The Global Story

President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing impeachment after declaring – and then lifting – martial law. South Korea is often seen in the West as a beacon of democracy, but its history is marked by coups, martial law and brutal crackdowns on public protest.

On this episode, Azadeh Moshiri speaks to Jake Kwon from the BBC’s Seoul bureau, and the former head of the BBC's Korean service, Su-Min Hwang. They unpack South Korea's dramatic recent political history and look at what these events reveal about the country's democracy today.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin, Tom Kavanagh, Annie Brown, Eleanor Sly, and Mariana Hernández Carrillo.

Sound engineers: Dan Ehrlich and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

With just weeks left in office, President Biden is making moves that could define his legacy. He has issued an official pardon for his son Hunter, who was facing possible prison sentences in two criminal cases. Biden's decision has already prompted furious claims of hypocrisy from Republicans, and the White House has announced that the President is considering more pardons before the end of his term. In recent weeks, the president has also allowed Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike inside Russia and has announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

On this episode Azadeh Moshiri is joined by our North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and the BBC’s Diplomatic correspondent James Landale. They examine how these decisions might shape Biden’s legacy, impact Donald Trump’s second term, and shape the future of the Democratic party.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles

Sound engineer: Jonny Hall

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The long-running civil war in Syria has unexpectedly sprung back into the spotlight after rebel groups launched a surprise offensive on Aleppo, one of the country’s largest cities. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has vowed to crush the rebel uprising, prompting air strikes from Russian forces allied with his regime. This is an unexpected resurgence of a conflict that has been largely dormant for years.

Azadeh Moshiri speaks with BBC Monitoring's jihadist media specialist Mina Al-Lami and BBC correspondent Barbara Plett Usher about who these rebels are and whether this will this redraw the lines of the Syrian conflict.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Tom Kavanagh and Mhairi MacKenzie

Sound engineers: Ben Andrews and Jonny Hall

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Belgium has become the first country in the world to pass a law to give labour rights to sex workers. They will be entitled to health insurance, pensions, sick days and maternity leave. Prostitution involves millions of people worldwide but will this new law protect these people from abuse and exploitation? Katya Adler speaks to the BBC's gender and identity correspondent Sofia Bettiza.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory.

Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineers: Gareth Jones and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Does Israel’s deal with Hezbollah move the region closer to lasting peace? The agreement reached this week will save lives and allow thousands of displaced Lebanese and Israelis to return to their homes – if it holds. But the conflict in Gaza is expected to intensify, as the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to ramp up pressure on Hamas. Can Joe Biden or Donald Trump broker another ceasefire? And how will Iran react as it watches its network of proxy groups fall apart? On this episode Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s international editor Jeremy Bowen. Producers: Peter Goffin and Eleanor Sly Sound engineer: Mike Regaard Assistant editors: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Alice Aylett Roberts Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The UK parliament is preparing to vote on whether terminally ill adults in England and Wales can request assistance to end their life. The potential social change this bill could herald has seen commentators compare it to the legalisation of abortion, the abolition of the death penalty, and the introduction of same-sex marriage. But despite strong public support, and the growing number of countries sanctioning assisted dying in some form, ethical questions mean it remains a divisive and emotionally charged issue.

On today’s episode, Katya is joined by the BBC's global health correspondent Dominic Hughes. They look at the proposed UK legislation, and discuss how it compares to existing laws on assisted dying throughout the world.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editors: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Alice Aylett Roberts

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Every few years governments around the world compete in global rankings to see which nation is deemed to have the best school system in the world. Schools in Asia often get the best results, and other countries like Estonia and Canada are also highly praised.

But in many parts of the world there are often huge barriers to getting children into the classroom at all - such as poverty, climate change and war.

On today's episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC's Sean Coughlan and Professor John Jerrim from University College London about which countries have the most successful education systems in the world and what others can learn from them.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory.

Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Ben Andrews

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

A Hong Kong court has sentenced dozens of pro-democracy leaders to years in jail for subversion. All but two of the so-called Hong Kong 47 were jailed in the biggest trial yet under a sweeping national security law imposed by China shortly after explosive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

A day later, influential pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai testified in a trial that could see him spend the rest of his life behind bars. So what does the future look like for the city’s pro-democracy movement?

On today's episode, Sumi Somaskanda speaks to Danny Vincent, a BBC reporter in Hong Kong who has been following the lives of the protesters since 2019.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Laurie Kalus and Beth Timmins

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard and Ben Andrews

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Alice Aylett Roberts

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The BBC sits down with the former German chancellor. For nearly two decades Angela Merkel was one of the most influential politicians and most powerful women on in the world. Now, three years after stepping down, what does she make of the current state of world politics – from the threat posed by Russia, to the return of Donald Trump, and the rise of the far right in Europe?

On this episode, the BBC's Europe Editor, Katya Adler, tells Caitríona Perry what she learned from her interview with Angela Merkel in Berlin, including the ex-chancellor's experiences with Vladimir Putin, and her handling of the 2015 migrant crisis.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Gareth Jones

Assistant editors: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Richard Moran

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

As the US President-elect continues to assemble his top team, it hasn’t been plain sailing. His nomination of Matt Gaetz for the attorney general role led to days of headlines and frenzied analysis by the media and online. Now, after less than a week, he’s withdrawn.

On Thursday afternoon, Caitríona Perry spoke with Sumi Somaskanda and digital reporter Kayla Epstein to discuss this bombshell and the other appointments President Trump has made this week.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Why President Volodymyr Zelensky’s vision for the end of the war may be changing. After a week of escalation between Ukraine and Russia, we look at the prospect of a peace agreement being reached in 2025. With Moscow making gains on the ground and Donald Trump’s election victory casting uncertainty on the future of US military aid, Zelensky has said Ukraine must do everything it can to end the war through diplomacy next year. But what would Vladimir Putin want from a peace deal? And what is Zelensky willing to give up? On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams, who is in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard

Assistant editors: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Richard Moran

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Air pollution in parts of India and Pakistan has been likened to witnessing a dystopian movie. India's capital Delhi has been blanketed in a thick layer of smog, with the city's residents complaining of choking and stinging eyes. In neighbouring Pakistan, Lahore has also recorded sky-high air pollution in recent weeks.

On today's episode, Sumi Somaskanda hears from Devina Gupta about what it's like to be living in Delhi at the moment. And Dr Gary Fuller (Imperial College London) explains the impact severe air pollution can have on our health, from birth through to our final years.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Richard Moran and Beth Timmins

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Logan Paul is among the most recognisable social media personalities on the planet. From YouTuber to entrepreneur and even professional wrestler, his fearless approach has seen him amass a loyal following of millions. Now, as the influencer faces criticism over his role in promoting various crypto projects, the BBC looks into his history in the digital currency industry.

On this episode, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by Matt Shea and Jamie Tahsin, who are behind the new BBC documentary 'Logan Paul: Bad Influence?' They discuss Logan Paul's flourishing career, the controversy surrounding influencer-led cryptocurrency projects, and how the incoming Trump administration in the United States could transform the crypto landscape.

Listeners in the UK can see the full film on iPlayer here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00256wn

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Mhairi Mackenzie

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Richard Moran

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

What the resignation of the Church's most senior figure, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, means for Anglicans worldwide. An independent report found that the Church of England failed to act on allegations that more than a hundred boys were physically and sexually abused by a man running Christian summer camps in the UK and Zimbabwe. What does this mean for the millions of Anglicans in Africa, many of whom were already feeling out of step with the UK leaders of the Church?

On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s religion editor Aleem Maqbool and the BBC’s correspondent in Zimbabwe Shingai Nyoka.

WARNING: This episode includes discussions of child sexual abuse. Some listeners may find this content disturbing.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard

Assistant editors: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Richard Moran

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Language is constantly changing. But exposure to social media has seen younger generations, from millennials to Gen Z and Gen Alpha, adopting new terms at a pace never seen before. On this episode, we consider how internet culture is influencing the way many of us speak, as traditional media loses its grip on standard discourse. From vocabulary to grammar, is it possible for politicians to control or protect language, and what is the future of the spoken word in the age of artificial intelligence?

Lucy Hockings is joined by journalist and author Sophia Smith Galer and Neil Edgeller from BBC Learning English.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Eleanor Sly and Laurie Kalus

Sound engineers: Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

US President-elect Donald Trump is assembling his future White House team, blending political allies with some surprising choices. Among his picks are vaccine sceptic RFK Jr as health secretary and Elon Musk to head a newly created "Department of Government Efficiency."

