Global News Podcast

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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.
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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.
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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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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

The Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, has questioned a massive oil deal agreed between Caracas and Washington earlier this year. The accord will see Venezuela hand over twenty per cent of its oil reserves to the US. Speaking at a news conference after her return from exile over the weekend, Ms Machado insisted elections would be held next year, as part of the democratic transition she said was backed by the US. Also: Spanish families desperately search local hospitals in the hope of finding relatives who were hurt in the Toledo train disaster on Wednesday. America's First Lady, Melania Trump, says the ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Olezhky has been expanded within the Kherson region. The British actor, Patrick Stewart, who gained fame as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, has died at the age of 86. The Republican governor of Alaska has ordered an investigation into an alleged scheme which led to two men named Dan Sullivan standing in the state's US Senate race. Mike Dunleavy said he was responding to a New York Times story alleging that Democratic party operatives recruited a spoiler candidate. At least 300,000 people could be at risk of future natural disasters in the Himalayas, and we hear from Iranians planning to celebrate Halloween despite the risk of arrest.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Photo: Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses the press in Caracas.
Credit: Reuters/Gaby Oráa

More than a dozen people are killed by a jet-powered drone from Russia as they board a train from a crowded platform in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Also: following the election in Israel, Arab-led parties could hold the balance of power. Would they ever agree to join a coalition government? Rescuers are still searching the wreckage of a crash involving two high-speed trains in Spain. There's been outrage in South Korea after the makers of the video game Call of Duty include footage from a real-life tragedy that killed nearly 160, most of them young people. And Britain is looking at ways to verify the age of teenagers ahead of a social media ban for under-16s - but will it work?

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Photo: emergency workers at railway station in Dnipro, Ukraine after Russian drone strike 
Credit: Reuters

Flávio Bolsonaro insists he is Brazil’s rightful leader, claiming fraud in the election he lost to President Lula da Silva - without providing evidence. He is currently in Miami in the United States but denies fleeing Brazil where he is under investigation. Also: Spanish investigators examine if negligence played a role in deadly rail crash; forest fires spark anti-government protests across Indonesia; the woman who pet a great white shark; and the art of short films, and even shorter microdramas.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Photo: Flávio Bolsonaro lands in Florida after fleeing Brazil following his defeat in the presidential election.
Credit: Reuters/Eva Marie Uzcategui

More than 60 people have died after two high-speed trains collided south of the Spanish capital, Madrid. The accident happened on the same rail line where 46 people died earlier this year.

Also: with most votes counted in the Israeli election, Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc is slightly ahead, but short of a majority. A luxury cruise ship on a years-long voyage around the world has suspended operations because of high fuel costs, leaving passengers stranded in Cambodia. King Charles has begun his tour of the Caribbean by acknowledging the "great suffering of the past" as he faced calls for slavery reparations. And the two-time Oscar winner, Michael Douglas, tells the BBC that writing a memoir was an important legacy to leave his “nepo baby” children.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Photo: two high-speed trains collide in Urda, Spain.
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

There is no clear winner in Israel's election, with results remaining too close to call. As votes are being counted, Benjamin Netanyahu tells supporters he wants to form a right-wing government and "remove the Iranian threat once and for all." His challenger, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, urges the prime minister to step down, saying the country has voted "for change". Arab parties are on track to record their best results ever.

Also: Brazil's defeated right-wing presidential candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, has fled to the United States amid a probe into alleged money laundering. NFL player Colin Kaepernick speaks to the BBC about his choice to protest police brutality by taking the knee on the field in 2016, causing him to lose his career. The Youth Olympic Games, held in the Senegalese capital, is set to be the first Olympic event held on African soil. And why scientists are playing underwater sounds to coral reefs.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Picture: Voters wave Israeli flags while awaiting results from the country's first parliamentary elections since the 7 October 2023 attacks.
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock/Atef Safadi

Israelis turn out in large numbers to vote in what many view as one of the most pivotal elections in the country's history. The campaign has been shaped by the issues of democracy and security and is widely being seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership.

