family of 6 January rioter

Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer while breaching the US Congress.

More on this >

The head and shoulders of a man can be seen. He is wearing a white shirt and glasses and has dark hair. He looks a bit sad

Liberal-National coalition splits after vote thrashing

The end of the almost-80-year partnership marks a seismic change in Australia's political landscape.

Read more >

A computer-generated image of space. a large pink cloud can be seen in the centre with lots of stars around it.

Scientists in a race to find out why Universe exists

The current theory of how the Universe came into being can't explain the existence of planets, stars and galaxies.

More on the research >

Elmo stands in front of a door and waves. He is a bright red puppet with an orange nose and big eyes on top of his head

Sesame Street heads to Netflix after funding axed

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump pulled funding for the free-to-air channel Public Broadcasting Service.

What next for Sesame Street? >

A stone bust which s missing a nose, has long hair and has writing and green paint on it.It sits on a grave which says 'Jim Morrison' on it

Stolen Jim Morrison grave bust found after 37 years

The statue of The Doors frontman was recovered in Paris during an investigation that was unrelated to the original theft.

What happened >

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

The good and bad of AI chatbot counselling

A hand holds a phone with a list of chatbots on it. Only the thumbnail of the hand can be seen and it is painted red

Chatbots are created using artificial intelligence and use vast amounts of data to predict and generate human-like text and interactions. Credit: Bloomberg/Getty Images

People around the world have shared their private thoughts and experiences with AI chatbots. But chatbots have also been accused of giving harmful advice, and experts have raised concerns around potential biases and limitations, lack of safeguarding and the security of users' information.

Read now

Two people walk along a waterside promenade in Monaco's new neighbourhood Mareterra

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Monaco's new eco-district

A new €2bn ($2.2bn) Mareterra district is built on land reclaimed from the sea.

Here's how

And finally... in New Zealand

Whether you think it's an "eyesaur" or "fabulous", a new dinosaur sculpture in New Zealand has certainly got people talking, and this, says the artist, is the point. Yet others argue that the money spent on Boom Boom could have been better used elsewhere or that the mirror-finish sauropod has no connection with the area. Take a look.

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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– Alex

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