On this episode, Caitríona Perry is joined by Sumi Somaskanda and digital reporter Bernd Debusmann Jr. to discuss a period of transition for Joe Biden and Donald Trump, as one prepares to leave the White House and the other plans his return.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Singapore has some of the harshest drug laws in the world. The penalties for trafficking illegal narcotics include decades in prison and even a death sentence. Citizens of Singapore face consequences even if they take drugs while abroad. The government argues its zero-tolerance policy towards drugs – including cannabis - is an effective deterrent.

Katya Adler speaks to journalist and documentary maker Linda Pressly about whether Singapore's harsh drugs laws really deter drug crimes.

You can listen to Linda's full documentary 'Assignment: Singapore – drugs, rehab, execution' by searching for The Documentary wherever you get your podcasts.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Peter Goffin

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Phil Bull

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

What the president-elect's inner circle says about his priorities. Donald Trump is surrounding himself with loyalists, billionaires and political newcomers as he prepares for his second term in the White House.

On this episode, Caitríona Perry asks the BBC’s senior North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher about new additions to Team Trump like Elon Musk, and notable absences, like Ivanka Trump.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Tom Kavanagh

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Gareth Jones

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Chancellor Scholz’s three-party coalition government has fallen apart, leaving Germany mired in a period of political instability. Disagreements between the chancellor and his finance minister Christian Lindner had bubbled for months, ultimately leading to the latter’s dismissal. That prompted two of Lindner’s party colleagues to resign, effectively dismantling the coalition and leaving the chancellor at the head of a minority government.

The political turmoil in Berlin comes as Donald Trump’s second election victory leaves the world wondering whether American support will be pulled from Ukraine. Germany is the European Union’s largest economy, but its manufacturing sector has been struggling, while consumers have been affected by high inflation.

The BBC’s Berlin correspondent Damien McGuinness and The Guardian’s Berlin correspondent Kate Connolly tell host Katya Adler about the roots of this crisis, and discuss how it may have ramifications around Europe and beyond.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Can the world fight climate change without the US? Donald Trump’s election victory threatens to derail the COP29 climate talks taking place in Azerbaijan this week. The US is one of the world’s biggest sources of carbon emissions but the president-elect has called global warming a hoax, championed the oil industry and promised to withdraw from international climate agreements.

On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s US climate correspondent Carl Nasman and the host of the BBC podcast The Climate Question, Graihagh Jackson.

Producers: Peter Goffin, Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins

Sound engineers: Jonny Baker and Ricardo McCarthy

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The proportion of people without children is growing around the world. For some, this new reality reflects changing social attitudes and a desire not to have children, but for others, the decision has been taken out of their hands by a range of factors. The latest statistics available reflect the extent to which this has become a global phenomenon: while the US birth rate is at a record low, China reported its first population decline in six decades in 2022.

The BBC’s population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty tells host Lucy Hockings that economic concerns are among the most important when it comes to individuals and couples deciding whether or not the time is right to have a baby, and discusses how the concept of “male malaise” is impacting fertility rates. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory.

Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Laurie Kalus and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineer: Phil Bull

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

President-elect Donald Trump has begun appointing his incoming administration. In the span of two months, he will hire four thousand political appointees and move back into the White House. With the Democrats losing the presidential election and control of the Senate, the party now faces a critical reckoning: What went wrong for Kamala Harris and her campaign?

On this episode, the BBC's Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay discuss what the next few weeks in US politics may look like after Donald Trump's election victory.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Aiden Johnson

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Thousands of North Korean troops have been sent to Russia to support their war in Ukraine. The US government says thousands of troops are now in the Kursk region – right next to the Ukrainian frontline. Can North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia change the dynamics of the war in Ukraine? And how does North Korea benefit from this arrangement?

Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse and Seoul correspondent Jean Mackenzie about whether North Korea's entry into the Ukraine war will turn it into a truly global conflict.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory.

Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineers: Phil Bull and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Leaders across the world have been reacting to Donald Trump's stunning victory in the US presidential election. America's president-elect returns to the global stage in the context of multiple ongoing conflicts, and economic uncertainty for major players. So as international governments adjust to his seismic comeback, how might the policy decisions of a second Trump administration be felt worldwide?

On this episode Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale, to discuss the potential implications in Ukraine, the Middle East, China, Europe, and beyond...

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus, Tom Kavanagh, Mariana Hernández Carrillo, Beth Timmins, and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The former president claims he's been given an "unprecedented mandate" by voters.

On this episode, Azadeh Moshiri speaks to BBC Chief Presenter Christian Fraser about the prospect of a second Trump term.

And Katya Adler asks BBC Correspondent Will Grant and BBC Digital reporter Bernd Debusmann about the mood in the Trump camp, and where Kamala Harris underperformed.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Richard Moran

Sound engineers: Hannah Montgomery and Jonny Baker

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

On the final day Americans cast their votes, the US presidential election remains tighter than ever. Success for either candidate depends on their ability to win over undecided voters in swing states — a diverse group with varied backgrounds, concerns, and voting histories. How have Kamala Harris and Donald Trump been trying to convince them? And which states lie in their path to victory and the White House?

Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s senior North America correspondent Gary O’Donoghue and digital reporter Ana Faguy, who tell us which of the early results might give an indication of who's in the lead.

Listen to our previous episode on the Senate, House and Governors races that could shape the United States here: https://link.chtbl.com/OtherRaces

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Laurie Kalus, Mariana Hernández Carrillo, and Mhairi Mackenzie

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Harassment, threats and intimidation against local officials are increasing ahead of the election. When the majority of Americans vote tomorrow, it is these election workers that will come face to face with democracy… and the growing mistrust some feel towards the process.

The BBC’s Mike Wendling travelled to the battleground state of Wisconsin to hear about the fears of election workers there as the election drew closer. He tells Azadeh Moshiri about the climate of conspiracy and election denialism that has led to them being targeted. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Richard Moran and Tom Kavanagh Sound engineers: Jack Graysmark and Hannah Montgomery Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

With just days to go until Americans cast their votes, the race for the presidency is in its final stretch. On this episode, the BBC’s Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay break down what to look out for on election night. Will a result be known that night? Which key states and demographics are most likely to shape the outcome?

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Aiden Johnson

Sound engineer: Gareth Jones

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Inside a BBC investigation that exposed the allegations against Michael Jeffries. The former fashion boss has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking and prostitution. Jeffries – who turned Abercrombie and Fitch into one of the world’s biggest clothing brands – was arrested along with his life partner and their fixer, and accused of exploiting aspiring male models through force, fraud and coercion.

On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to BBC Investigations Correspondent Rianna Croxford, who has spent three years investigating the claims against Jeffries.

WARNING: This episode includes details of alleged sexual abuse.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineer: Ben Andrews and Gareth Jones

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

A BBC team has spent months getting under the bonnet of a rapidly growing migrant route. Almost overnight Vietnam has become the largest single source of migrants making the dangerous channel crossing to reach the UK. Speaking to one man who has been involved in the criminal network for decades, we uncover a world of forged documents, premium services and shattered dreams.

Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s Paris Correspondent, Andrew Harding and our reporter in Bangkok, Thu Bui.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineer: Michael Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

As well as electing a president, Americans will also choose hundreds of governors, representatives, and senators. While these races have been overshadowed by the surprisingly dramatic presidential election, they may well determine how much power and success Kamala Harris or Donald Trump has in the White House.

On this episode Caitríona Perry speaks to our digital reporter Sam Cabral about the key down ballot races to watch as the results come in. And fellow digital reporter Holly Honderich explains why some Americans will also get to vote directly on one of the elections most divisive topics: abortion.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Beth Timmins, Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineer: Philip Bull

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

How could Kamala Harris or Donald Trump affect Israel, Gaza and the wider region? The spiral of violence in the Middle East – from the Hamas attacks on October 7, to the catastrophic loss of Palestinian life, to Israel’s growing fights with Hezbollah and Iran – has dominated US foreign policy and become a major issue in this year’s presidential election campaign. Harris and Trump both say they want to bring peace and security to the region. So how do they plan to do it?

On this episode, Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen in Jerusalem and the BBC’s North America Correspondent Nada Tawfik.

You can listen to our other special episodes looking at the impact the US election might have around the world here:

America and... the World: https://link.chtbl.com/gqWrGSMT

America and... the war in Ukraine: https://link.chtbl.com/9pQYuDqP

America and... China: https://link.chtbl.com/CNFrjcPA

America and... Climate change: https://link.chtbl.com/zgemOWRX

America and…Migration https://link.chtbl.com/TGSmigration

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin, Beth Timmins and Richard Moran

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard and Ben Andrews

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

A Japanese schoolboy was fatally stabbed by a stranger outside a school in China last month. The killing caused outrage and increased diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. Japan blamed the attack on rising xenophobia and online nationalism in China. It was the third high-profile attack on a foreigner in recent months, all of which China has described as “isolated incidents”.

