This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

And Valerie Sanderson, and in the early hours of Thursday, the 8th of May, these are our main stories.

Black smoke appears from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel after the first conclave vote.

Pakistan calls India's overnight missile strikes on its territory an act of war.

Russia begins a three-day unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine.

Also in this podcast, the White House responds to Joe Biden's interview with the BBC, calling him a disgrace and...

It is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances.

In another life, we probably could have been friends.

The road rage victim who addressed his killer from beyond the grave.

Thick black smoke has risen from the Sistine Chapel chimney,

signaling that the 133 cardinals meeting in the conclave

have not yet agreed on a new pope.

Thousands of people gathered in St Peter Square

to wait for the result of the first vote.

Among them, the BBC's Mary Mashiri,

who was with Austin Ivory, the biographer of Pope Francis.

We are watching and waiting, as is much of the world,

for the results of the first vote in the conclave.

You can hear there a murmur and cheer in the crowd.

The crowd has been patiently waiting for some sign.

We're hearing more cheers, but I'm not seeing anything. Not seeing... There's smoke?

Yes, there it is. There it is. There's black smoke. There it is.

...