BBC News Briefing

19 February, 2025

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

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed US President Donald Trump's comments about his leadership ahead of a planned meeting with US envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. My colleagues bring you the latest developments. In Bangladesh, Anbarasan Ethirajan reports on a rise in Islamist opposition to women's public activities, including football matches. And finally, a very expressive humanoid robot interacts with the public in England.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Trump's special envoy arrives in Ukraine

Keith Kellogg has white hair. He is wearing glasses, a black suit, a white shirt and a black and white tie.

Kellogg arrived in Ukraine after meeting European leaders in Belgium and Poland earlier this week. Credit: Reuters

President Trump's special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has arrived in Kyiv ahead of a planned meeting with President Zelensky. "Part of my mission is to listen," Kellogg said. His visit follows a high-level meeting between the US and Russia's top diplomats in Saudi Arabia about ending the war sparked by Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Zelensky said he wants the US team to have all the facts. Trump claimed Zelensky - who won a five-year term in 2019 - was "down at 4% approval rating" and that Ukraine "could have made a deal" to end the war earlier. "With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a leader... he is living in this disinformation space", Zelensky said.

Get the latest

At the scene: International editor Jeremy Bowen speaks to soldiers and civilians in the northern Ukraine town of Sumy about Trump's comments and the prospect of peace.

Europe's reaction: Europe editor Katya Adler looks at why the Paris summit failed to deliver a strong and united response.

Moscow's perspective: Russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports on how Russians reacted to the talks in Riyadh.

WORLD HEADLINES

Jair Bolsonaro has grey hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a black polo shirt and is surrounded by colourful microphones.

Brazil's Bolsonaro charged over alleged coup plot

The allegations, which the former president denies, include planning to poison his rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Find out more >

Andrew Tate is bald and has a black beard. He is wearing a black tshirt and a dark pink blazer. A man behind him is filming him and other two men appear in the background.

Tate's alleged victims urge US to not interfere

The women were "extremely concerned" by reports the US pushed to relax travel restrictions imposed on the Tate brothers.

What to know >

Kim Sae-ron has shoulder-length chestnut hair and black eyes.

Actress's death exposes S. Korean celebrity culture

Kim Sae-ron had been bombarded with negative press coverage after a drink-driving conviction in 2022.

Read in full >

Fast-food giant KFC leaves Kentucky home for Texas

Many companies have recently relocated to Texas, lured by the state's lower taxes and business-friendly policies.

Get the details >

A$AP Rocky looks down to his feet. His hair is braided and he is wearing a golden earring on his left lobe and a pinstrip grey suit. He has a V tattooed behind his left ear.

A$AP Rocky not guilty of firearm assault

Upon hearing the verdict, the rapper dived over a wooden barrier to embrace his family and his wife, pop star Rihanna.

Watch the video >

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Islamists protest women's football match in Bangladesh

Sixteen Young women in a yellow and green jerseys pose on a football field in front of a banner saying 'runner-up'. A golden trophy is placed in front of them. They are wearing silver medals around their necks. Their two male coaches also appear in the picture.

Football is a source of female empowerment for young Bangladeshi women. Credit: Tomal Rahman

A women's football match was cancelled in northern Bangladesh following a protest from an Islamist group - the third such cancellation in a fortnight. Authorities are investigating the incidents, but say the fear of radicalism is exaggerated. As Anbarasan Ethirajan reports, women's sports are not the only activities to have recently faced opposition from religious hardliners.

Read now

A black and white photo of a young girl. She is smiling and is scrunching up her nose. She appears to be somewhere bright and windy as her long hair is blowing to the side. She has a hat or headress on her head and some beads around her neck.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Spirit of the 90s

A now iconic photo of a teenage Kate Moss marked a chaotic moment of change.

Here's how

And finally...

A human-like robot invented and built in England's region of Cornwall had its first public interaction at a tech festival. Some festival-goers said they were "gobsmacked" by Ameca's range of expressions while others found it "disconcerting". See for yourself.

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– Sofia

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