BBC News

The second round of Israel-Lebanon ceasefire talks will take place at the White House on Thursday, with US President Donald Trump to greet the respective delegations.

Trump says the US has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz - and says they will "shoot and kill" any boat laying mines there.

The US president spoke to the BBC, saying "whatever I'm doing, it seems to be working very well" when asked about his threats to Iran's "civilisation".

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#Iran #US #BBCNews

Tesla has raised its spending plans to more than $25bn (£18.5bn) for the year as CEO Elon Musk plans to invest more in AI, robotics and chips.

He said these plans would build big revenue streams in the future and described them as "well justified".

But the electric vehicle maker's investors are not convinced, with Telsa shared initially up and then down in after hours trade.

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#Tesla #ElonMusk #BBCNews

Donald Trump has said there is "no time pressure" on his extension to the ceasefire with Iran.

His comments come after scheduled peace talks between the US and Iran were suddenly cancelled.

On Tuesday, as US vice president JD Vance was due to be flying to Pakistan for mediated talks on ending the war in Iran, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he was extending the ceasefire agreement, but that the US will continue to block Iranian ports.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane through which 20% of the world’s oil, as well as critical supplies of gas, aluminium and fertiliser is transported, remains a flashpoint, with Iran attacking cargo ships attempting to get through.

Today, we speak to the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent, Paul Adams, who is in the capital of Pakistan.

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#Iran #US #BBCNews

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Why didn't peace talks take place in Pakistan?

02:38 Why didn't JD Vance travel?

04:22 President Trump's ceasefire extension

09:27 Is the ceasefire a face saving device for Trump?

13:14 What does Iran say?

16:30 What happens next?

Cocaine, cannabis, laughing gas and prescription pills are being offered for sale in mini-marts on UK High Streets, a BBC investigation has revealed.

They were readily offered to our undercover researchers who secretly filmed in shops across four neighbouring West Midlands towns.

Across the country, shopfronts are being exploited by organised criminal gangs that have gained a foothold pushing illegal drugs, say both the National Crime Agency and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

Responding to the BBC’s findings in the West Midlands and more widely, a senior Labour MP is now calling on the government to act urgently.

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#WestMidlands #BBCNews

Iran has attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two, days after vowing retaliation for the US intercepting an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf as part of its naval blockade.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said the ship, Touska, was seized by the US Navy after failing to respond to warnings to stop.

Iran said this was a violation of the ceasefire and it would retaliate soon for the "act of armed piracy".

On Wednesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said it was "monitoring" movements through the Strait of Hormuz and has pledged "firm" action against the "violators".

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#Iran #US #BBCNews

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sent a "real chill throughout the civil service." That’s according to a senior union official following his decision to sack the lead civil servant in the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins.

James and Chris are joined by Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, Catherine Haddon, to discuss the recent turbulence in the relationship between the government and the Civil Service over the appointment of Peter Mandelson and whats next for the institution.

And, Economics Editor Faisal Islam also joins us to discuss why the inflation rate has increased 3.3% in March.

00:00 - PMQs

01:18 - Matthew Doyle revelation

04:14 - More chapters to the Mandelson story

07:34 - Is there a battle between government and the civil service?

22:01 - Faisal’s chat with Rishi Sunak

30:03 - Inflation rises in the UK

36:14 - How does this affect interest rates?

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#BBCNews

Iran's top negotiator has said it is "not possible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz" due to "blatant violations" of the US-Iran ceasefire.

Those "violations" include the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and "warmongering" by Israel "on all fronts", Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said.

It follows an Iranian attack on three cargo ships in the strait earlier on Wednesday - two of which were seized for "inspection" by the IRGC Navy.

US President Trump was quoted earlier in US media saying it's "possible" that talks with Iran could resume by Friday.

Talks between the US and Iran were due to resume in Pakistan this week, but are yet to start.

The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet is reporting from Tehran on condition that none of her material is used on the BBC's Persian Service. These restrictions apply to all international media organisations operating in Iran.

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#US #Iran #BBCNews

The Trump administration has begun processing refunds for billions of dollars in tariffs that the US Supreme Court struck down in February. In what is set to be the biggest repayment programme in US history, companies can apply online for money they were charged under the so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs - plus interest - to be returned.

Following a Supreme Court ruling, the US Court of International Trade in March ordered customs officials to refund more than $160 billion the government had collected, putting roughly 330,000 importers in a position to potentially win back some money. But individual consumers, who were hit by the tariffs indirectly through higher prices, are not expected to be compensated.

President Trump has said it would be "brilliant" if companies do not seek a refund, adding that he will "remember" those who don't. At the time of the Supreme Court ruling, he said he was "ashamed" of certain justices "for not having the courage to do what's right for our country".

Donald Trump says "tariff" is his favourite word, and has for decades repeatedly hailed them as a way to boost the US economy. They were a central part of his economic policy, and in the aftermath of the court's decision, the president imposed new temporary tariffs under a different law.

Our White House correspondent Daniel Bush tells us about the political impact this is having on the Trump administration and the Republicans' chances in this year's midterm elections.

New episodes of the Global News Podcast are published twice a day. You can listen here: https://link.mgln.ai/GNP-YT

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#BBCNews

American-Iranian comedian Max Amini shared with the BBC what the conflict means to him and why he is using his platform to speak out about Iran.

Iran has still not decided whether it will attend a new round of peace talks with the US later this week, its foreign ministry has told the BBC.

Iran has attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian reports say, after Donald Trump said he was extending the US-Iran ceasefire.

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#Iran #US #BBCNews

Ukraine says it has resumed pumping Russian oil through a pipeline into Hungary and Slovakia, bringing to an end months of deadlock over a €90bn (£78bn) loan seen as vital European Union support for Kyiv.

Soon afterwards, EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels gave preliminary approval to the loan, as well as a 20th package of sanctions on Russia, officials said.

It is now expected to be signed off on Thursday.

Although the funding was agreed last December, Hungary's Viktor Orbán slapped a veto on the payment in February after Ukraine said damage caused by a Russian attack had brought supplies to a halt.

Ukrainian oil and government sources told officials in Hungary and Slovakia that pumping had restarted, hours after the EU ambassadors began discussing the loan.

Orbán had demanded the oil start flowing again before the loan could be paid out, and Ukraine confirmed the repairs had been completed on Tuesday.

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#Ukraine #BBCNews