On this episode, Katya Adler is joined by BBC digital journalist Fan Wang, and Kerry Allen, who is a China media analyst at BBC News. They discuss whether growing Chinese cyber-nationalism is fuelling violence against foreigners and what impact it is having on China’s reputation abroad.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineers: Stephen Bailey and Hannah Montgomery

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Iran has downplayed the impact of a series of Israeli airstrikes on military facilities that have raised fears of further escalation. Early on Saturday, Israel carried out what it described as “precise and targeted” airstrikes in response of "months of continuous attacks" from Iran.

On this episode, Azadeh Moshiri speaks with the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet and Parham Ghobadi from BBC Persian. They examine the immediate and broader implications of these attacks and discuss the big question: What does Tehran do next?

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. You can contact us at [email protected]

Producer: Alice Aylett Roberts

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Just a few days ahead of election day, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are neck and neck in the polls. The BBC’s Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay explore the intricacies of this tight race and discuss whether one candidate in the US presidential election holds the lead.

Every weekend The Global Story brings you "Path to the Presidency," where we delve into the state of the race and examine what’s on the minds of those closest to it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Aiden Johnson

Sound engineer: Hannah Montgomery

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The women of Ukraine are on the frontline in many respects. They make up the majority of those fleeing abroad to escape the war and protect their children. They are also increasingly keeping Ukrainian society functioning, as more and more men are conscripted into the army to fight. The Witches of Bucha, as they call themselves, are a volunteer air defence unit made up almost entirely of women, now helping to protect Ukraine’s skies.

On this episode, Katya Adler is joined by the BBC’s Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford, who has just returned from a reporting trip to Bucha, and BBC Journalist Olga Malchevska, who is from Ukraine. They look at how Ukrainian women have been stepping up and filling the gaps left behind by the country’s men at war. They also discuss how the conflict may change traditional gender roles in Ukraine.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Canada and India are locked in a fierce diplomatic row, after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau doubled down on allegations that senior Indian officials were involved in the murder of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil. Delhi has called the claims "preposterous", and last week the two nations expelled their top diplomats, as relations sank to a historic low. Such a rapid public escalation between democracies is considered largely unprecedented in modern diplomacy, so how are Canada's western allies reacting?

On this episode Caitríona Perry is joined by the BBC's South Asia correspondent Samira Hussain, and diplomatic correspondent James Landale. They examine the fallout, explain why the issue of Sikh separatism is so controversial in India, and consider the strategic dilemma the US and others are facing as they debate their own response.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus, Mhairi MacKenzie, and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Phil Bull and Hannah Montgomery

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

King Charles’s first visit to Australia since becoming the head of state has reignited the debate over cutting ties with the royals. His tour has been met with fanfare and protest; cheers and heckles — including by Senator Lidia Thorpe in Parliament. So what do Australians think of the monarchy’s role in their country? What would it take to become a republic? Is there still a place for the monarchy in Britain’s former colonies?

On this episode Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s Australia correspondent Katy Watson and Royal correspondent Sean Coughlan.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles

Sound engineer: Jack Graysmark and Philip Bull

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

How might Donald Trump or Kamala Harris try to tackle immigration to the US? People crossing the southern border has become a hot button topic in the next month’s election. Former president Donald Trump’s forceful policies have helped him motivate a base of loyal supporters. Whereas Vice-President Harris has had just weeks to convince Americans that she has a plan. What do we know about their policies, how they differ and what impact they would have?

Sumi Somaskanda speaks to our Mexico, Central America and Cuba correspondent, Will Grant. He explains why so many people are leaving the region and how the next president might impact its southern neighbours. And our politics reporter in Washington DC, Bernd Debusmann, helps us separate the facts from the headlines on one of the election's most contentious political issues.

You can listen to our other special episodes looking at the impact the US election might have around the world here:

America and... the World: https://link.chtbl.com/gqWrGSMT

America And... the war in Ukraine: https://link.chtbl.com/9pQYuDqP

America and... China: https://link.chtbl.com/CNFrjcPA

America and... Climate change: https://link.chtbl.com/zgemOWRX

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Eleanor Sly and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard and Ben Andrews

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Abandoned houses – or “akiyas” – have become a symbol of the crisis facing Japan’s population. But a wave of young foreign bargain hunters has started snapping up some of these abandoned homes, inspired by viral DIY videos and social media influencers.

Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s Tokyo correspondent Shaimaa Khalil, who has been to meet some of the people bringing akiyas back to life.

Producers: Peter Goffin, Alix Pickles and Alice Aylett Roberts

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Sumi Somaskanda and Anthony Zurcher respond to questions about the upcoming US election. In this collaboration between The Global News Podcast, The Global Story, and Americast, Oliver Conway presents listener questions on the key topics shaping the vote.

The key election issues in the swing state of Arizona and America’s image abroad. On this episode, Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay explore election security and the international focus on the 2024 US election.

Every weekend The Global Story brings you "Path to the Presidency," where we delve into the state of the race and examine what’s on the minds of those closest to it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Aiden Johnson and Tom Kavanagh

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

There is an overcrowding crisis in UK prisons. There are also problems with gang violence, drug abuse, self harm and a record number of weapons now being made in jails. To deal with the chronic overcrowding, the UK government has begun releasing thousands of prisoners early in England and Wales.

Katya Adler is joined by senior UK correspondent Sima Kotecha to talk about her time inside one of Britain's most notorious jails as they examine how the prison system in England and Wales has been stretched to breaking point.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineers: Matt Dean and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the long-standing leader of Hezbollah, represented a major escalation in its war with the Lebanese militant group. With the region on the brink of a widening conflict, we look at how Israel's attacks on Hezbollah's leadership have potentially weakened the organisation, and what that could mean for the course of the war. Host Katya Adler asks the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner how the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated and what each actor might do next.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Alice Aylett Roberts, Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins Sound engineers: Jonny Hall and Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

How disinformation and advanced technology might influence the 2024 vote. Why do people fall for online conspiracy theories, and what happens when disinformation shapes real-world events?

On this episode, Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, to explore how conspiracy theories and the rise of AI could shape the upcoming election in the United States. They discuss the role disinformation played in the 2020 vote, leading to real-world consequences, and how these conspiracies continue to undermine the US election system today. They also examine the growing influence of AI in generating and spreading false narratives, and what this could mean for the upcoming presidential race.

You can listen to Marianna Spring’s series ‘Why Do You Hate Me? USA’ on BBC Sounds, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Producers: Pete Ross and Alix Pickles

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Could the US election result threaten support for Kyiv? Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States has led the world in providing aid to Kyiv, with contributions totalling more than $175bn. But agreeing additional assistance in Congress has become increasingly difficult, with the attention of the Republican right fixed on domestic priorities. So, as November's presidential election approaches, what could victory for either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump mean for the trajectory of the war?

For the latest in a series of episodes about how the impact of the US election will be felt worldwide, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by the BBC's Ukraine correspondent, James Waterhouse, and news correspondent, Will Vernon. They discuss how delays to US aid have directly affected the war on the ground, and what we know about the policy positions of the candidates for the White House.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus, Alix Pickles, Mariana Hernandez-Carrillo, and Mhairi MacKenzie

Sound engineers: Hannah Montgomery, and Ricardo McCarthy

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

You can find more of this series in our feed - just look for episodes titled 'America and...'

The BBC’s Africa Eye has been following one man’s journey as he travels hundreds of miles on the open ocean in the hopes of reaching Europe. Mouhamed is one of a growing number of people attempting to travel from Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands. The journey is ten times longer than the boats crossing the Mediterranean, taking days and sometimes week across parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also riskier and more lethal.

You can watch the full documentary 'Dark Waters: Africa's Deadliest Migration Route' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajX6NaVks3w

Caitriona Perry speaks to Blanca Munoz and Efrem Gebreab who followed Mouhamed’s journey for the BBC’s Africa Eye.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Tom Kavanaugh

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

How Hurricane Milton and Middle East tensions may impact the US election. On this episode, the BBC’s Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay examine the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which has resulted in at least 16 deaths in Florida. They discuss the political implications of the hurricane and how escalating tensions in the Middle East are shaping the landscape of the upcoming US elections.