Also: Officials aligned with the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan say drone strikes on the city of Nyala have killed over a hundred people. A ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is holding in the Russia-occupied city of Oleshky, to allow in humanitarian aid. Media groups in India have told the country's supreme court that the government’s new privacy law would challenge the entire concept of news and amount to pre-censorship. The US Justice Department is set to file new charges against James Comey, marking the third time in just over a year that the Trump administration has tried to prosecute the former FBI director. Football star Kylian Mbappe has been dropped by two of his Chinese sponsors after a video emerged of the player making fun of China’s revolutionary hero Mao Zedong. As the sixth instalment in Sarah J. Mass’s ACOTAR series is released, we learn why the romantasy genre has become so popular. And finally, a two-metre-tall skeleton of a dinosaur is expected to sell at Southby’s for $9m.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Photo: An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man casts his vote for the 26th Knesset elections in the city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel, 27 October 2026.
Credit: EPA/ Shutterstock

Israel is holding its first general election since the October 7th Hamas attacks in 2023, with Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to maintain his hold on power after three years of war.
Also: after his shock defeat in the Brazilian election, the right wing opposition candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, says he's now been banned from leaving the country. Anthropic files for a potentially record-breaking stock market valuation. Two Catholic bishops in the US say they regret meeting President Trump, after images of them praying with him are released by a White House aide. Harry Kane becomes the first English footballer in 25 years to win the game's most prestigious individual award - the Ballon d'Or. A convicted murderer in Australia loses his legal challenge against the ban on Vegemite in prisons. 'Maxxing' is selected as Dictionary.com's word of the year.

This week the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his inner circle are meeting in Beijing for a series of closed-door meetings, known as plenums. Once those meetings have concluded, we're expecting to learn more about the senior figures that could shape the look of China's ruling Communist Party in the years to come. In this bonus episode we answer your questions about the next generation of Chinese leaders and how they might run the world superpower. Presenter Celia Hatton is joined by the BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell in Beijing and Shawn Yuan from the BBC Global China Unit and other Chinese expert guests.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping pictured during a meeting in Beijing, China, May 15, 2026.
Credit: Reuters/Evan Vucci/Pool

Serbia's long-standing leader, Aleksander Vučić, is defeated in parliamentary elections by the Student List Party. The movement grew out of protests against corruption and authoritarianism. Also: we speak to Israelis about what many see as the most critical election in their history. Brazil's incumbent left-wing President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, wins a stunning victory in a run-off vote. Around 300 top politicians gather in Beijing, as China's communist leadership holds its most important meeting of the year. And cars, buses, taxis and bicycles disappear from a section of Oxford Street, as pedestrians take over London's famous shopping thoroughfare.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Photo: Supporters of the electoral list, "Student List - Students Win", celebrate after Aleksandar Vučić,, Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) prime ministerial candidate, conceded defeat in the parliamentary election in Belgrade, Serbia.

Credit: REUTERS

Brazil's left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been elected to a fourth term in office, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in the runoff of the presidential election. The right-wing challenger Bolsonaro has called for the election to be annulled, following in his father Jair Bolsonaro’s footsteps by not recognising the results. Lula becomes the first president in Brazil's history to win a fourth term.

