Global News Podcast

On Friday, the US made the rare decision to ground flights nationwide, leaving tens of thousands of people stranded. An overloaded air traffic control system triggered communications failures across the country. The White House says there's no evidence of a cyberattack. Flights resumed after four hours, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that getting the aviation network back to normal will take time.

Also: Divisions deepen inside the Trump administration as the US Commerce Secretary comes under criticism for his failure to ban exports of advanced Nvidia chips to a company linked to a suspected Chinese spy. Microsoft says its services are gradually returning to normal after a global outage that affected hundreds of millions of people. Pope Leo says he's overcoming cancer as huge crowds turn out to welcome him in Peru. We report from India, where members of the Gen-Z "Cockroach" protest movement face growing legal pressure and detentions. And the grand final of the first-ever Asian Eurovision Song Contest is about to get underway.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Plane landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after the US FAA issued a national ground stop. Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

A global Microsoft outage hits schools, doctors and businesses. The tech giant is scrambling to fix the issue - but with so many of us relying on its products such as Outlook and Teams, it has prompted a conversation about how reliant we are on its services. Microsoft says it's not found any evidence that malicious activity caused the problems, and in its latest update it reported that "broader improvements" were being observed in North America and Europe.

Also: El Salvador soldiers use combat robot dogs equipped with assault rifles to re-take the national football stadium from gangs in Haiti. The FBI says North Korean hackers used fake video calls in a 400-million dollar crypto hack. Mauricio Pochettino is finally confirmed as Manchester United's new manager. We go inside a secret wartime bunker rediscovered beneath cliffs on the south coast England.

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.

Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo: The icons for several Microsoft apps, including Microsoft Outlook. Credit: Yui Mok / PA

Ukraine's President Zelensky has welcomed efforts by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, to secure European involvement at the next round of peace talks with Russia. He was speaking alongside the US envoys in Dublin, where they'd flown to brief Mr Zelensky on their earlier discussions with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Mr Zelensky said it made sense for Europeans to be involved as Ukraine would eventually be an EU member.

Also: One of the most powerful men in the AI industry -Jensen Huang- will appear before Congress in the US after being forced to resign over a sex and spying scandal. Schools in Italy have been evacuated for a second day in a row after receiving hoax bomb threats. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has awarded a medal to the guard who reprimanded his group for laughing at Arlington National Cemetery. Haiti's security forces say they've regained control of the country’s main stadium in the capital Port au Prince, which has held by gangs for two years. How Pakistan is leading the way in solar energy... and, as matcha continues to boom, a new Japanese matcha congress meets to try and stop it being a victim of its own success.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting in Moscow, Russia. Credit: Sergey Builkin / Sputnik

Nvidia's chief financial officer, Colette Kress, will take over as interim CEO following Jensen Huang's departure. Shares in the company plummeted as US markets opened. It comes days after Huang admitted to an affair with a suspected Chinese spy, although Beijing denies the allegations. It also follows a New York Times report of a second affair with an executive at his own company.

Democrat Scott Colom has won the Mississippi senate race in a shock midterms victory. He will become the state's first Democratic senator in four decades. Exit polls showed Mr Colom benefitted from surging support among black and young voters.

Also: Nvidia considers ousting CEO Jensen Huang after his admitted affair with a suspected Chinese spy. A warm welcome for the Pope on his homecoming to Peru. The US Treasure Secretary, Scott Besset, relocates from his home to an unnamed military base after reports of unspecified “threats” from Tehran. Kenya prepares for the extreme weather and flooding expected from El Niño. And the manhunt for the Italian man who escaped house arrest in Argentina by abseiling off his balcony.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Democrat Scott Colom speaks to the media in Jackson, Mississippi, US November 4, 2026 Credit: Reuters

Russia and Ukraine agree to a large prisoner exchange during trilateral talks mediated by the US, but significant differences remain to achieve a peace deal. Kyiv says a ceasefire must come before any discussions on territory, while Moscow demands Ukrainian forces withdraw from parts of eastern Ukraine. The US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are to travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin, before debriefing Ukraine's President Zelensky during his visit to Dublin.