Every weekend The Global Story brings you "Path to the Presidency," where we delve into the state of the race and examine what’s on the minds of those closest to it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Aiden Johnson and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineers: Darcy O'Bree and Jack Graysmark

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Hurricane Milton has left millions of homes across Florida without power, less than a fortnight after hurricane Helene ravaged states across the south-eastern US. Misinformation surrounding both storms has become rife online, including the false narrative that the government is manipulating the weather ahead of November's election. Further debunked allegations that recovery funds were redirected towards illegal migrants have been adopted by mainstream Republicans, causing widespread political fallout, even as a bipartisan recovery effort continues.

On this episode, Azadeh Moshiri is joined by our correspondent in the US, Tom Bateman, and BBC Verify reporter, Marco Silva. They discuss what's happening both on the ground and online, and consider how these events could influence the presidential election. Additional reporting comes from Elizabeth Rizzini.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus, Alix Pickles, and Mariana Hernandez-Carillo

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Israeli air strikes have forced more than 1.2 million Lebanese to flee their homes in the past few weeks, and have killed more than 2,000 people in the country in the past year. While the fighting has escalated in recent weeks, there have been regular exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel since October 2023. Hezbollah initially began firing missiles into Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s war against Hamas, and continues to say that such attacks will only stop with a ceasefire there. Meanwhile, Israel has also launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, and there are fears of further escalation with key Hezbollah backer Iran, which recently fired rockets at several military targets in Israel.

Caitríona Perry talks to Beirut-based BBC Arabic correspondent Rami Ruhayem about how Lebanon is coping with the intensification of a conflict which had been simmering for months.

Producers: Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh and Mariana Hernandez-Carrillo

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

In our age of wireless technology, it might be hard to believe that we’re all connected by a few hundred cables running along the sea bed. From the memes we send to friends, to the intelligence used by the military, virtually all internet data between the continents travels along wires thinner than a human hair. If they sound vulnerable, it’s because they are. On average a hundred are accidentally severed each year. And security experts are warning they could be a target for military or terrorist sabotage.

Caitríona Perry speaks to Nicole Starosielski, professor at the University of California, Berkeley and author of The Undersea Network, who guides us through these secretive networks. And our security correspondent Frank Gardener helps us understand how vulnerable they are.

Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The United States and China have had a turbulent history. In recent years, diplomatic relations between the world's two largest economies reached what many observers described as a new low, and despite some growing signs of stability, the future remains uncertain. So, how might this precarious situation be impacted by the upcoming US election?

For the latest episode in this special series, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by the BBC's China correspondent Laura Bicker, and our business correspondent Michelle Fleury. They tackle big issues from trade and the economy, to defence and national security, and consider what victory for either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump could mean for the ongoing Sino-American relationship.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Laurie Kalus

Sound engineers: Stephen Bailey, Hannah Montgomery, and Ben Andrews

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

If you want to hear more from our 'America and...' series, why not listen to the first episode here: https://link.chtbl.com/gqWrGSMT

The late leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, famously called Cuba “the safest country in the world”. But more and more Cubans are starting to speak out about crime on their streets.

And increased violence isn’t the only problem it is facing. Blackouts, food shortages and a lack of water are all fuelling a mass exodus from the country.

On this episode, Caitríona Perry speaks to our Cuba correspondent Will Grant about what its rising crime rate reveals about life on this struggling island.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Alice Aylett Roberts and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineers: Ricardo McCarthy and Gareth Jones

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

In this special bonus episode of The Conflict Lyse Doucet reflects on some of the biggest moments from the Israel-Gaza war. She is joined by BBC colleagues Jeremy Bowen, Anna Foster and Rushdi Abualouf, who have been reporting from around the region and they discuss what could happen next in the Middle East.

Middle East tensions, catastrophic flooding and a vice-presidential debate. What events could shake up the US race? Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay discuss what “October Surprises” could change the course of the US presidential election.

Until the US election, every weekend The Global Story brings you "Path to the Presidency," where we delve into the state of the race and examine what’s on the minds of those closest to it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Aiden Johnson

Sound engineer: Ben Andrews

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

It’s almost a year since Hamas launched an attack inside Israel, triggering the start of the current war in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have died in Israel’s bombing campaigns since Hamas’s October 7 attack, and Israel’s recent ground invasion of Lebanon has widened the conflict even further. The Middle East is once again on the brink of a deep and damaging, widespread conflict that will have an impact well beyond the region.

To mark one year on from the start of the current war, The Global Story host Katya Adler is joined by Jackie Leonard from the Global News Podcast. The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner and Middle East correspondent Yolande Knell answer some of the most-asked questions about what’s really going on in the region and what might happen next.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Pete Ross, and Judy Frankl

Sound engineer: Jack Graysmark

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Following Iran’s missile attack on Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation. President Biden is telling the Israeli leadership that any attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities is off limits. So, how will Israel respond to the 180 missiles that Iran fired across its border? And what has the reaction been in Iran?

On this episode of the The Global Story, Azadeh Moshiri is joined by our Diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams and BBC Persian reporter Parham Ghobadi. They explore why Iran has chosen this moment to attack Israel and what Benjamin Netanyahu might do in response.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineer: Hannah Montgomery

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz have been facing off in a surprisingly amicable vice-presidential debate which focussed strongly on policy. Rather than resort to personal jabs, the pair seemed laser-focussed on the records of their respective running mates, covering topics from immigration to abortion and the economy. In this shortened campaign some analysts have suggested the event carried heightened importance, but did the performance of either candidate move the needle and were voters really paying attention?

Caitríona Perry is joined at the debate venue in New York by the BBC’s North America reporter Kayla Epstein for her immediate reaction to proceedings.

The clips in this episode are from the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

How could Kamala Harris or Donald Trump shape the global response to the climate crisis? As one of the world’s largest producers of fossil fuels and carbon emissions, the US plays a pivotal role in addressing climate change. The environmental policies of the next president could reshape American industry and the economy, while influencing the global fight against climate change. On this episode, Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC’s climate editor Justin Rowlatt and Carl Nasman, who covers US climate issues for the BBC.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin, Tom Kavanagh and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineer: Hannah Montgomery

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The brutal rape and murder of a student on a bus in Delhi shocked the world in 2012. Yet despite the Indian government introducing stricter laws on sexual violence, little progress has been made to actually make women safer.

Last month there were widespread protests after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the hospital where she worked. What should India’s leaders do differently to protect women at home, at work and on the streets?

On this episode, Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s India correspondent Soutik Biswas and presenter Devina Gupta.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Laurie Kalus, Tse Yin Lee and Peter Goffin

Sound engineers: Dafydd Evans and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

What do the leaders gathered at the United Nations this week make of the US election? Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay discuss the global perspective on the election.They also look at the implications of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ indictment for the Democrats and preview the key strategies each campaign will focus on in next week’s vice-presidential debate.

Until the US election, every weekend The Global Story brings you "Path to the Presidency," where we delve into the state of the race and examine what’s on the minds of those closest to it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Aiden Johnson

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

When OceanGate's Titan submersible went missing last June, it sparked a monumental rescue mission which captured the attention of the world. After days of searching, authorities concluded that the vessel had suffered a catastrophic implosion, and that all five passengers died almost instantly. For the past two weeks, the US Coast Guard has been hearing testimonies from former employees and industry experts, to try to identify what went wrong.

On this episode, Azadeh Moshiri is joined by the BBC's science editor, Rebecca Morelle, to discuss the most revealing evidence, and consider whether the tragic event could have been avoided.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineers: Phil Bull and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Israel and Hezbollah’s intensifying conflict is affecting a country already on edge. Over 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon as cross-border violence, ongoing for nearly a year, has reached new heights. More than 600 people have been reported killed across Lebanon since Monday, when Israel began an intense air campaign to destroy what it said was infrastructure built up by Hezbollah since they last fought a war in 2006. Israeli reservists have been called up and the military has been told to be ready itself for a possible incursion into southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organisation by several Western countries, has fired rockets back, targeting Tel Aviv for the first time. The US, the EU, and other allied nations have called for a 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border.

On this episode of The Global Story, we explore the escalation in hostilities and look at what people living in Lebanon think of Hezbollah. We also look at the country’s unique political system and demographics and consider how the Lebanese economy could be further affected by the conflict.

Caitríona Perry is joined by our correspondent in Beirut, Carine Torbey, and by Hesham Shawish, from BBC Monitoring. Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Eleanor Sly Sound engineer: Mike Regaard and Jeremy Morgan

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

November’s presidential election could highlight the political power of the largest minority group in the United States. Roughly one in five people in the US identifies as Latino, and in a close race, which way they vote could prove crucial, particularly in several swing states being keenly targeted by both major parties.