Also: joy and disbelief on Serbia's streets as a student-led protest movement defeats the long-standing leader Aleksandar Vučić. The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado returns to Caracas after nearly a year in exile. Why the money from China's soaring exports isn't reaching the nation's workers. Uganda imposes a 21-day Ebola quarantine for travellers arriving from the DRC. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly clashes with his military chief. And why wind-up radios are flying off the shelves in the UK.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Photo: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Workers' Party (PT) candidate for re-election, gestures as he addresses supporters after his victory in the presidential runoff election, at Paulista Avenue, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 26, 2026. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Midterm elections in the United States are normally about domestic issues such as the economy and the cost of living. They’re often a pulse check on voter sentiment towards the party in power, or a reflection of local political battles and regional trends. Midterms are rarely impassioned referendums on a specific foreign policy issue. But this year in Michigan, for some voters, the Senate race is shaping up to be just that. Today on the show, The Global Story’s Asma Khalid shares her reporting from Michigan, where a debate among Democrats over the conflict in the Middle East has become a touchstone issue, especially among the state’s large Arab American and Jewish communities. 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.

Protests against poor economic conditions have been held across France. Nearly 1,000 people have been arrested after clashes with riot police in cities including Paris and Marseilles.

Also: campaigning intensifies ahead of the US mid-term elections. We have a special report from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Gianni Infantino claims the "vast majority" supports his bid for re-election as head of world football's governing body, FIFA. Final rallies are held in Brazil ahead of Sunday's presidential run-off election between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro. One man has been arrested after Hitler's Eagle's Nest retreat in Bavaria was engulfed in flames. And Europe's busiest shopping street, Oxford Street in London, prepares to go traffic free.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Photo: People clash with police during a demonstration against the high cost of living in Bordeaux, France, 24 October 2026.
Credit: EPA/Shuttershock

Patrick Mohr thought his wedding ring was gone after it fell off his hand while he swam in Italy, but it led to an international friendship with three locals who dived to find it. Filippo Palagi, Nicola Malloggi and Edoardo Poggi went on a trip to return it to Patrick in Ireland.

Also: the grandmother who competed at Miss Great Britain and made history in the process. Glamour Gran Ann wants other women to see that getting older does not mean disappearing. In Australia, the reporter who ended up saving a man's life while covering floods in Brisbane. ABC reporter Will Murray pulled a man from a sinking car, after the driver accidentally drove into the flood.

Plus - World Athletics are holding their first ever World Treadmill Championship. And the live stream in Finland where you can watch puppies 24/7.

Image: The three men who helped Patrick find his ring, posing with Patrick holding it. Credit: Patrick Mohr.

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

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

The White House says the US first lady, Melania Trump, has brokered a local ceasefire for a frontline city in a Russian-occupied part of Ukraine. The truce in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, is due to begin on October 29. The White House says the city is on "the brink of disaster" without medicine, food and clean water. Residents of the city have resorted to eating garden weeds to survive. Also: Donald Trump files a lawsuit seeking to block Alaska's result in the midterms if the Republican incumbent does not win his Senate seat. We look at the legacy of the iPod as the device turns 25. The company behind ChatGPT announces that it will no longer train its AI models live on the internet amid security concerns. Brazilians go to the polls on Sunday in what’s predicted to be an incredibly close presidential election. And the hunt for the next James Bond is underway, with screen tests rumoured to be taking place in London.

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Photo: Rally demanding the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to evacuate Ukrainian civilians from Oleshky in Kherson region, in Kyiv. October 6, 2026. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

A BBC investigation has found evidence that Sudanese paramilitary fighters systematically destroyed El-Fasher's healthcare system during their long siege and subsequent takeover of the city in Darfur a year ago. UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the findings "deeply disturbing", saying multiple attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, were serious violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes. Also: the Israeli military says two soldiers were killed in an attack by Palestinian gunmen in the occupied West Bank. The two suspected attackers were shot dead by the IDF. Ukrainian defence officials say there are still restrictions on their use of the Starshield satellite network, despite President Trump saying it was operating normally. And, the brave little octopus who escapes death after venturing from her normal underwater habitat.

