BBC News Briefing

19 March, 2026

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

Alex Binley

Hello. In the wake of Israel's attack on Iran's South Pars gas field and Tehran's retaliatory strike on an energy complex in Qatar, both sides have issued warnings to each other over further attacks on infrastructure. In South Africa, we report on so-called water mafias. And travellers in an Australian airport gift shop searching for a cuddly toy may have received a shock when one of them appeared to come to life.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Deciphering Trump's Truth Social statement

Composite image showing the head and shoulders of Donald Trump on the left. He is wearing a black coat and has white hair. He is stood outside and the sky is blue and the sun is shining. On the right is his Truth social post which reads 'Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen. Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility. NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before. I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP'

While it would be a mistake to read too much into a single post, it does give us some idea of the US-Israeli alignment. Credit: Getty Images/Truth Social

In an apparent threat to the US, Israel and Gulf nations, Iran's foreign minister has said there will be "ZERO restraint" if his country's infrastructure is hit again, following Wednesday's South Pars strike. While overnight, US President Donald Trump threatened to "massively blow up" the rest of the major gas field if Iran attacked Qatar again. In the same post on his Truth Social media platform, Trump said the US "knew nothing" about Israel's plans for the attack and that it had "violently lashed out". So, asks diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams, could this be a suggestion that "Israel and American war aims are diverging"? He takes a closer look at the president's post to see what it can tell us about the potential course of the war.

What we learnt

GET UP TO SPEED

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Three women killed as Iran strike hits West Bank salon

Eight others were injured when the beauty salon was hit. At a similar time in Israel, a Thai worker was killed by falling shrapnel.

Read more >

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US states sue Trump over greenhouse gases ruling

They want to overturn the administration's reversal of a ruling that held greenhouse gases were a threat to public health.

What next? >

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Kevin Spacey and accusers settle before civil trial

The actor was being sued by three men who accused him of sexual assault. Spacey denies all allegations of wrongdoing.

More on this >

NEWS FROM THE UK

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4Chan: The messageboard has mocked a fine over online safety breaches which included failing to put in age checks to stop children from seeing porn.

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AT THE SCENE

Johannesburg & Hammanskraal, South Africa

South Africans say criminal gangs are exploiting the water crisis

A number of people stand on a grassy area in front of a beige wall. They hold up homemade signs and one woman holds up a bucket. They are protesting about water shortages.

Johannesburg residents have seen years of water shortages and are angry.

Parts of South Africa have suffered intermittent water shortages for years, and now, some areas have had no running water for two months. Many point the finger of blame at a lack of investment which they say is being capitalised on by criminal syndicates known as water-mafias, with reports they are charging people for water that should be free or damaging infrastructure to ensure their contracts continue.

Mayeni Jones has very short black hair and wears frameless glasses. The top of an orange shirt can be seen around her neck.

Mayeni Jones, Africa correspondent

Northern Johannesburg is known for its plush leafy suburbs. But after years of intermittent water shortages in South Africa, residents say they are fed up. Some have had no running water for a month. "I am here today because it is an actual disgrace," says Jenny Gillies. "We are reduced to begging and protesting for water."

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Johannesburg isn't the only area affected. In Hammanskraal, more than 100km (60 miles) north, residents of the township have not had reliable access to clean water for over a decade. Eric Sebotsane confirms that some of the trucks that deliver water in his neighbourhood charge people for what should be free. "When you don't have money you can't do anything," he says.

Keep reading

Knysna: Leaking pipes mean the beauty spot on the Garden Route could be about to run out of water.

Private boreholes: Fed up of water shortages, some wealthy home owners are having their own boreholes installed.

Army deployed: South Africa's president has said he will deploy troops to help the police fight criminal gangs and illegal mining.