On this episode of The Global Story, we explore the main political issues of importance to Latinos and examine some of the Spanish-language misinformation being disseminated in order to influence voters. With just weeks to go until the next occupant of the White House is decided, we look at how the Democrats and Republicans are targeting their messaging in order to win around crucial votes from the community.

Caitríona Perry is joined by US Digital reporter Bernd Debusmann Jr. and the BBC’s South America correspondent Ione Wells.

Producer: Tom Kavanagh

Sound engineer: Philip Bull and Ben Andrews

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

The United States has long been seen as the world’s leading superpower. It is home to the globe’s biggest military and political force – but has many diplomatic challenges.

From the wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, to the growing influence of global rivals like China, to the potential proliferation of nuclear weapons in Iran and North Korea. This year’s presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have very different ideas about how to manage America’s complicated relationship with other powerful nations.

Our host Sumi Somaskanda speaks with the BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet and our diplomatic correspondent James Landale about America's place in the world and how the two different presidential nominees might shape this role.

Producer: Alice Aylett Roberts.

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Phillip Bull.

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

The BBC sees first-hand the desperate conditions civilians in Sudan are living through. With the world’s attention trained on the war in Ukraine and the devastation in Gaza, another conflict which has been raging since April 2023 has received comparably little coverage. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group has taken a horrific toll on the country. Just this month, the head of the UN’s World Health Organization warned that around 25 million people – half of the population – is in need of some form of support, with famine and disease rampant. 12 million people have already been forced from their homes by the war – the highest figure for any conflict in the world.

Host Katya Adler discusses the country’s current plight with the BBC’s former Sudan correspondent James Copnall, and International Correspondent Nawal Al-Maghafi, who was recently granted rare access to visit camps for internally displaced people in Port Sudan and at the Adre border the country shares with Chad.

Producers: Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh and Alice Aylett Roberts.

Sound Engineers: Pete Wise and Mike Regaard.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Caitríona Perry and Sumi Somaskanda discuss voter sentiment in Michigan, how race and gender are affecting the election campaign, and the aftermath of a second apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Until the US election, every weekend The Global Story brings you "Path to the Presidency," where we delve into the state of the race and examine what’s on the minds of those closest to it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Aiden Johnson.

Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Rupert Murdoch is locked in a secret court battle with three of his eldest children, over the future of his media empire. The news mogul owns some of the most influential outlets in the world, including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The Times of London. It has been reported that Mr Murdoch wants to amend a family trust to ensure his son and political disciple Lachlan inherits controlling voting rights at News Corp and Fox, but a campaign to unseal the proceedings has been unsuccessful.

On this episode, Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's culture and media editor Katie Razzall, and Brian Stelter, chief media analyst at CNN. They unpack what we know about the succession fight, and discuss whether the public should have a right to know what's going on behind closed doors.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles.

Sound Engineers: Nicola Brough and Mike Regaard.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Mohamed Al Fayed was an Egyptian billionaire businessman who owned Harrods in London, one of the world's most famous department stores. He also owned the Ritz Hotel in Paris and Fulham Football Club, and famously courted the British Royal Family.

But a new BBC investigation reveals he's also accused of being a serial rapist and abuser of women in his employment.

Katya Adler speaks with Cassie Cornish-Trestrail and Keaton Stone about Al Fayed's alleged crimes and we hear first-hand testimony from the women speaking out.

Warning: this conversation contains details some may find distressing.

You can hear the full investigation on the podcast World of Secrets, Season 4: Al Fayed – Predator at Harrods.

Producer: Alice Aylett Roberts.

Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews and Mike Regaard.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

More blasts have been reported in Lebanon, after a series of pagers exploded across the country. In what appears to be a highly sophisticated attack, devices used by the armed group Hezbollah were targeted, and the operation has captivated the security community. Hezbollah blames Israel, with which they have been exchanging cross-border fire for months, and has vowed to retaliate. With multiple reports attributing responsibility to Israeli spy agency Mossad, how much do we really know about what happened?

On this episode, Azadeh Moshiri is joined by the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner, to discuss the paper trail behind the planning of the attack, and what it could mean in the context of the wider war.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Can Taylor Swift and Elon Musk swing the vote for Harris or Trump? From Billie Eilish to Oprah, Hulk Hogan to Kid Rock, the rich and famous are lining up behind the 2024 presidential candidates. But will Americans vote the way their favourite celebrities tell them too? Or is it all just window dressing for the presidential campaigns?

In this episode Caitríona Perry speaks to reporter Ana Faguy from the BBC’s Washington Bureau and Ashley Spillane, a former president of Rock the Vote, who has written a report for Harvard University about celebrities’ impact on democratic participation.

Producers: Peter Goffin, Eleanor Sly and Keiligh Baker.

Sound Engineer: Ricardo McCarthy.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

How are Afghanistan’s women and girls coping with harsh new restrictions? When the Taliban took back power in 2021, it promised to uphold women’s rights with the limits of what it called “Islamic law”. But officials have placed strict limits on women’s education, employment opportunities, dress codes and, now, even the volume at which they speak.

In this episode, Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s South Asia Correspondent Yogita Limaye, who has been interviewing Afghan women about their feelings of hopelessness, the state crackdown on protests and a growing mental health crisis.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Eleanor Sly.

Sound Engineers: Hannah Montgomery and Rohan Madison.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Violent unrest is forcing Ireland to reckon with increasing hostility to high levels of immigration, which has not traditionally been a major point of political debate. That is changing, however, with roughly one in five Irish residents today born overseas. The country is grappling with a burgeoning far right movement, with much of the conversation happening on social media. In recent years, hostility towards foreigners which has been nurtured online has spilled over into the real world, the most stark example being a widely-covered riot in Dublin in November 2023. So how is a country which has historically been shaped by the emigration of its own people dealing with the issue of immigration in the 21st century, and is Ireland’s political establishment ready to meet the challenge?

On this episode of The Global Story, Washington DC-based host Caitríona Perry is joined by the BBC’s Dublin reporter Aoife Moore, and by Shane Harrison, who worked as the BBC’s Ireland correspondent for three decades.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Alice Aylett Roberts and Laurie Kalus

Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Did the Harris-Trump debate actually change voters' minds? Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay discuss the state of the 2024 US election, explore what’s happening behind the scenes of the campaigns, and provide insights into how both voters and candidates are preparing for election day. From now until the US election, every weekend The Global Story brings you "Path to the Presidency," where we delve into the state of the race and examine what’s on the minds of those closest to it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Aiden Johnson.

Sound Engineer: Ben Andrews.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Ever since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine there have been widespread reports of Russians reporting fellow citizens to the police for anti-war views; often leading to prosecution and, in some cases, prison sentences. It’s revived memories of the Soviet past when informing on colleagues and neighbours was actively encouraged.

Katya Adler speaks to our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg about the people he has met who have been caught up in this new wave of denunciations.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Eleanor Sly and Beth Timmins.

Sound Engineers: Antonio Fernandes and Rohan Madison.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Inside a 30-year mission to expose a pattern of infanticide. In the 1990s, midwives in northern India admitted that they were regularly paid to kill new-born baby girls whose families did not want them. It’s an issue that speaks to India’s complicated relationships with gender, caste and wealth. So what do these killings say about the status of women and girls in India? And why are some babies still being rejected by their families in 2024? Katya Adler speaks to journalists and filmmakers Amitabh Parashar and Anubha Bhonsle, who have just made a documentary for the BBC called “The Midwife’s Confession”.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Eleanor Sly.

Sound Engineers: Dafydd Evans and Philip Bull.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

The Republican and Democratic presidential candidates traded claims over key election issues including the economy, immigration and abortion. They discussed policy but personal attacks also dominated their first debate. So, who had a good night, and to what extent will this debate sway voters, with less than two months to go before polling day?

Sumi Somaskanda hosts this episode from Philadelphia, where the debate took place. She’s joined by Courtney Subramanian and Bernd Debusmann, from the BBC’s North America digital team.

Producers: Richard Moran and Tom Kavanagh.

Sound Engineer: Hannah Montgomery.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has banned the social media platform X - formerly known as Twitter. It was one of the platform’s biggest markets, with millions of Brazilians using it. The boss of X, Elon Musk, has complained that the move is destroying free speech but the country's top judge says it is necessary to stop the spread of disinformation.