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.
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Photo: A makeshift hospital in El Fasher lies in ruins after being targeted by RSF fighters.
Credit: BBC News

Our senior international corrrespondent Orla Guerin reports from Yemen where fighting has intensified between government forces and Houthi rebels. Also: Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong steps into the limelight as rumours swirl over the health of the North Korean leader. Demonstrators stage peaceful protests across Venezuela calling for the safe return of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. President Trump is ordered to answer questions under oath in BBC lawsuit. New York city council votes to ban the use of horsedrawn carriages in Central Park after a long campaign by activists who say the animals suffer. A retired decorator becomes a millionaire after Pokemon cards sold at auction. And Raye wins the 2026 Mercury Prize for her album This Music May Contain Hope.

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.
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Photo: Yemeni families seek refuge in a camp near the port city of Aden
Credit: Lee Durant - BBC

The Ukrainian president has accused Russia of responding to the latest negotiations about ending the war by launching three waves of ballistic missiles. Nine people were killed and more than 30 injured across Ukraine, as homes, power facilities, shops and a medical centre were hit. The attacks came after Russia had said it was "ready in principle" to resume peace talks, and the US said an end to the war was close. Also: American media reports say the US and Israel are developing plans for renewed strikes against specific targets in Iran. How Arab parties could hold the balance of power in the Israeli general election. Why has President Trump been heckled at a rally in South Carolina? And a clinical trial has been launched in the UK which scientists hope could cut years from the search for new treatments for 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.
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Photo: A rescuer works at the site of a shopping centre hit by a Russian missile attack, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 22, 2026.
Credit: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

A cyber security flaw has prompted governments in Finland and the Netherlands and websites such as Wikipedia and the BBC to go completely dark temporarily. The flaws in a programming language were discovered by AI. PHP is a scripting language that powers 70 per cent of all websites in the world.

Also: Three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States are scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi next month to try to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. We hear about an Iranian prisoner who went to extraordinary lengths to chronicle the brutal reality of life Inside one of the country's notorious jail's. Our correspondent details the rise in the number of wild elephants dying in Sri Lanka. The new rules that mean you won't have to clean up before you leave an Airbnb. And why John Malkovich is tipped for an Oscar for his performance in Wild Horse Nine.

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.
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Photo: The website of the Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU Institutions, Bodies and Agencies displays a warning message after critical vulnerabilities were detected in the PHP programming language
Credit: Rob Engelaar - EPA/Shutterstock

Russia has released a retired American teacher who was jailed for allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff. Mr Witkoff praised the decision, calling Mr Putin "a humanitarian", while also thanking him for a diesel deal that has angered Kyiv's allies. The US envoy, who had attended talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Norway on Tuesday, also asked Mr Putin to consider trilateral peace talks with Ukraine.

Also: Hungarian police arrest the former central bank chief György Matolcsy on suspicion of fraud. South Korea's newest celebrity, Bukangi the shark, returns to sea after a third rescue attempt in Busan harbour. Australian MP Helen Haines loses both legs after alleged car attack, as suspect is charged with multiple offences. The UK government gives the green light to a new gas field in North Sea, despite protests from environment campaigners. The BBC visits Springfield, Ohio, ahead of the US midterm elections, speaking to Haitian migrants fearing deportation. Why Elon Musk wants to merge SpaceX and Tesla, and the Hokusai Mount Fuji photos going on display in London.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says intelligence on early warning systems for Russian strikes "works now", and that he is thankful to the US. After meeting President Zelensky, Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff is now in Russia to share peace proposals with President Putin.

Also: We report from Kansas ahead of the US midterm elections; Indonesia's worst wildfire season in a decade causes an air pollution crisis across South East Asia; the Egyptian man sentenced to prison for impersonating a judge; the third attempt to free a shark trapped for a month in a South Korean harbour; and the trees causing an overpowering smell in Vietnam's capital.

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.
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Photo: Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy at a press conference in Norway
Credit: Reuters/Cornelius Poppe

Canada’s most oil and gas rich province, Alberta, has voted to reject a move towards holding a referendum on independence from Canada. The Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney said they were pleased with the result. More than three quarters of voters said they were against holding a future binding referendum that would have split Alberta from the rest of Canada. The vote took place at a time when Canada is embroiled in a trade war with the US.

