BBC News Briefing

8 April, 2026

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

Alex Binley

Hello. US President Donald Trump's announcement of a conditional ceasefire with Iran allowed him to "extricate himself from what was shaping up to be a treacherous choice", writes North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher - we'll bring you more of his analysis. After the war pushed up oil prices, conversations in Europe are turning (again) to the issue of nuclear energy, our Europe editor Katya Adler writes. And finally, take a look as celebrations light up Lagos for its annual Fanti Carnival.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Iran ceasefire deal gives Trump a way out of war - but at a high cost

The US and Iran will now engage in negotiations over the next two weeks, buying some time to try to reach a permanent settlement. Credit: Getty Images

The US-Iran ceasefire announcement is a partial political victory for Trump, writes Anthony Zurcher. "He made a dramatic threat and achieved the desired result. But the ceasefire is a reprieve, not a permanent settlement." And Trump's reputation may be at risk, he notes. "Even if the two-week ceasefire does result in a permanent peace, the Iran war - and Trump's recent words - may have fundamentally altered the way the rest of the world views the US." While Trump is claiming victory, so too is Iran. Tehran has released a 10-point ceasefire plan which includes compensation, but it's "hard to imagine Trump actually agreeing to any of those conditions, a sign that the next two weeks of negotiations could be treacherous", Anthony adds.

Anthony's analysis

Latest updates: Israel has said the ceasefire doesn't include Lebanon and has continued its strikes. We'll bring you the latest on this, and the deal.

Explained: Much remains unknown about the terms of the ceasefire, but here's what we do know.

Watch: Crowds gathered in Tehran, waving flags and chanting after the ceasefire was announced.

WORLD HEADLINES

Bill Gates can be seen sitting in front of a dark blue background. He has short grey hair and wears glasses with a black rim, and a black coat and jumper with a shirt underneath

Bill Gates to testify before Congress in Epstein probe

The Microsoft co-founder is set to testify in June about his interactions with the convicted sex offender, US lawmakers have confirmed.

Read more >

Clay Fuller, in a suit jacket and white collared shirt, looks to the side and smiles

Trump-backed Republican wins Georgia election

Clay Fuller is projected to have won the runoff election to replace former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

More on the vote >

A man in a navy coloured military uniform and beret stands next to a woman with long brown hair who is wearing a strapless white dress. They are both smiling and standing in front of a stone wall.

Newlywed wife of US soldier freed by ICE

Annie Ramos was detained by immigration agents at the military base where her husband is stationed - just days after their wedding.

What happened >

Emmerson Mnangagwa has very short black hair and wears glasses with a black rim. He is looking slightly to the side and wears a black suit with a red, yellow and green scarf around his shoulders. Other people, including a man in green military uniform can be seen behind him.

Zimbabwe split over plan to scrap presidential elections

Critics fear that the ruling Zanu-PF party is making a new grab for power as it presses ahead with constitutional amendments.

The row explained >

A woman with long blonde hair and a light blue cardigan over a darker blue dress. She is on a chair in a street. A yellow car and people can be seen behind her.

Journalist Shelly Kittleson released after Iraq kidnap

Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah had said it would release her if she left Iraq immediately.

More on this >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Vietnam: A British teenager has died after reportedly falling from the back of a motorbike while travelling the Ha Giang Loop in the country's north.

Mistaken identity: A 300‑million‑year‑old fossil, thought to be the oldest octopus, has been identified as a different animal due to tiny teeth.

Assassination attempt: 100 years after her great-aunt shot Mussolini in the face, Philippa Gibson shares the story of her relative.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Faced with new energy shock, Europe asks if reviving nuclear is the answer

Two large, nucler power plant concrete chimneys release huge clouds of steam into the air. The sky is dark and the chimneys are lit up and have red lights on their rims.

Around 15% of Europe's energy comes from nuclear. Credit: Reuters

While oil prices have fallen sharply following the Iran ceasefire announcement, they still remain higher than before the war. Europe imports more than 50% of its energy, mainly oil and gas, leaving it vulnerable to price rises. The war has once again focused minds on the issue of energy independence. Can nuclear be a quick fix? And how safe and reliable is it?