Katya Adler speaks with Daniel Gallas and Leandro Prazeres from BBC Brazil about the battle between free speech and disinformation in Brazil. And if other countries could follow Brazil’s lead in blocking access to X.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Alice Aylett Roberts and Tse Yin Lee.

Sound Engineer: Philip Bull.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Democrats and Republicans are donating billions to back candidates in November’s election. So far, the 2024 US election has been defined by surprises and unprecedented moments. But if one thing is certain, it's that the election will cost a lot of money. Donors from both major parties are donating billions of dollars in the hopes of seeing their candidates win the White House and hundreds of local races. So, what is all that money spent on? And what impact is it having on US politics?

Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s correspondent in Washington DC, Anthony Zurcher, and Matt Foster from American University, also in the capital.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles.

Sound Engineer: Hannah Montgomery.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Israel has been rocked by huge protests after six hostages being held in Gaza were shot and killed last weekend. Fury at the Netanyahu government’s handling of negotiations with Hamas has prompted a wave of public indignation which has spilled into the streets. We examine whether or not the demonstrations and rising international pressure over the number of Palestinians being killed in Gaza, will force Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to change its position. On today's episode, host Katya Adler is joined by the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen, who has been reporting from the Middle East for decades. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Peter Goffin, Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh. Sound Engineer: Jack Graysmark. Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas. Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

BBC analysis has identified almost 200 settler outposts in the West Bank, which are illegal under both international and Israeli law. Experts say these outposts are able to seize large swathes of land more rapidly than settlements, and are increasingly linked to violence and harassment towards Palestinian communities. And the BBC World Service has seen documents showing that organisations with close ties to the Israeli government have provided money and land used to establish them.

On today's episode, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by Matthew Cassel, who shot and directed the new film 'Settlements Above the Law' from BBC Eye Investigations. He talks about the Palestinians he met who have been forced from their homes, and the settlers they say are responsible. He also discusses calls for the international community to target powerful organisations inside Israel, as critics question the impact of sanctions against individual settlers.

You can see the full investigation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxLDYkX7l9A

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh.

Sound Engineers: Hannah Montgomery, Mike Regaard, and Phil Bull.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

The Hungarian prime minister has become a hero to many US conservatives. So how has Mr Orban changed Hungary throughout his 14 years in power? And why is he such an appealing figure to right-wing politicians around the world?

In this episode, Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC’s Central Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe, who has been covering Mr Orban’s career since the 1980s.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin, Eleanor Sly and Alix Pickles.

Studio Engineers: Mike Regaard and Jeremy Morgan.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Nearly a decade ago, China promised to provide 10,000 remote villages in Africa with free digital TV access. It was a sign of warm relations between Bejing and the continent - as well as being another step in China’s plan to spread its influence across the globe.

Caitriona Perry speaks with Shawn Yuan and Ankur Shah from the BBC's Global China unit about whether China really managed to expand its power in Africa by giving away free satellite TV.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins.

Sound Engineers: Jeremy Morgan, Stephen Bailey and Hannah Montgomery.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Two Nasa astronauts are stuck in space after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft suffered technical problems.

It’s the latest in a long line of crises facing the company, which is one of the largest and most important in the United States. So, is this one failure too far for Boeing?

Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC’s business correspondent Theo Leggett and climate and science reporter Georgina Rannard about the problems facing Boeing and if its Starliner space programme is in trouble.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Beth Timmins and Tom Kavanagh.

Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews and Mike Regaard.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Telegram CEO, Pavel Durov, is under investigation over criminal activity on the messaging app. He spent four days in detention after being arrested when arriving in France and is now barred from leaving the country.

Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC's Cyber Correspondent, Joe Tidy about what Durov's arrest means for Telegram. And what it signals about future moderation on social media platforms... and the limits of free speech.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles.

Sound Engineer: Stephen Bailey.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Almost 2,000 Ukrainians have been convicted of collaborating with Moscow since Russia's invasion of their country in 2022. But, the UN and others say the legislation under which they were sentenced is being applied too broadly, and fails to show empathy towards those living under occupation. As Kyiv focusses on a new front in the ground war inside Russia, we hear from eastern Ukraine, where some feel they have been unfairly targeted by their government.

The BBC's Ukraine correspondent, James Waterhouse, joins Caitríona Perry to recount the testimonies of those accused of collaboration, and discuss how the Kursk incursion could be impacting the ongoing defence effort inside Ukraine.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh.

Sound Engineers: Phil Bull and Mike Regaard.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Research into ultra-processed foods suggests they could be linked to health problems including cancers, heart disease, obesity and depression - but scientists are yet to agree on how they actually affect us. Often mass-produced, and containing multiple additives, UPFs have become the target of nutritionists and clean-living advocates alike. But, given how common they are, can we realistically avoid them?

On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks with BBC health reporter Philippa Roxby, and Ruth Alexander, presenter of The Food Chain podcast from the BBC World Service. Together, they unpack what we really know about UPFs.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Beth Timmins, Laurie Kalus, and Alice Aylett Roberts.

Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews and Mike Regaard.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Israel and Hezbollah say they don't want war - but they are both ready for it. In the early hours of Sunday morning, they exchanged heavy fire across the border with Lebanon. It’s an escalation that had been brewing for weeks, and some feared it could spark a wider, all-out conflict in the region. So, have we managed to avoid that? Or does the threat of war still loom?

Sumi Somaskanda speaks to our correspondent in Jerusalem, Jon Donnison about how the violence unfolded and where it might lead next.

Our previous episode with all the background on Hezbollah: https://link.chtbl.com/-cXmyJAg

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Alix Pickles and Tse Yin Lee.

Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

How politics and culture wars are shaping education choices for some parents. Arizona is one of a growing number of American states offering taxpayer-funded vouchers to families who send their children to private schools or homeschool them. They say it gives parents more control over how – and what – their children learn. But what does this mean for the future of public education in the US?

On this episode, Caitríona Perry speaks to BBC journalists Alex Last and Ellie House, who have made a documentary about school choice in Arizona. You can listen to it by searching "Assignment: Rejecting Public Education in Arizona" on The Documentary podcast from the BBC World Service.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Peter Goffin.

Sound Engineers: Philip Bull and Ricardo McCarthy.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

She vowed a 'new way forward' in what was billed as the biggest speech of her career. The atmosphere was electric when Kamala Harris took to the stage for the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. But did she succeed in convincing those watching at home that she should be named the next President of the United States?

On this episode, Caitríona Perry is in Chicago with Courtney Subramanian and Brandon Drenon from the BBC's digital team. They discuss the key moments from the Democratic National Convention and examine how Donald Trump and the Republicans are shifting their strategy to target Kamala Harris as the confirmed Democratic nominee.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Tom Kavanagh.

Sound Engineer: Ben Andrews.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

At the start of August, the world watched as 16 political prisoners were released by Russia in the biggest prisoner swap with the west since the Cold War. But what will life be like as opposition figures in exile?

Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC's Will Vernon who tells the stories of Russian dissidents who have faced intimidation and violence since leaving the country.

They are also joined by our Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford was expelled from Russia after decades of reporting. She is the author of "Goodbye to Russia" which details how Vladimir Putin’s time in power has reshaped the country.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles.

Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard and Jonny Baker.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

After ruthlessly outmanoeuvring hundreds of rivals, Mohammed bin Salman has become the most powerful man in Saudi Arabia. The crown prince believes his sweeping vision for the country will bring in investment, top flight sport and visitors from around the world. His only demand in return... absolute loyalty. So, is MBS unstoppable?

On this episode Caitríona Perry speaks to Jonathan Rugman, journalist and producer of a new documentary “The Kingdom: The World’s Most Powerful Prince”, which shines a fresh light on how he got to power and how far he’ll go to maintain it. They are also joined by the BBC World Service Arab Affairs Editor Sebastian Usher, who has spent time in Saudi Arabia for many years.

Listeners in the UK can watch “The Kingdom: The World’s Most Powerful Prince” on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001zprm/the-kingdom-the-worlds-most-powerful-prince

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles.

Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard and Jack Graysmark.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

The US president vows to be "the best volunteer" for Kamala Harris's election campaign. Addressing the party's National Convention in Chicago, an emotional Joe Biden told Democratic supporters that they are in a battle for the "very soul of America." The four-day event will confirm Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate to take on Donald Trump.

On this episode, Sumi Somaskanda is in Chicago with Courtney Subramanian and Bernd Debusmann from the BBC's digital team. They discuss what President Biden might do during his remaining time in the White House and the role he could play in the Harris-Walz campaign.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Richard Moran.