Also: widespread disruption hits Spain during the country's first general strike in 14 years, prompted by housing shortages and the high cost of living. Will the UN's climate summit make much impact when the world's biggest emitters have declined to join? Deadly floods sweep through Gaza's tent cities, sparking criticism against Israel over an insufficient emergency response. As Manchester United manager Michael Carrick looks set to lose his job, the club begins talks with USA men's coach Mauricio Pochettino. A Sudanese boy who was injured in a drone strike gets prosthetic legs and a greeting from his favourite football player, Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr. And why board games have become so popular again.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo: Delegates including US officials, led by United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, members of the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, and members of the Ukrainian delegation, led by Head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service Rustem Umerov, attend the UAE-hosted trilateral talks between the United States, Russian and Ukrainian delegations, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 10, 2026. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana

A senior American soldier is in custody at a London police station after being arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. The 41-year-old man was held during a counter-terrorism operation involving the US military and the FBI, and is understood to have been stationed at Imjin Barracks in Gloucestershire - the headquarters of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. Also: US Republicans block efforts to impeach the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth. Anti-homosexuality laws are overturned in Trinidad and Tobago - we hear from the man behind the 11-year legal battle. We meet the "Peaky Blinders" drone unit fighting in Ukraine's front line city of Sloviansk. A federal judge in Florida rules that Donald Trump's 10 billion dollar defamation lawsuit against the BBC for misleading editing can proceed. One of the last surviving heroes of the French Resistance, Solange Alexandre, has died. And fury and amusement over Kim Kardashian's Skims advent calender.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Imjin Barracks, Innsworth, Gloucestershire. Home of ARRC - Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Credit: BBC

A BBC investigation uncovers new evidence about how model agencies, scouts and powerful fashion figures helped Jeffrey Epstein gain access to young women after his conviction for sex offences. A woman raped by the financier says the president of her model agency put her in danger when he sent her to two photoshoots at Epstein's Florida beach house. At the time, in 2009, Epstein was serving a jail sentence for sex offences against a minor but was allowed to work each day from his home.

Also: dozens of soldiers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are sentenced to death by a military court for offences including cowardice and mutiny. Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the US begin two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, aimed at ending the war. One of Russia's few independent news outlets, Novaya Gazeta, is shut down. In a unique experiment, movie fans in the Netherlands are hypnotised before watching their favourite film, so they can experience the movie as if for the first time. A round-the-world cruise ship, which left passengers stranded in Cambodia after its operator ran out of money, has been seized in Singapore. And five stars are shortlisted for the 2026 BBC World Service Women’s Footballer of the Year.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.

Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Jeffrey Epstein Credit: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services sex offender registry

President Trump has said the resumption of US strikes against Iran is "quite unlikely and unnecessary". He expressed support for his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, after a Republican Congressman, Thomas Massie, introduced articles of impeachment against him for waging war in Iran and elsewhere without Congressional approval. Also: President Trump says the FBI is investigating claims that Jensen Huang, the boss of the US tech giant Nvidia, had an affair with a suspected Chinese agent. He said he'd spoken to Mr Huang - who'd told him he had no idea that the woman was a spy. France has accused Iran of being behind cyberattacks last month that heated up supermarket fridges and freezers, spoiling millions of dollars' worth of food. The former British comedian and actor, Russell Brand is beginning a prison sentence of ten-and-a-half years for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009. We have a special report from the Libyan city of Derna, which has been rebuilt after Storm Daniel triggered the worst flood disaster in the world this century. Astronomers say the Earth has another temporary moon that's fallen into our planet's gravitational pull. And the author M John Harrison is awarded the prestigious Booker Prize for his dystopian novel, The End of Everything.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaking at the Pentagon in March. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Nvidia says it's investigating CEO's affair with tech executive Alice Huang, as shares in the firm fall in pre-market trading. Also: BBC investigation finds one of Europe’s most powerful drug gangs recruits teenagers from across France to carry out murders and kidnappings. COP31 UN Climate summit gets underway in Turkey, focusing on delivering on past promises. The former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who's facing the death penalty in her home country, requests a new passport and identity card so she can return. Pope Leo, who's on a tour of South America, criticises Argentine president Javier Milei over austerity measures. Eight years after Australian cricket was rocked by the infamous "sandpapergate" scandal, one of the players involved - David Warner - breaks his silence, saying the whole team knew about ball tampering. And could a vibrating mattress help fight Alzheimer's disease?