Also: More civilians have died in the latest round of drone attacks in Sudan. Police have charged a man alleged to have nearly killed an Australian MP. A key advisor to President Zelensky says that Ukrainians are dying because the US is "restricting intelligence sharing". New evidence has found that Shakespeare was not the only author of the play Edward III.

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.
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Photo: A supporter of the Forever Canadian group, who wants Alberta to remain in Canada, waits for the results of a non-binding referendum on Alberta sovereignty in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada October 19, 2026.

Credit:
Reuters/Todd Korol TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Overnight curfews are in place in parts of Paris, Lyon, Lille and Nice as the French authorities try to crack down on violence and looting which has scarred the country since Saturday. Demonstrations have been banned in the French capital, which experienced some of the worst unrest that spilled over from massive protests against the cost of living.

Also: Japan heads to Mars to make history in space exploration; young Israeli voters speak to the BBC ahead of next week's election; a Bangladesh minister resigns after going viral on social media for wielding a gun in suspected drugs raid; the researchers trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of the pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart; and Apu returns to the Simpsons after nine years away.

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.
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Photo: A protester in Paris throws a bicycle onto a burning car amid clashes during a day of demonstrations
Credit: REUTERS/Abdul Saboor

Residents of Gaza have described the World Food Programme's decision to drastically reduce lifesaving assistance as "disastrous". The number of people helped by the UN agency will be reduced by around a third to one-point-one million people, as it grapples with a funding shortfall. Also: An Australian lawmaker is in a critical condition after being hit by a car in what the prime minister described as an attack. A Kenyan court delivers its judgement in the trial of a cult leader accused of murdering almost two hundred people who starved to death.The French government says it's imposing temporary curfews in some cities to prevent any continuation of the violent unrest that swept the country over the weekend. A spacecraft is set to take off from Japan on the world's first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of two small moons orbiting Mars. And the British government has launched a campaign to clamp down on people playing music out loud on buses and trains - with fines of around $130.

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.
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Photo: Palestinian children queue to receive food from the World Food Programme (WFP)
Credit: Reuters/Mahmoud Issa

What happens if Donald Trump loses the midterms, and why do these elections matter for Republicans and Democrats? What is gerrymandering? A stump speech? PACs and Super PACs? Dark money? In this special joint episode, we explain some of the basics of next month's US elections. The Global News Podcast's Celia Hatton is joined by Anthony Zurcher and Sumi Somaskanda from Americast to help decode the weird and wonderful jargon surrounding the midterms. We hear from our listeners about which phrases have them stumped.

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.

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Photo: US President Donald Trump responds to a question from the news medis.
Credit: Shawn Thew - POOL/EPA/Shutterstock

With President Macron's final months in office set to be marred by the continuing protests and riots, how will the violent unrest influence France's upcoming election? Our reporter says the government's failures could help the far-left and far-right at the polls. Also: four soldiers are killed in a fire at a Canadian military base; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro butt heads in Brazil's presidential TV debate; we speak to the son of the American journalist attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank; a Kenyan doomsday cult leader awaits court verdict; and recycling sportswear - do you want to buy an Olympics kit originally made for an athlete?

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.
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Photo: A French firefighter extinguishes a blaze as clashes between riot police and demonstrators continue.
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Since World War Two ended, most people living in the United States or Europe have generally upheld a consensus about its morality; that it was a just war fought against an evil Nazi regime, and the allies were right to fight it. But in a viral podcast debate with the British conservative Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Tucker Carlson seemed to disagree with that narrative, causing deep consternation within the wider conservative movement. The Global Story’s Tristan Redman speaks to BBC Newscast’s Adam Fleming about Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and the strand of British conservatism he represents. We also hear from the Conservative politician and Times of London columnist Lord Daniel Finkelstein - whose parents were survivors of a Nazi concentration camps and a Russian gulag - about why he thinks one of America’s most influential right-wing voices is casting doubt on World War Two history.

