BBC

As the war in the Middle East continues, other regions adjust. The price of oil dropped after President Trump said discussions with Iran had taken place. Meanwhile, the Philippines, which gets most of its fuel from the Persian Gulf, has declared a four-day work week to reduce energy demand; Suranjana Tewari is in Manila with the latest. We also look at the drive towards solar energy across Sub-Saharan Africa and how this conflict could accelerate trends in the renewable energy sector. In Cuba, more than 10 million people lost power to their homes after their national grid collapsed. Will Bain looks at the future of the Caribbean island.

And Leonid Radvinsky, who founded OnlyFans has died. We discuss how this platform provides much more than just adult content.

But Iran's parliamentary speaker denies discussions have taken place, saying "fake news" is being used to "manipulate" the oil markets. We speak to President Trump's former deputy national security advisor KT McFarland and former Obama and Biden era US special envoy for Iran Robert Malley.

Also on the programme: Hong Kong police can now demand phone or computer passwords from those who are suspected of breaching the wide-ranging National Security Law.

And why are so many people obsessed with their pets? Shaun Ley visits the 'Pets & their People' exhibition at the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford to find out.

US President Donald Trump says the US and Iran have held talks on the "complete and total resolution of hostilities" in the Middle East. However, Iran's parliament speaker denies discussions have taken place, saying "fake news" is being used to "manipulate" the oil markets.

Also on the programme: With world attention focused on the Iran war, there’s been a new increase in Israeli settler attacks in the occupied West Bank; and we head to a new exhibition which explores the changing relationship between humans and their pets.

(Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media before departing West Palm Beach aboard Air Force One on th 23rd of March, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

The rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is already claiming lives - and a far greater global crisis is on the horizon.

In this three part series for Discovery, reporter Roland Pease traces how we reached this point, uncovers the forces driving resistance ever faster, and meets the scientists racing to outpace evolving superbugs before our lifesaving medicines fail for good.

Episode 1 - The rise of resistance since the discovery of penicillin, its consequences for patients, and how bacteria are getting widening the treatment gap.

George is up in court again, and Helen is at odds with her dad.

President Trump has said that the United States and Iran are in discussions aimed at ending current hostilities after he called off American strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. He claimed that Iran had made contact with the US and had agreed to not pursue nuclear weapons, adding that the US would continue its bombing if talks failed. Iran has denied there is any dialogue with the US. Also: two pilots have died in a plane crash at an airport in New York; the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, condemns an attack on the Jewish community in London; the earth's climate is more out of balance than any time in recorded history, according to the United Nations; never before seen turquoise pit vipers, flying snakes and microsnails are found deep in limestone caves in Cambodia; and could artificial intelligence help people with dementia?

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.

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We bring you the latest reaction after President Trump says the US has held constructive talks with Iran, even as Iran has denied any dialogue with the US.

Also, South Korea has a new central bank chief, Shin Hyun-song, known for predicting the 2008 financial crisis.

And Huel, the British meal replacement brand comes under new ownership.

A Tunis court has jailed 66-year-old Saadia Mosbah, who leads a migrant rights and anti-racism group called Mnemty, which is a civil society organisation addressing issues linked to racism in Tunisia. Her sentencing comes nearly two years after her arrest in May 2024. Tunisian authorities under President Kais Saied have intensified a crackdown on dissent with courts upholding convictions against activists, which critics describe as an escalating crackdown on civil society voices.

Also, do you know exactly how space technology works, and what progress in the sector would mean for Africa’s future? We speak to Temidayo Oniosun, Managing Director of Space in Africa, a marketing intelligence firm for the continent’s space sector to learn more.

Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna

Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Daniel Dadzie

Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah

Senior Producer: Bella Twine

Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Donald Trump says the US and Iran have held talks on the ‘complete and total resolution of hostilities’ in the Middle East. We discuss what behind-the-scenes discussions may have been taking place between the two sides.

Also on the programme: Italian voters consider significant changes in its justice system; and AI-powered glasses that can help people living with dementia.

(Picture: President Donald Trump speaking to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Strabane business cancels plans for Easter Market over rising energy cost pressures.