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Alice Huang attends a dinner with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at a restaurant in Taiwan in May 2025 Credit: CTI/Reuters

The US tech giant Nvidia has opened an independent investigation following reports its chief executive, Jensen Huang, had a relationship with a woman suspected of spying for China. Mr Huang apologized to his wife and his children for being unfaithful. The chip maker said it had no reason to believe its secrets or US national security were compromised. Also: an anti-terrorism investigation is launched in Poland after a mass shooting in the city of Krakow left six people dead. In Egypt two trains have crashed south of the capital, Cairo, killing seven people and injuring more than 100. South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, has recorded its worst result in local elections since Nelson Mandela led the country into democracy. The Indian capital Delhi records very poor air quality during Diwali celebrations. Billionaires on the ballot in California - should they pay more tax? And a miraculous rescue in the Pacific Ocean as cruise ship pianist is picked up by fishermen.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Nvidia boss Jensen Huang at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, 8th October. Credit: Reuters

After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, many Russians who opposed the war – or feared being sent to fight in it – fled the country. In much of the West, they were welcomed as courageous dissidents. But four years on, the number of Russians being forcibly returned from the US to Russia is rising. Is the tougher stance on Russian asylum seekers evidence of the Trump administration seeking closer ties with Moscow? Or is it part of a wider immigration crackdown, driven by domestic politics? In this episode, Tristan Redman speaks to the BBC’s Will Vernon about the Russian refugees he has met who face persecution if they are forced to return home. The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

Poland has begun two days of mourning after a gunman opened fire on the main square in the city of Krakow, killing six and injuring 15 others; three more bodies were found at the suspect's home. The authorities say he used military weapons and is thought to have been inspired by far-right ideologies. Also: Israel's president invites Gadi Eisenkot, the main rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to try to form a government after last week’s inconclusive election. Heavy rains in Gaza cause flooding for tens of thousands of misplaced residents living in desperate conditions in tents. The former president of Paraguay is charged in connection with the banking scandal that led to his impeachment. The Ultimate Fighting Championship boss, Dana White, tells us he is meeting President Trump on Monday after he was apparently offered the job of White House Press Secretary. The super sock that's supposed to improve running but has proved divisive. And why thousands entered a competition to find the most "distinctly Boston" accent.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Emergency personal near the site of the shooting in the main market square in Krakow Credit: Reuters / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

When Bridget's relationship fell apart, she turned to the internet with a proposal: come to Northern Ireland and celebrate the wedding that never happened. What followed was a story that has resonated worldwide as 11 strangers answered the call and helped transform loss and heartbreak into an unforgettable week of connection, companionship and adventure.

Also on this podcast; meet the 25-year-old who is on a mission to give one million people access to safe water by 2030. Diana Virgovicova was diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a teenager -- a disease which she believes was linked to the use of agricultural pesticides in her town. After she realised contaminated water was a global problem, she taught herself quantum chemistry to find a way to clean up water.

Also, the family living on the UK's most remote inhabited island and we go to Washington DC's annual High Heel Race.