For more from the Global Story please subscribe wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

(Photo: Tucker Carlson speaks at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, 18 July, 2024. He has short brown hair with side parting. He gestures with both arms outstretched to the side as he speaks into a mic. He wears a dark blue jacket, a blue and white gingham shirt and a dark blue tie with yellow, diagonal stripes. Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters) Producer: Aron Keller and Cat Farnsworth Executive producer: James Shield Digital producer: Sam Gruet Sound engineer: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins

President Macron has promised that vandals and looters will be punished after a day of rioting saw businesses and public buildings damaged and set on fire across France. The protests - that have turned violent - are part of an ongoing wave of anger over declining public services and the cost of living. Also: The US, France and Belgium condemn Israeli settler attacks on diplomats and a journalist in the occupied West Bank. Donald Trump waives newly announced sanctions on Russia. We look back at the Black Panthers - a revolutionary organisation founded 60 years ago during the US civil rights movement. And a rare, flawless pink diamond is going back on public display, after being stolen and then hidden a century ago.

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.
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Photo: A protestor holds a French flag next to burning objects amid clashes in a street in Paris.
Credit: Reuters/Jack Taylor

When a storm washed out the only road connecting North Carolina's Outer Banks, Kimberly and Jayden turned to the locals of Hatteras Island for help. None of their family or wedding suppliers could get there for their big day. But, after a social media appeal, the locals rallied round the couple and their wedding went ahead. The couple estimate between 500 to 800 strangers attended their wedding.

Also, a black Labrador has just been named as Animal of the Year. Six year old Sgaith sniffs out an invasive marine creature called the carpet sea squirt with her handler, Dr Texa Sim.

Archaeologists have found what they believe to be the world's oldest shipwreck. It's just off the coast of Turkey and it's thought to be 4,500 years old. Although the ship's wooden structure has not survived, some of its contents are still lying on the seabed.

Plus, the drug trial offering hope to people with alopecia. Why women are dominating the Motorsport, Top Fuel Drag Racing - and the man who ran a marathon, with strangers celebrating him along the way.

Image: Kimberly and Jayden getting married. Credit: GwenyGrace Photography

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

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson.

The White House press secretary Katie Zacharia has been ousted after just five days, amid criticism of her first media briefing and questions about her legal background. Also: figures released by the Brazilian government indicate that deforestation in the Amazon has hit record lows. Police in the US state of Oregon have described how a teacher and a school parent fought off the gunman who killed four people at a primary school on Thursday. Ukraine says a counteroffensive has liberated more than 270 sq km of occupied land from Russian troops - we have a special report from the frontline. More than 120 people have been arrested during clashes with police in the Albanian capital, Tirana. An investigation into fraud involving penile implant surgeries has been launched in Sicily, and should car radios be a legal requirement?

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.

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Photo: White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia at her first media briefing in the role, 13th October
Credit: Reuters

The BBC has witnessed Israeli settlers attack Palestinians and set fire to olive trees in the occupied West Bank. Also: President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is "only standing up for Ukraine's interests" after scathing criticism from Donald Trump. There has been a stark rise in anti-government activists deported to Russia from the EU and US, where they'd been seeking sanctuary. Researchers at the University of Maryland in the US have developed a tool to spot whether ideas are AI generated. A new version of Tesla's Roadster electric sports car, equipped with thrusters which apparently allow it to hover and turn in mid-air, has been unveiled in Texas. The number of ships that have reported being attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz has hit a record high, BBC Verify analysis shows. A pioneering same-day test has been used to detect hidden and drug-resistant infections among children in intensive care. Experts are deciding whether to get rid of "leap seconds" altogether and replace them with a "leap hour" instead. And low-budget Spanish film La Bola Negra is emerging as a major Oscars contender.

