BBC News Briefing

30 March, 2026

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

Alex Binley

Hello. Despite statements coming out of Iran, US President Donald Trump has once again said discussions are underway, while also warning that if a ceasefire is not agreed, America will step up its strikes. In Kenya, we report on the insects that are at the heart of a growing black market. And for anyone who's ever zipped around the office on a wheeled chair, a race in Japan is taking it to the next level.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

What are the risks of sending US troops to Iran's Kharg Island?

View of Kharg Island oil terminal, showing a row of pipes stretching into the distance towards a raised area of ground where several silos sit, one of them has the words 'Persian Gulf' on its side.

Around 90% of Iran's oil exports pass through Kharg Island. Credit: EPA

Trump has threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants and oil wells if a deal with Tehran is not reached "shortly", in a social media post in which he also repeated his threats against the major fuel hub of Kharg Island. Previously the US president has indicated that he may send troops to seize control of the key oil export terminal, likely in a bid to put pressure on Iran to relinquish its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Security correspondent Frank Gardner takes a look at how this could be carried out, and whether the plan could actually be a decoy instead. While correspondent Joe Inwood assesses what the risks could be of sending US troops to the island.

Read Frank's analysis

GET UP TO SPEED

The head and shoulders of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa can be seen. He is wears a red skull cap and red robe over a white shirt. He has short grey hair and a grey beard and wears glasses. A golden cross can be seen behind him and it is out of focus.

Latin Patriarch will have access to Jerusalem holy site

It comes after police prevented Cardinal Pizzaballa from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Read more >

A man with short white hair wears a black suit white shirt and gold tie. Only his head and shoulders can be seen and hands holding microphones are seen around him.

Air Canada CEO to retire after condolence video row

Michael Rousseau was criticised for failing to speak French in a condolence video after the LaGuardia crash that killed two pilots.

More on this >

An older woman with black hair that is tied up and a side-fringe smiles at the camera. She appears to be posing for a photo and wears large, silver earrings and is in front of a grey background.

Kris Jenner image spreads in Chinese good luck trend

Hundreds of thousands of images of the reality TV star have been shared on social media as users hope for prosperity.

Here's why >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Scott Mills: The radio presenter has been sacked by the BBC following allegations about his personal conduct. Here's what we know.

Spy claims: Russia has told a UK diplomat to leave the country over allegations of spying, the latest in a series of expulsions from both sides.

Royal family: Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie won't attend the annual Easter service at Windsor Castle and have made "alternative plans".

AT THE SCENE

Nairobi, Kenya

Why ants worth up to $220 each are the new frontier of wildlife trafficking

A close-up image shows two large, reddish-brown ants on brown stones.

Giant African harvester ants are popular with hobby collectors around the world. Credit: Dino Martins

Kenya is more accustomed to wildlife crimes involving ivory than the sale of insects, but a growing global black market has tapped into the craze for keeping ants. Most highly prized are African harvesters, with a single queen fetching up to £170 ($220) on the black market. Yet there are fears that unregulated harvesting of ants and their potential escapes could disrupt ecosystems.

Wycliffe Muia has a shaved head and is smiling at the camera. Only his head and neck can be seen.

Wycliffe Muia, online journalist

The ants are flying in Kenya at the moment. During this rainy season, swarms can be seen leaving the thousands of anthills in and around Gilgil, a quiet agricultural town in Kenya's Rift Valley that has emerged as the centre of a booming illegal trade.

‌

The mating ritual sees winged males leave the nest to impregnate queens, who also take flight at this time. This makes it the perfect time to chase down queen ants to sell on to smugglers. A single fertilised queen is able to create a whole colony and can live for decades – and can be easily posted as scanners do not tend to detect organic material.

Keep reading

Charged: A Chinese man and his Kenyan associate have been charged over allegations they tried to smuggle 2,000 ants out of Kenya.

Smugglers: Last year, a Kenyan court sentenced four ant smugglers to a year in prison or a fine of $7,700 (£5,800).

Conservation: Back in 2016, the BBC's Chris Haslam went on patrol with snipers tasked with protecting rhinos from poachers. What he saw.