Picture: Eleven strangers from across the world travelled to Northern Ireland to celebrate Bridget's 'non-wedding'. Credit: Rob Dight / Epic Love Photography

Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

Donald Trump names the immigration hardliner, Stephen Miller, as the new White House chief of staff after the Republican Party's historic losses in the US midterm elections. Mr Miller's appointment to one of the most powerful positions in Washington has been criticised by Democrats and some Republicans. Also: Paraguay's president, Santiago Peña, is impeached and placed under house arrest. Thomas Markle - the estranged father of Prince Harry's wife, Meghan - appears in court over child sex abuse material; he denies wrongdoing. More than 200 Palestinian couples are married at a mass ceremony in war-torn Gaza. The American-Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv speaks to the BBC about his new movie, The Liberation. And were ancient Siberian nomads smoking cannabis?

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo: Stephen Miller, the newly-appointed White House chief of staff, speaking on 20th October in the Oval Office. Credit: Reuters

Investors dump tech shares over fears of slowdown in AI development following the sweeping Democrat victory in the US midterm elections. Markets in Asia suffer sharp losses. Japan’s Nikkei index and South Korea’s Kospi closed 6% down on Friday.

Also: the leader of a doomsday cult in Kenya is sentenced to 200 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering more than 190 people; Paraguay's president faces impeachment after a banking scandal puts the country in crisis; another wave of bomb threats disrupts passenger flights in Europe; Gavin Newsom spares 500 prisoners from the death sentence in California; and the Pope heads to Latin America three weeks after lung cancer surgery.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo: Currency dealers talk in front of an electronic board displaying the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) in Seoul, South Korea. Credit: REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Pressure grows on the US defence secretary following the Republicans' midterm losses. The war in Iran, which Pete Hegseth supported, is being blamed for the defeats - but President Trump said he intended to keep Mr Hegseth on. The defence secretary issues a defiant video statement defending his record. Also: Melania Trump hosts Russian and Ukrainian representatives at the White House. US tech stocks lose hundreds of billions of dollars over fears the Democrats could slow down AI development. Paraguay's president faces impeachment over the collapse of a bank that he had connections with. And the blind Nigerian woman hoping to retain her martial arts title.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in a video statement, in Arlington, Virginia, US in this still image from handout video released November 5, 2026. Credit: X/Reuters

French riot police have fired tear gas at protesters in several cities in the latest day of demonstrations over the rising cost of living and public services that began with student strikes in September.

French riot police have fired tear gas at protesters in several cities. A school near the southern city of Toulouse has been set on fire. Unions, who've called a general strike to demand higher pay, say they expect 800,000 people on the streets across France.

Also: Flights across Europe have again been disrupted by a series of bomb threats, with at least twelve planes affected. British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault and told he faces jail. The Portuguese striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, has announced he is retiring from international football. New Zealand's party leaders have been making their final appeals to voters, before a general election with no clear frontrunners. Was an Italian chef really fired over refusal to put pineapple on pizza? And... we speak to Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw about their favourite moments from filming the second series of the hit Netflix spy thriller Black Doves.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.

Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: A masked protester holds a red flare during a demonstration in Paris Credit: REUTERS/Hannah McKay

President Trump said it was "largely true" that the Republicans' defeat in the US midterm elections was because of the war on Iran. The Vice-President, JD Vance, went further, suggesting the political fallout from the conflict wasn't worth it. We'll also have the latest on the Senate race in Alaska, in which a winner has yet to be declared. Also: tens of thousands of secret police files are released in Hungary. A Hong Kong activist is sentenced to 10 years in prison. And there's outrage in Denmark after a man was tricked into being filmed for a reality TV show.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo: President Trump addresses White House construction workers, 04 Nov 2026 Credit: Photo by Annabelle Gordon/Pool/EPA/Shutterstock.