Sound Engineer: Matt Dean.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

It has been declared a global health emergency twice in two years. Mpox – formerly known as Monkeypox – is spreading rapidly across Africa and has also been detected outside the continent. And scientists are worried about the speed at which a new strain is being transmitted.

On this episode, Lucy Hockings is joined by Dorcas Wangira our Africa Health correspondent and Dominic Hughes the BBC’s Global Health correspondent. They discuss what risk mpox poses to the wider global population and how worried we should be.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Laurie Kalus. The technical producers were Jeremy Morgan and Phil Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Major tech titans like Elon Musk are openly backing Republicans for the first time. This week, Donald Trump’s chat with the owner of X solidified their friendship after years of animosity. And he’s not the only tech entrepreneur shifting his support to the Republicans. So, is Silicon Valley, the traditionally left-leaning hub of tech, really moving to the right?

On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to digital reporter Mike Wendling and business reporter Natalie Sherman about how one of the wealthiest zip codes in California might impact the race for the White House.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Jeremy Morgan.The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

The world's largest live-streaming platform, Twitch, faces an uncertain future. Media reports suggest that parent company Amazon has become frustrated by its failure to make profit, and rumours are swirling of a third round of layoffs within a year. But does its loyal audience of 240 million active monthly users make it too big to fail?

On this episode, Caitríona Perry is joined by BBC tech reporter Tom Gerken, and the BBC's former gaming correspondent Steffan Powell. They examine what makes Twitch unique, and discuss whether the platform is under threat from its rivals.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh. The technical producers were Ben Andrews and Jonny Baker. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Could this offensive sway the dynamics of the war in Kyiv’s favour? Thousands of Russians have been evacuated from border regions as Ukrainian forces continue to gain ground. Meanwhile Vladimir Putin has called the offensive a “major provocation” and vowed to “kick the enemy out”.

In this episode, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia Editor for BBC Monitoring and co-host of Ukrainecast, and Francis Scarr, a Russia expert from BBC Monitoring.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Beth Timmins and Peter Goffin.

Sound Engineers: Jonny Hall and Ben Andrews.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

The Democratic convention in Chicago is fast approaching - the moment when Kamala Harris is due to be officially confirmed as the party’s nominee to replace President Biden. So we're asking how this dramatic change at the top of the ticket has impacted polling ahead of November’s election. What do the numbers tell us in the crucial swing states, and which issues will move the dial for the voters who could tip the balance in the race against Donald Trump?

On this episode, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by Courtney Subramanian from the BBC’s digital team in Washington DC and Eli Yokley, US politics analyst at polling firm Morning Consult.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh. The technical producers were Jonny Hall and Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Indonesia is building a brand-new capital city - twice the size of New York – in the middle of a rainforest. The current capital city, Jakarta, suffers from pollution, congestion, flooding, is prone to earthquakes and is also one of the fastest sinking cities in the world. The new high-tech metropolis called Nusantara aims to be carbon-neutral and better protected from natural disasters. But the project is facing some major hurdles and has fallen well behind schedule.

On this episode Caitríona Perry is joined by Astudestra Ajengrastri and Rebecca Henschke to find out if Nusantara can live up to its environmental promises and if Jakarta will still be saved from sinking beneath the ocean.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

How a street dance from New York made it to the Games. Breaking is an art form, a cultural touchstone, and now an Olympic sport. So what does it take to be a champion? And can breakers use this moment in the spotlight to inspire the next generation of b-girls and b-boys?

On this episode Azadeh Moshiri is joined by BBC Sport Correspondent Katie Gornall and Zack “Cracker Zacks” Slusser, the vice president of Breaking DanceSport for USA Dance.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Alix Pickles and Peter Goffin.

Sound Engineers: Phil Bull and Jonny Baker.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Violent anti-immigration protests have been taking place in cities across the UK for more than a week, leading to hundreds of arrests. The unrest has been linked to the online spread of misinformation about the fatal stabbing of three young girls in the seaside town of Southport in late July. With more protests expected, police have insisted the situation is “manageable” and praised the thousands who have turned out in counter-demonstrations. But how did an isolated attack lead to riots throughout the country?

On this episode Caitríona Perry is joined by the BBC’s investigations correspondent, Daniel De Simone, to explain what’s been happening both on the ground and online, and examine how far-right groups looked to capitalise on uncertainty following the tragic events in Southport.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Laurie Kalus, Peter Goffin, and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Phil Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

How do the Democratic and Republican VP nominees compare and how they will impact the 2024 race. Kamala Harris has chosen the Minnesota governor, Tim Walz, to be her running mate in November's presidential election. Mr Walz is a former teacher and military veteran, who's expected to appeal to rural working-class voters. He's made an impact on social media in recent weeks by labelling former President Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, as "weird". The Trump campaign has dismissed Mr Walz as a dangerously liberal extremist.

In this episode, Caitríona Perry speaks to our US Special correspondent Katty Kay and Jude Sheerin, who has led the BBC’s online coverage of the past four presidential elections.

With both tickets now officially set for the Presidential election, you may want to listen back to our episode covering the moment when Trump announced JD Vance as his VP pick. You can listen to it here: https://links.bbcpodcasts.com/oFsJImFd

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Australia is a proud ‘migration nation’ with a third of its population born abroad. But many foreigners with disabilities or medical conditions are often denied a visa – and those already living in Australia face the threat of being made to leave. Campaigners are now pressuring ministers over policies that the UN has labelled as discriminatory.

Lucy Hockings speaks with our Australia correspondent Katy Watson about the country's migration policies and how they have affected her own family.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Alice Aylett Roberts and Tom Kavanagh. Sound engineers: Ben Andrews, Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard Assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith

The high stakes talks which freed some of Putin's harshest critics. The biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War era took place last week, with 24 people released in total, including former US Marine Paul Whelan, and journalist Evan Gershkovich.

In this episode, Azadeh Moshiri speaks to the BBC's Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford and our Security correspondent Gordon Corera.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Tse Yin Lee. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Project 2025, described as a possible policy blueprint for a second Trump presidency, has become a lightning rod on the campaign trail. Donald Trump has been attempting to distance himself from it for weeks, stating that he had no involvement. Meanwhile, Democrats have recently intensified their criticism of the measures outlined in its pages. After the architect of Project 2025 - Paul Dans - stepped down earlier this week, Trump's campaign stated it would welcome the demise of the project.

In this episode, Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC's North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and Bob Costa, Chief election & campaign correspondent for CBS News.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Richard Moran, Eleanor Sly and Tse Yin Lee. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Iran vows to avenge the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on its soil. A week of deadly air strikes – in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights, in Lebanon and Iran – have once again brought Israel to the cusp of a multi-front war. Sumi Somaskanda speaks to BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen and BBC Middle East Correspondent Hugo Bachega about the threat of a wider conflict with Iran and its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

What can we learn from the biggest IT outage in history? A glitch at the major cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike brought banks, hospitals, airports, and thousands of businesses to a standstill. It was a reminder that our digital world is reliant on a few big companies to keep it running. So how vulnerable are they to accidents or attacks that could shut down wide sections of society? Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC's Cyber Correspondent Joe Tidy.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Protests have erupted across Venezuela, with thousands taking to the streets over the outcome of the country's presidential election on Sunday. President Nicolás Maduro, who electoral authorities say won a third term, blamed the "extreme right" for stirring unrest as security forces clashed with those demonstrating. Meanwhile, the opposition are questioning the legitimacy of the official result, and say they have proof their candidate Edmundo González secured a clear victory.

With a growing number of western leaders also showing scepticism, what next for the South American nation as it continues to navigate a severe economic crisis and crippling rates of emigration? On this episode, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by the BBC's regional correspondents Ione Wells and Will Grant to discuss the struggles millions of Venezuelans are facing, and examine the political context.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Laurie Kalus and Beth Timmins Sound engineer: Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Just over a year ago, a devastating crash involving three trains killed nearly 300 people and injured more than 800 in India’s eastern Odisha state. It was one of the deadliest train crashes in history. But this isn’t the only crash to happen on Indian railways – one of the largest railway networks in the world. Lucy Hockings talks to Alessandra Bonomolo – the director of a new BBC documentary about last year’s collision called Why Trains Crash - and BBC India correspondent Soutik Biswas. They discuss why so many train crashes happen in India. Could the Odisha rail crash have been prevented - and are we doing enough around the world to make our railways safe?

