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The European Space Agency announces the world’s first disabled astronaut – he’s a Brit!

It’s been one small step for man, one giant leap for disabled people this week as the European Space Agency announced the world’s first disabled astronaut.

Paralympian John McFall was revealed as the first ever parastronaut at a glitzy ceremony in Paris. The BBC’s Jonathan Amos was there and gave Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey the lowdown on the event and John’s new career.

Did you know England won the world cup? Nikki and Emma celebrate the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup winners after they defeated France, and attempt ‘The Finlay’ celebratory dance, made famous by footballer Jack Grealish.

Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey

Recording/mixing: Dave O'Neill

Series Editor: Beth Rose

Senior News Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall

25 November 2022

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A woman polished a large Gromit statue at the launch of the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail in Bristol. The statue has a multicoloured sparkly pattern. The woman is wearing a red and white shirt and a black dress over the top and she has red hair cut in a bob style

Aardman unveils new Wallace and Gromit trail

Dylan Thomas, who is wearing a blue jumper and has brown hair, is smiling at the camera

Watch: Cardiff murderer's 999 call and arrest

Crowds of people walking streets at night

Thousands rush to US border before Trump takes office

Weather

Strong winds and flooding as Storm Bert arrives

Emma, who has blonde hair and is wearing a black top, is sitting in front of a purple screen

MAFS' Emma shares her thoughts on dating Nathan

BBC News

One-minute World News

The world's smallest playing card being held against a normal size card

Watch: Man creates world's smallest playing cards

Emma, with long brown hair and wearing a purple hoody, looks to the side of the camera

How schools can help bereaved pupils with grief

Northern Ireland

BBC Newsline

BBC Newsline signed summary

Actor Jeff Goldblum with a thumbs up while sat at a piano in St Pancras station

Jeff Goldblum plays piano at London rail station

Man runs from tiger behind gate

Chinese farmer has near miss with tiger

John Prescott downing a pint in 1994

Watch: John Prescott downs a pint in five seconds

Alan Johsnon

'The punch displayed his authenticity' - Alan Johnson

The Glen Sannox ferry on the water during trials.

Watch: The Glen Sannox ferry saga in two minutes

Glasgow & West Scotland

Tony Blair wearing a navy blue suit

'There were no rules that he really abided by' - Tony Blair

John Prescott is pushed back against a wall by a protester; there is egg on Prescott's shoulder

Moment Prescott punched protester who threw egg at him

John Prescott wearing a black suit and hanging out of a bus window

John Prescott: The political heavyweight who stewarded New Labour

Roy Castle OBE parasailing under Charing Cross Bridge. The houses of parliament can be seen in the background.

World record set parasailing under London bridges

World's tallest woman and shortest woman standing next to each other

Moment world's tallest woman and shortest woman meet

A man walks in front of an uprooted tree, the roots of which tower over him

Fallen trees cause widespread damage after bomb cyclone

Science & Environment

Jennie Berry, on Newcastle's Grey street during Sociability mapping day

'It's not as simple as saying we're accessible'

Sociability is an app which provides accessibility information for people with disabilities.

Ms Hall and her assistance dog, Sailor

Assistance dog turns RSPCA inspector's life around

Caroline Hall says her dog Sailor has improved "every aspect" of her life after a spinal stroke.

Michael and James Owen

'I'd swap eyes with my son if I could'

Former England striker Michael Owen says he would "swap eyes" with his son if it was possible to help the teenager see again.

The Tame family in the woods

Disabled parenting: ‘There’s loads of joy’

Nina Tame speaks to Anita Rani about her experience of being a parent with spina bifida.

Nikki Fox in front of a purple background

Huw Edwards on depression: 'I'm not the least bit embarrassed'

The News at Ten presenter on his own depression and TV news.

Huw Edwards

Huw Edwards on depression: I'm not embarrassed

The News at Ten presenter on his own depression and TV news.

The mystery of the missing disability minister… solved!

Nikki and Emma meet the new Minister of State for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove.

What's in the Autumn Statement for disabled people?

Nikki Fox gets the lowdown on what the Autumn Statement means if you're disabled.

Elephant calf eating grass

'How does a blind girl go on safari?'

Visually impaired social media star Lucy Edwards heads to Kenya for one of nature's most extraordinary events - 'The Great Migration'.

‘How Taylor Swift helps me to tell the time’

BBC Young Reporter Rose has dyscalculia, which means she has trouble making sense of numbers.

Rose, 18, has dyscalculia

‘Numbers look like a foreign language to me’

BBC Young Reporter Rose, 18, explains how she navigates life with dyscalculia, a maths learning difficulty.

'I'm visually impaired, but cancer information wasn't accessible'

Weekly podcast about mental health, wellbeing and disabled people. Life stories and solutions with a friendly touch – for listeners around the world. Presented by Nikki Fox.

Reece shows Emma how to hit with the tennis racquet

How do blind people play tennis?

Wimbledon brings tennis to the spotlight every summer, though how does the sport work when you're blind?

Isaac Harvey taking part in Wheels and Wheelchairs

Wheels and wheelchairs team up for high speed fun

Roller skating isn’t necessarily an activity a lot of wheelchair users might expect to take part in, but Wheels and Wheelchairs is helping to change that.

Liam

Teaching a new language to help win football medals

Liam is non-verbal and communicates with his teammates using a mixture of symbols, signs and speech.

Molly and Adele

Mum struggles with disabled daughter’s energy costs

Molly was diagnosed three years ago with Batten disease and the 13-year-old now relies on specialist equipment.

Pearson family

'Life without Covid rules is much worse than we thought'

Vaccines and treatments have helped many in the UK but Isabel, 11, is among those still at risk.

Amrit

'All I want is for an employer to have faith in me'

Amrit's blind and fears she'll go through life never having worked, because no-one will take her on.

Seaneen and Mark on a BBC Ouch branded background

Mentally Interesting: Anxiety or heart attack?

When mental and physical health collide.

Mentally Interesting: 'Something to take care of'

Celebrating pets, with positive mental health stories.