Democrats have stormed to success in the US midterm elections, capitalising on voter anger about the Iran war, the economy and threats to democracy under Donald Trump. Both the Senate and the House have been flipped by a wide margin. Senate seats turned from Republican to Democrat in Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas and Maine, as well as North and South Carolina. Many of the seats had been held by Republicans for decades. In a first reaction, Iran's supreme leader said he doesn't expect US policy to change, although his chief negotiator earlier said the results showed Americans didn't want war. Also; Israel's president has begun consultations with party leaders on who can form a government after last week's inconclusive vote, and President Zelensky has given Ukraine's highest civilian award for women to the American first lady, Melania Trump, for a ceasefire which she's credited with brokering in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed walks onto the stage after his victory in the US midterm elections in Detroit, Michigan Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder

The Democratic Party inflicted a huge upset on the Republicans in the US midterm elections. In the Senate race in Texas, the Democrat James Talarico is projected to beat the Republican Ken Paxton. He'll join Democratic Senators from South and North Carolina, and Ohio, who've flipped seats in a change that will see the Republicans lose control of the Senate. The Democrats are already expected to win a majority in the House of Representatives - a victory which will have a major impact on President Trump's ability to govern. Writing on social media, the president said that if he'd been on the ballot, the Republicans would have won 'in a landslide'.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: Supporters react after media outlets projected Democratic US Senate candidate and Texas State Representative James Talarico's victory in the US midterm elections in Austin, Texas, US, November 3, 2026. Credit: Reuters

US voters decide whether Donald Trump keeps control of Congress in the midterm elections. The Democrats are predicted to win back control of the House, and possibly the Senate, although many key contests are within the margin of error.

Also: several flights land at airports around Europe after all being targeted by suspected bomb threats; Tenerife footballer, Jesus de Miguel, dies after on-field collision; King Charles calls the slave trade a "shameful chapter" in Britain's history; hundreds of garment factories in Bangladesh are forced to close after several days of violent protests; North Korea denies role in the massive theft of cryptocurrency in a major cyberattack on Binance; and the new word of the year for 2026.

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.

Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Image: Voters fill out their ballots to vote in the midterm election on Election Day in Detroit, Michigan, USA, 03 November 2026 Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

President Zelensky described as utterly horrific a Russian attack in the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia that killed at least 26 people. He said the first air strike was on a school building which was being used as an aid distribution centre. It was followed by nine more bombs targeting a shelter where people were taking cover. Among those killed in the second attack were police and rescue workers who had gone to help. Also: final campaigning has been taking place in the United States on the eve of the midterm elections, which President Trump has described as the most important "in our lifetime". We hear from a man in the Netherlands whose parents opted for duo-euthanasia, where a person receives a lethal injection at the same time as a loved one. Snapchat settles a multi-million-dollar lawsuit following claims that its app was designed to be addictive. And the million-pound game show on British television that wasn't quite what it appeared to be.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: General view of a compound of a local school where a Russian air strike hit an underground shelter, which was used as a humanitarian aid hub in the frontline town of Komyshuvakha, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, November 2, 2026. Credit: Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia region.

Ukraine reported late on Sunday that an air alert app had been compromised - with citizens receiving several false notifications about chemical and radiological threats. A few hours later, the authorities in Russia said a similar app had been hacked after fake messages appeared about nuclear warheads being launched towards the country. The apparent cyberattack came on the same day the humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky officially ended.

Also: Monday is the last day of campaigning before the US midterm elections - we speak to voters in a key state. In Florida, investigators are on the scene of a plane crash that killed nine people and left a burning crater in a residential area. The BBC secures rare access to people inside Iran whose lives have been changed after a year of widespread protests, a brutal crackdown by the authorities and the war with the US and Israel. Dozens of supermarkets across Europe - particularly in Belgium and Luxembourg - have been hit by a suspected cyberattack affecting refrigerators and freezers. Sudan has complained to the UN against Ethiopia over drone attacks which it says were launched from Ethiopian territory... and⁠ police in Finland have launched a criminal investigation into possible breaches ⁠of the country’s environmental ⁠laws ​at the site of a planned Google data centre.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo: A woman holding a mobile phone.