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.
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Photo: Israeli settlers attack Palestinians and olive pickers in the West Bank, Abu Falah - 16 Oct 2026
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

A 16-year-old has shot dead three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, in the US state of Oregon. The gunman was shot dead by a member of the public. Also: Britain's defence secretary says he's been reassured by the US that Starlink satellite services used by Ukraine’s military have been restored. In Yemen, the presidential palace and seat of the government in the port city of Aden has been attacked by Houthi rebels. Venezuela's ousted President Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty to conspiracy to torture in a New York court. The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, apologizes to the organisation's council for his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. We hear from people with sight loss that say smart glasses are a 'game changer'; and a 99-year-old becomes the world's oldest wing walker.

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.
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Photo: Emergency personnel at the scene of the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, 15th October.
Credit: Reuters

More than 30 people have been killed after a school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, with the majority thought to be children under the age of 13. The owner of the school has been arrested, with police warning the building was extremely dangerous and there was a risk of further collapse. Also: the BBC has identified 254 incidents in which the Israeli military has been accused of killing or injuring people in Gaza, Lebanon, the occupied West Bank and Israel, which it said it would investigate - but no outcome has been publicly disclosed; Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle carry out their first joint engagement since returning to the UK; one of the most shocking court cases of recent years, the Pelicot trial, comes to the stage in London next month. Dominique Pelicot was jailed for 20 years for drugging and raping his wife and allowing at least 50 other men to abuse her while she was unconscious; Ukraine attacks one of Russia's major oil refineries, hours after President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy vowed to renew strikes; we report from Iowa, where Democrats lead in early polls for next month's mid-term elections; the World Athletics president aims for African "legacy" with 2029 World Championships in Kenya; and research suggests dogs can link shapes to sounds.

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.

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Photo: Police officers and military personnel gather as they survey the site of a school roof collapse at a hospital morgue in Peshawar, Pakistan, October 15, 2026.

Credit: REUTERS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Volodymyr Zelensky says he feels "betrayed" by Donald Trump after the US-Russia diesel deal and an apparent decision to curb access to the Starlink network, which has been vital to Ukraine during the war. President Zelensky accused the White House of being on the wrong side of history. Also: student protesters attack government buildings in Albania; Turkish police raid and shut down the opposition station Halk TV; China and North Korea build bridges - metaphorically and literally; the Wildlife Photographer of the Year reflects on what his shot of a grieving elephant can teach us; and the dog that sniffs out invasive "sea vomit".

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.
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Photo: Ukraine's President Zelensky in London, 14th October.
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock.

Russian missile and drone strikes hit "critical" infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv despite US President Donald Trump's claim on Sunday that an "energy ceasefire" was in place between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine says it received no warning from allies and was hampered by restrictions to the Starlink communications network during another night of intense attacks. Separately, speed restrictions on the key Starlink communications network have disrupted Ukraine's battlefield "missions", President Volodymyr Zelensky's adviser has warned. Also: A Ukrainian man goes on trial in Hamburg accused of blowing up Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines to Germany; Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court overturns a death sentence imposed on a Sri Lankan worker for blasphemy; The Global Penguin Society says more needs to be done to protect the birds from the impact of climate change, the El Niño weather pattern, deep sea mining and oil development; In China how the "loneliness economy" is growing to help people deal with feelings of isolation; and archaeologists in Turkey say they’ve found the world’s oldest shipwreck.

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.
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Photo:

Residents look on from a balcony of an apartment of a residential building which was damaged by a late evening Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 14, 2026.
Credit:
Reuters

A medical bulletin from the Vatican has announced that Pope Leo has undergone a successful operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. It said the Pope had woken up normally and returned to his room after a brief period of observation. Pope Leo had announced on Sunday that his operation was imminent but the cancer diagnosis only came after the procedure had been carried out.

