BBC News Briefing

30 April, 2026

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

Alex Binley

Hello. It's been another busy day for King Charles and Queen Camilla as their state visit to the US draws to a close. We'll fill you in. We also report from the town known as the 'Polar Bear Capital of the World' that's seeking to reinvent itself as an important Arctic port. And if you think you've had a bad day at work, take solace in the fact that it was likely not as bad as this trainee bus driver in France.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

'The greatest king in my book' - Trump bids farewell to King Charles and Queen Camilla

Camilla, Charles, Trump and Melania are standing in a row on a red carpet. Camilla has a blonde bob and is wearing a blue dress. Charles has short grey hair and is wearing a grey suit. Trump is pointing at Charles and is talking. He is wearing a suit, Melania is also wearing a suit and has long brown hair.

Shortly after the royals left, Trump told the press: 'We need more people like that in our country.' Credit: Getty Images

The King and Queen's final day in the US has seen them back at the White House for a formal farewell, with US President Donald Trump declaring Charles "the greatest king in my book". He later announced a lifting of some tariffs and restrictions on whisky imports "in honour" of the visit. "There was surely a sigh of relief from the King and Queen as they departed," writes senior royal correspondent Daniela Relph. Their state visit "played out just as Buckingham Palace and the UK government had hoped". The royal couple then headed to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and afterwards to a block party to celebrate the US's 250th birthday. Take a look at the best pictures from the visit here.

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NEWS FROM THE UK

London stabbings: The terror threat level has been raised to "severe" after two Jewish men were stabbed in an area with a big Jewish community.

WWII bomb: 1,200 homes have been evacuated after a 250kg (551lb) bomb was found on a building site in Plymouth, ahead of its detonation on Friday.

Banksy: A statue by the street artist has appeared in central London close to Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. Take a look.

AT THE SCENE

Churchill, Canada

The 'Polar Bear Capital' with Arctic gateway ambitions

An image of Mike Spence, mayor of Churchill. He is wearing a black 'The North Face' puffer jacket. Behind him is the Port of Churchill blanketed with snow, and a clear blue sky above. He is looking towards the left.

Churchill Mayor Mike Spence is hoping his town's port could serve as a hub for shorter shipping from Canada to Europe. Credit: Eloise Alanna/BBC News

The Port of Churchill in Canada's sub-Arctic is only operational for up to five months in the summer, but where weather is a hindrance, it has geography on its side, with a route out into the north Atlantic Ocean. For decades, ambitions of expanding the port have fallen short, but now Canada is hoping to change this by capitalising on the inevitability of climate change, US tariffs, and Europe's energy shortage.

Nadine has long, black wavy hair that is parted in the middle, and brown eyes. She is looking straight ahead

Nadine Yousif, senior Canada reporter

Churchill is known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World. Its economy has long relied on seasonal tourism, with visitors flocking to the town in the late summer to catch a glimpse of the northern lights and wildlife. For the remote town of 1,000 residents, developing the port is seen as an opportunity to create hundreds of jobs and improve quality of life.

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But "from a standard maritime shipping perspective, it doesn't make much sense unfortunately", says Jean-Paul Rodrigue, a maritime business expert. Yet Mike Spence, the town's mayor, says interest from Europe is a sign of the geopolitical shifts that have been spurred by Trump's return to the White House. The last year, Spence says, has woken Canada up to start looking at the rest of the world.

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