Credit: PA

A shock endorsement in Michigan just days before the US midterm elections has been welcomed by President Trump. Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens backed Republican, Mike Rogers, rather than her own party's candidate, Abdul El- Sayed. Also: Hamas says at least eight people have been killed during Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Thousands participate in demonstrations in Germany over the cost of living and spending on education. Buddhists in Bhutan gather to build 108 structures in 24 hours in order to bless a "mindfulness" city. We hear from Karl Bushby, the British former paratrooper who is finally home after 28 years. And 20-year old Kimi Antonelli becomes the youngest champion in the history of Formula One at the Mexico Grand Prix.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: US Representative Haley Stevens speaks with the media next to Republican US Senate candidate Mike Rogers who she endorsed, after attending church in Michigan. Credit: RUTERS/Rebecca Cook

The French interior ministry says that more than 500 people were arrested during riots across the country. Paving stones and petrol bombs were thrown at the police after trouble broke out following mainly peaceful demonstrations about falling living standards. Also: anti-government protests have broken out again in Albania where water canon was used to try to disperse protestors. Emotions run high in Ukraine where people evacuated from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky were reunited with friends and family they haven't seen for more than four years. Andy Burnham goes further than any previous British prime minister by saying he is "open" to calls for the UK to formally apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, but he rules out financial reparations. Wikipedia's co-founder, Jimmy Wales, speaks to the BBC on the 25th anniversary of the free online encyclopaedia. And the medieval knights on electric bikes jousting in a park in London after footage of their first showdown attracted millions of views online.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo 1: Protesters kick back tear gas canisters, during a demonstration against the cost of living and rising fuel prices, in Paris, France, October 31, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

Photo 2: A protester holds a firework during a demonstration over the cost of living and rising fuel prices, in Paris, France, October 31, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

A new personalised skin cancer vaccine has been found to reduce the risk of patients dying or their cancer returning by 42%. As part of a global two-year clinical trial, more than 1,000 patients who had already had their tumours removed were given a widely used immunotherapy drug. Around two-thirds were then given the experimental vaccine, which was developed using cells from their own tumours. Researchers say the results could mark a turning point in cancer treatment.

Also: How a man achieved his goal of becoming a world-famous singer without even knowing it. The neighbours who rallied together to fulfil an autistic boy's dream. The "brain bank" giving hope to Parkinson's patients. A ballet school offering a brighter future for children living in one of the poorest parts of the world. And how one conservationist's determination helped save the threatened African manatee.

Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

(Photo: A man receives a personalised vaccine as part of a global cancer treatment trial. Credit: Addenbrooke's Hospital)

Presenter: Helena Burke Music: Iona Hampson

The US State Department says it has approved the sale of more than two billion dollars' worth of Patriot missiles to Ukraine. The 500 missiles have been paid for by contributions from Canada, Germany and Norway. Ukraine needs the interceptors to defend itself from escalating Russian attacks, but there is a global shortage due to their use by the US in its war against Iran. Also: Russia's most prominent independant paper closes after years of state persecution. Shares in US technology companies fall sharply for a second day on Wall Street as concerns rise over the hundreds of billions of dollars being invested in AI. Police Scotland confirm that they're looking into the time the King's brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor spent with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the British Royal Family's Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire. A row in South Korea over pictures from a deadly crush being used in the latest Call of Duty video game. And Ken Russell fans gear up to see a newly restored and uncensored classic by the late acclaimed British film director.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected] Photo: U.S. Army MIM-104 Patriots, surface-to-air missile (SAM) system launchers are pictured at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Poland March 24, 2022 Credit: Reuters

Officials confirm the evacuation of the Ukrainian city of Oleshky is under way. Russia and Ukraine have agreed a temporary local ceasefire. People who decided to leave Oleshky had a four-hour window to do so.

Also: Binance, the world's biggest crypto exchange, has been hit by what could be the biggest hack in history. We report from Syria, two years on from the fall of the Assad regime. Experts say the online “manosphere” should be treated as a public health issue. We look at what role Israel’s president will play in the outcome of the general election. And researchers say eating fruit and vegetable scraps could provide a health boost that most of us are missing.

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. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [email protected]

Photo: Residents in Oleshky, Ukraine, 30th October 2026. Credit: Reuters