Also: 30 years after the American rapper Tupac Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, a former gang boss has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for his part in the murder. Cornell University in the US has suspended some campus parties in response to a former student’s gang rape allegations. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said anonymous contributors to the Israeli documentary "NAZA" about the war against Hamas in Gaza must have their identities revealed; we speak to the film's directors. A major report by England's football regulator has warned that many clubs are living on edge of financial disaster. How minuscule robots piloted by magnets could deliver doses of medicine to specific parts of the body. And a new species of dinosaur is discovered by a British scientist.

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.
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Photo: Pope Leo XIV arriving at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, 13th October.
Credit: EPA

The International Monetary Fund says in its latest report that global growth has weathered the Middle East conflict better than had been feared, with rerouting of oil supplies and the release of energy stocks helping reduce the negative impact of the Iran war. But the IMF also warns that emergency stocks are now depleted. Also; the authorities in the American state of Tennessee release dramatic phone calls that were made to the emergency services after the botched execution of Christa Pike; Pope Leo has been admitted to hospital for a lung operation; a leading Iraqi human rights organisation says the government must do more to protect women who speak out about sexual violence, and Rwanda has agreed to host Formula One races, bringing the sport to Africa for the first time since the South African Grand Prix in 1993.

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.
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Photo: Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department at the International Monetary Fund Silvana Tenreyro at annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank Group in Bangkok
Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Researchers in Australia say there were 11.4 million new dementia cases in 2023. They expect that number to more than double to 24.7 million by 2050. Women and people from lower- and middle-income countries are most likely to be affected. We speak to Professor Henry Brodaty, co-author of the study, who tells us this is because of "an epidemic of ageing".

Also: the BBC reports from the frontline of the conflict in Yemen. US federal agents have raided the home in Washington of the Democratic congresswoman, Ilhan Omar. Elon Musk has given what's believed to be a record amount of money to Republican groups ahead of the US midterm elections. We're in Hungary, six months on from the defeat of Viktor Orbán's party in parliamentary elections. And the actress Selma Blair is charged with assault after an alleged incident on a flight from Los Angeles to New York City.

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.
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Photo: A 90-year old man uses a walking stick at the Forget Me Not, Dementia Friendly Cafe, in Salford, England.
Credit: Reuters

Major French supermarket chains have reported being hit by a cyberattack that caused their refrigerators to defrost. More than 150 Intermarché stores were targeted, along with almost 100 Coopérative U outlets. The hackers may have also hit other major chains in France and neighbouring countries.

Also: Saudi airspace remains heavily disrupted, as Yemen's Houthis continue a barrage of missile attacks. President Zelensky says Washington has to make Russia respect the energy ceasefire announced by President Trump, after Russian strikes hit Ukrainian power plants overnight. Thousands have rallied in Delhi for what they call a March for Democracy, aimed at removing the head of India's electoral commission, following fraud allegations. Why AI data centres could be a major issue for voters in the US midterms. Pakistan detains the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after sacking him and his government and declaring a local emergency. We speak to the president of Microsoft about the dangers of AI going rogue... and the case of a Qing period porcelain bowl found mysteriously smashed inside the British Museum.

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.

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Photo: FILE PHOTO: A customer shops in a supermarket in Nice, France, March 1, 2023.
Credit: REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

The main international airport in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, is attacked on consecutive days by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. More than a dozen people have been killed and hundreds injured. The Houthis say they launched the strikes because of the Saudis' support for government forces in Yemen's civil war.

Also: a BBC investigation looks into the circumstances surrounding the shooting of mourners in Kenya at a national farewell for a former prime minister. The Pope is to undergo surgery to remove a lump on his lung. A boat carrying hundreds of migrants from Djibouti to Yemen sinks, leaving almost 140 people dead. And why are shark bites on the increase in Australia?

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.

Photo: Surveillance footage shows smoke and fire as people react to the attack at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on 10th October 2026.
Credit: Saudi Ministry of Media, via Reuters

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