Author: BBC World Service

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared a "disaster area" and warned of "devastating impacts". The hurricane has now hit Cuba, bringing heavy winds and heavy rain, with warnings of storm surges.

Also on the programme: we hear about a new breath test which could revolutionise the treatment of pancreatic cancer; and the Spanish city of Valencia remembers the deadly floods of a year ago.

(Image: Broken tree branches lie on the street, after Hurricane Melissa made landfall, in Spur Tree, Manchester, Jamaica, October 29, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Octavio Jones)

Authorities in Kenya intercept more than a tonne of methamphetamine in the Indian Ocean as part of the country's ongoing fight against narcotics trafficking and addiction

Thousands of Tunisians protest in the southern city of Gabes, calling for a chemical plant to be shut down because they say it's ruining their children's health

And three Sudanese football clubs are hoping to find refuge in Rwanda from the ongoing civil war in Sudan. Fierce rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh, as well as Al-Ahli Wad Madani have been welcomed into the Rwandan league this season, a move that the Sudanese clubs say will keep their players active and their fans hopeful

Presenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Mark Wilberforce, Stefania Okereke, Alex Lathbridge, and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Senior Producer: Sunita Nahar Editors: Maryam Abdalla and Sam Murunga

Israeli strikes ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kill at least 33 Palestinians in Gaza. It comes after Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by shooting at IDF soldiers and not handing back hostage bodies. The US President Donald Trump said Israel “should hit back” at Hamas if Israeli soldiers were killed, but added “nothing’s going to jeopardise” the truce. Also: President Trump arrives in South Korea; Hurricane Melissa pummels Jamaica; scores of people killed and 81 arrested in a massive drugs raid in Brazil; rapper Flavor Flav becomes official hype man and sponsor of the US Bobsleigh and Skeleton team for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica - its most powerful storm since records began. The US National Hurricane Centre said the eye hit the southwest of the island with estimated maximum wind speeds close to three hundred kilometres an hour.

Also in the programme: Fear of mass killings as thousands trapped in besieged Sudan city taken by militia group; Israel has carried out air strikes on Gaza -- after its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire deal; and Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales on the precious commodity, trust.

(Photo: A fallen tree on a road caused by Hurricane Melissa in Kingston. Credit: Reuters)

Hurricane Melissa, the world's strongest storm of the year, hits Jamaica, bringing catastrophic flooding, with several deaths reported. The authorities have been making extensive preparations for the Category Five storm, but officials are concerned that not enough people are heeding evacution orders. Also, Sudanese RSF rebels deny reports of atrocities against civilians in the captured city of El Fasher, and Prunella Scales, one of Britain's best-loved actresses, dies at the age of ninety-three. 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

As the strongest storm the island of Jamaica has ever known approaches landfall, we hear from people on the ground, from the Minister for the Environment, Water and Climate Change, and from a meteorologist.

Also in the programme: with more evidence of atrocities emerging from the Sudanese city of El Fasher, we hear from the United Nations' Coordinator on Sudan; and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, talks to Newshour about the meaning of trust.

(IMAGE: a man wearing a protective suit cycles on a street, as Hurricane Melissa approaches, in Kingston, Jamaica, October 27, 2025 / CREDIT: REUTERS/Octavio Jones)

As the strategic city of el-Fasher finally falls to the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, we analyse what it means in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. How the world’s oldest president, Paul Biya of Cameroon, is set to change things as he wins a disputed eighth term that could keep him in power until the age of 99. And why are South Africans trying to save an ancient language, which has just one speaker?

Presenter: Nyasha Michelle Producers: Mark Wilberforce, Stefania Okereke, Sunita Nahar and Yvette Twagiramariya Technical Producer: Pat Sissons Senior Producer: Piers Edwards Editors: Maryam Abdalla and Sam Murunga

World's strongest storm of 2025 expected to cause widespread damage in Jamaica. The Caribbean island braced for record winds and catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Melissa. Also: record numbers of racehorses die in Australia from injuries in the past year; Korean beauty products trend investigated; one long walk beats short strolls for healthy heart, says new study; and US pop star Katy Perry and former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau make relationship public in Paris as they are pictured holding hands.

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

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into the strongest possible storm category, five, as it heads towards Jamaica -- where it is expected to make landfall in the early hours of Tuesday. The authorities fear it could be the fiercest hurricane ever to hit the island. Meteorologists have described what they're seeing as 'satellite history'. We hear from Jamaica's information minister, Dana Morris Dixon.

Also in the programme: The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan claim to have taken the city of El-Fasher, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped; and ten people have gone on trial in France accused of cyber-bullying against the country's first lady, Brigitte Macron.

(Picture: Jamaica aid worker Craig Brown wraps a gas pump as Hurricane Melissa approaches in Kingston, Jamaica on October 27, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Octavio Jones)

Rebels from the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, in Sudan claim to have taken El Fasher, the strategically important city in the western Darfur region. The army has so far not acknowledged the capture of the city, and the governor of Darfur calls for civilians there to be protected. Also, the leader of Cameroon, Paul Biya, is declared winner of the presidential election, for what will be his eighth consecutive term in office, and King Charles unveils Britain's first national memorial to LGBT military personnel.

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