Global News Podcast

Last week saw what could be the biggest heist in history: $6.3bn was stolen from the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. North Korean hackers are suspected of being behind the attack, which saw billions of dollars disappear in just 20 minutes. It’s far from the first time North Korea has been accused of a major cyber-attack. Over the past decade, hackers linked to the country have targeted banks, public institutions and even Sony Pictures. On The Global Story, Asma Khalid speaks with journalist Geoff White, host of the BBC investigative podcast The Lazarus Heist. He explains how this isolated country become a major player in the world of cyber-crime – and where all that money goes. 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.

Part of SpaceX's Starship rocket was caught as it descended back to Earth in Texas. It's the first time the upper section of a reusable rocket has ever been captured. Mechanical arms carried out a "chopstick" manoeuvre to catch the spacecraft. The breakthrough could dramatically cut the cost of space travel and marks a major step towards making Starship suitable for human spaceflight.
Also: Ukraine's president says the US has, for the first time, floated the idea of Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for ceding control of the Donbas region to Russia. We hear from the first black senator of the US state of Mississippi in 145 years. A fierce debate is brewing in Germany over the future of Hitler's Eagle's Nest after the building was destroyed by fire. A leading specialist in detecting digitally manipulated images warns that deepfakes are becoming almost impossible to spot. And a Philippine teenager has won the first-ever Eurovision Asia competition.
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: SpaceX Starship 42 returns from orbit to the launch pad on the 15th test flight from the SpaceX launch complex in Starbase, Texas, US, November 14, 2026.
Credit: REUTERS/Steve Nesius

Before taking on Antarctica's 160 kilometre ultramarathon, Stephanie Case said she wanted to show her daughter what mothers can achieve even in the toughest places on Earth. The Canadian ultra-runner has now made history, becoming the first woman to complete the race. Case says she wanted to prove that ''motherhood isn't the finish line''.
Also: we catch up with a young Sudanese boy who received a surprise message from his favourite footballer, the Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior. We visit a drama workshop where actors use sound to create theatre for blind and visually impaired people. How robotic kits with chopsticks are inspiring children around the world. The African athletes who have made history at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. Plus the chimpanzee in Florida that had his own drone delivery service of bananas.
(Photo: Stephanie Case pictured after completing the Antarctic Ice Ultra 2026. Credit: Reuters)
Presenter: Chantal Hartle.
Music composed by Iona Hampson

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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
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: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Photo: The icons for several Microsoft apps, including Microsoft Outlook.
Credit: Yui Mok / PA