BBC

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard says it will deliver a "regret-inducing response" if Israeli strikes on Lebanon don't stop immediately, according to state media. Lebanese officials say Israel has killed more than 250 people in a wave of attacks targeting Hezbollah that brought down several buildings in Beirut. The US and Israel say Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire deal.

Despite the internet blackout in most of Iran, we look at how Iranians have been reacting to the two-week ceasefire. And we look ahead to negotiations to end the war due to be held in Pakistan on Saturday.

Also: The challenges facing low-income households across South Africa due to the impact of the US-Israel war with Iran on oil prices. An architect in New York who led a secret life as a serial killer has pleaded guilty to a string of unsolved crimes known as the Gilgo Beach killings. A drug dealer dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with Matthew Perry's ​death in 2023.... and the latest from the Artemis II crew as they prepare to re-enter Earth's atmosphere after travelling further into space than anyone before.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.

Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Viktor Orban faces a high-stakes showdown as Peter Magyar takes him on in one of Europe’s most consequential elections in years. A former ally-turned-rival Peter Magyar has built a remarkable momentum in a short time, with polls placing him ahead of the incumbent. Yet victory may still prove elusive within a power structure designed to protect the status quo. In this episode we examine the unequal playing field that is the election machine. We cut through the exuberance of the campaign to distil the messages of the rival camps, Fidesz and Tisza, and explore how the outcome could redefine Hungary’s role in the region. We speak to Amitis Sedghi, Rita Palfi and Zsofia Paulikovics.

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz, an important global waterway, is part of the ceasefire agreement, as announced by the US government, but late on Wednesday, Iran warned that ships crossing the waterway without permission would be “targeted and destroyed”.

Sam Fenwick will hear from Nils Haupt, the Head of Corporate Communications at Hapag-Lloyd, a German-based global shipping company.

Also, markets rallied, and oil prices fell, but only hours later there were concerns about how long it might last and if there was enough time to stabilise the global economy.

(Photo: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s, March 11, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Stringer/File Photo/File Photo)

Both Iran and the US declare victory as the ceasefire approaches its 24th hour, but can the truce survive? Iran says continued Israeli airstrikes violate its terms, while questions remain over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Also on the programme: will Keir Starmer be banking on an electoral boost from his handling of the conflict?

And the World Cup furore after fans notice unsightly bulges in some national kits.

Israel and the US say Lebanon is not included in a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps says it will deliver a “regret-inducing response” if Israeli strikes on Lebanon don’t stop immediately, according to Iran’s state media. American Vice-President JD Vance is expected to lead a US negotiating team at peace talks in Pakistan this weekend.

Also in the programme: we hear more about one of the fastest growing disability sports around the world, powerchair football.

(Photo shows civilians and emergency responders standing amid rubble at the site of an Israeli strike in Tyre, southern Lebanon, April 8, 2026. Adnan Abidi/Reuters)

David is full of the joys of spring, and Lynda takes her problems to Azra.

As a fragile ceasefire begins, both the United States and Iran claim victory. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says Iran will no longer enrich uranium, and that Operation Epic Fury has destroyed Tehran's ability to build missiles or other sophisticated weaponry. Iran has broadcast triumphant messages of victory on state TV, warning that "the slightest mistake by the enemy will be met with full force".

Despite statements from Iran and mediators Pakistan that fighting will cease on all fronts, Israel says Lebanon is not included in the two-week truce, and has announced its "biggest strikes" since the start of its ground operation there. Our correspondent reports from Beirut, where the government says Israeli strikes have killed dozens and wounded hundreds across the country.

As both parties prepare for negotiations, scheduled for Friday in Pakistan, will they be able to find a long-term agreement to end the war?

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.

Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.

Get in touch: [email protected]

The US and Iran have announced a two week ceasefire which will see the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz - one of the largest transit routes for oil. The conflict in the Middle East has led to a shortage of fuel in many African countries, and cut off key exports from Africa to the Gulf. We ask if the stand off has triggered African countries to trade more with each other to offset the disruption brought about by the war.

Also in Uganda, some refugees from neighbouring countries are finding it difficult to access land to bury their loved ones while others lay in unmarked graves. What's behind this?

Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna

Producers: Bella Twine, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba

Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah

Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga

Editor: Maryam Abdalla

The US and Iran have come to a temporary ceasefire, but for many businesses and consumers, the pressure may be far from over.

Hundreds of ships are still backed up in the Strait of Hormuz, with many waiting for clearance from Iran before they can move.

Plus, what it means for flights, holidays and passenger confidence as airlines proceed cautiously.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne

Producer: Matt Lines

Editor: Justin Bones

Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.