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Alice Aylett Roberts and Tom Kavanagh Sound engineer: Gareth Jones and Ben Andrews Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

France is grappling with climate, security and political turmoil as the Games officially begin. So what’s the mood on the streets of Paris? Will this be the “greenest” Olympics and Paralympics ever, as organisers have promised? And could the Games offer a lifeline to President Emmanuel Macron after disappointing parliamentary elections? James Reynolds speaks to the BBC’s Paris Correspondent Andrew Harding.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin, Alix Pickles and Eleanor Sly. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Divorce rates have been in decline across the West for decades. Experts put this down to a variety of factors, from fewer marriages to a widening dating pool, but cultural differences mean it is difficult to draw broad conclusions on the trends around splitting up. So how can we judge how attitudes to divorce have changed?

On today's episode Lucy Hockings is joined by divorce mediator and former BBC presenter Joanna Gosling, as well as Marina Adshade, a professor at the University of British Columbia who focusses on the economics of sex and relationships. They interrogate some of the stats on divorce, and discuss how the process of dissolving marriage is portrayed in popular culture.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producer: Alice Aylett Roberts, Laurie Kalus and Emilia Jansson Sound engineer: Hannah Montgomery and Phil Bull Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Editor is Richard Fenton-Smith

Over 150 people have been killed in violent clashes across Bangladesh. The protests started with students demanding an end to the quota system that reserved a third of public sector jobs for the relatives of veterans from the country’s war for independence from Pakistan in 1971. But now the Supreme Court has ruled just 5% of the roles can be reserved. The protests represent the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the world’s longest-serving female head of government.

In this episode Caitríona Perry speaks to the BBC World Service South Asia Regional Editor Anbarasan Ethirajan, and Sabir Mustafa, who was the head of the BBC’s Bengali language service for 22 years and now works for VOA.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Tom Kavanagh. The technical producers were Ben Andrews and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

A look at a much-debated slogan, and a journey through the land that it refers to; from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean sea. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last year, the cry “From the River to the Sea” has been heard more and more as a pro-Palestinian slogan. But what river? What sea? And what exactly does the phrase mean? It is the subject of intense controversy.

BBC Current Affairs journalist Tim Whewell joins our presenter Lucy Hockings to discuss his journey from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, across a tiny stretch of land - that is perhaps the most argued-over in the world. Tim has produced a two-part series about his journey for The Documentary podcast. You can listen to it by searching The Documentary wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Beth Timmins, Laurie Kalus and Peter Goffin. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

A growing number of senior Democrats are throwing their support behind Kamala Harris to become the party's presidential nominee, after Joe Biden dramatically quit the race. The US president withdrew from November's election on Sunday, having faced weeks of calls to step aside following a calamitous TV debate against Republican opponent Donald Trump. President Biden immediately endorsed his vice president as his favoured candidate, who says she intends to "earn and win" the nomination.

In this episode, James Reynolds is joined by former BBC Washington correspondent Nick Bryant and special correspondent Jim Naughtie for their reaction. And the BBC's US special correspondent Katty Kay also drops in to give her assessment of how this impacts campaigning for both parties.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus, Richard Moran and Alice Aylett Roberts. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Donald Trump has accepted his nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, rounding off one of the most consequential weeks in modern US political history. Just days after facing down an attempt on his life, the former president delivered a characteristically meandering speech to a rapturous reception. Meanwhile, incumbent President Joe Biden is facing fresh calls from fellow Democrats to stand aside, with new reports suggesting he may be closer than ever before to doing so.

Caitríona Perry is joined by BBC reporter Kayla Epstein, from inside the convention, to discuss how it has set the stage for rest of the campaign, and the additional pressure its success may have piled onto the Biden camp.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, celebrated his son’s marriage with a series of star-studded bashes. The guest-list included Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Kim Kardashian. Katy Perry, Rihanna and Justin Bieber gave private performances.

Lucy Hockings speaks to BBC Business presenter Rahul Tandon and BBC India Business correspondent Nikhil Inamdar about the celebration of the century, and what this lavish party says about India’s ultra-rich.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin, Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

The authoritarian leader marks 30 years in power. Alexander Lukashenko has become a key ally for Vladimir Putin since the start of the war in Ukraine. He’s also spent the last three decades tightening his grip on Belarus, launching a brutal crackdown on his political opponents. How has this veteran of Soviet politics shaped Eastern Europe?

Caitríona Perry speaks to BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg and Belarusian journalist Gennadiy Kot from BBC Monitoring.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery, Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

We're at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee for a defining moment in the US presidential race after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Republican and Democratic leadership have called for unity, and a cooling of rhetoric. But is this consistent with the mood of the American public, in an election campaign which is so highly charged and so divisive? And we’ll find out all about Donald Trump’s new vice-presidential running mate JD Vance.

Caitríona Perry speaks with North America correspondent Tom Bateman and US reporter Mike Wendling.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Former Brazilian wellness influencer Kat Torres was an inspiration to women across the world. Her rise from poverty in the favelas to a European modelling career, gave her the credibility to amass more than a million Instagram followers who trusted her to fix their lives. Now, she’s been convicted on charges of modern slavery.

The BBC has spoken to dozens of women who say they were exploited, in testimonies which reveal the dark details of a secretive sorority used to lure women into a life of forced labour and sexual exploitation. On this episode, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by two of the journalists behind the new BBC investigation, Hannah Price and João Fellet. And for the first time, we hear from the self-styled ‘guru’ herself from inside the walls of a Brazilian prison.

Listeners in the UK can watch the full documentary from BBC Eye Investigations and BBC Brasil, ‘Like, Follow, Trafficked: Insta’s Fake Guru’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0021dyj/eye-investigations-like-follow-trafficked-instas-fake-guru Those elsewhere in the world can access it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozF3l2IxwKs The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Beth Timmins. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Polling suggests that less than half of Americans hold favourable views of the highest court in the land. Its willingness to overturn laws on some of the most politically divisive issues - abortion, gun rights and presidential immunity - has drawn new attention to the institution...and the nine justices.

Caitriona Perry speaks to Jan Crawford, the National Legal Correspondent for the BBC's partner in the US, CBS.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Critics of President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian say he is just a figurehead, and that control ultimately rests with Ayatollah Khamenei. Pezeshkian has vowed to heal the divisions caused by the Mahsa Amini protests and open up “constructive” talks with the West. But does he have the power and the will to do it?Sumi Somaskanda speaks to BBC Persian's senior reporter Parham Ghobadi, and women's affairs reporter Faranak Amidi.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Questions surround President Joe Biden’s run for re-election this November. After an underwhelming performance in the first debate with Republican rival Donald Trump, calls for the incumbent to step aside and let somebody else stand as the Democratic candidate have grown louder within the party. With concerns over the president’s fitness for office hanging like a cloud, we look at whether or not the Democrats could nominate an alternative candidate without his agreement, and examine some of the contenders who could potentially enter the fray.

Host Caitríona Perry speaks with the BBC's US Special correspondent Katty Kay and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher about the president’s fight to stay on his party’s ticket.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Tom Kavanagh and Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Many expected the far right to win France's snap election, but not only did they lose, they came in third. Instead, it was a left-wing coalition that won the most seats in the French Parliament. But, with no party securing an outright majority, the country’s political future is still uncertain. Host Caitríona Perry speaks with the BBC’s Europe digital editor Paul Kirby and Sophie Pedder Paris Bureau Chief for The Economist about where France goes next.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Tom Kavanagh. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Lab-grown meat is often touted as the solution to climate-friendly meat production. But in some parts of the world, governments are introducing laws to stop it from being produced. Why are some countries trying to ban it, before it’s even on the shelves?

Host Lucy Hockings speaks with Graihagh Jackson host of The Climate Question programme on the BBC World Service and our Asia business reporter Nick Marsh about whether cultivated meat is a potential solution to the climate crisis or just a gimmick.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins. The technical producers were Ben Andrews and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

On Thursday, voters in the UK delivered a decisive political verdict. Keir Starmer became the new Prime Minister, as the Labour party won a landslide victory. The Conservatives, who have run Britain for 14 years, suffered the worst election defeat in their long history.

So, who is Keir Starmer? And can his party deliver the change the people voted for?

Lucy Hockings speaks to Rob Watson - the BBC World Service's UK Political Correspondent. He explains how the Labour majority will command a huge majority in the House of Commons, but not necessarily the same level of support among the public.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran, Alix Pickles, Peter Goffin and Eleanor Sly. The technical producers were Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

It's a year since we flocked to cinemas to experience the Barbenheimer phenomena. But some industry insiders are worried that was an anomaly and disguised the trouble facing Hollywood. So, what can we look forward to from this summers blockbusters? Why aren't they living up to the hype of years gone by? And can the industry get back to the golden summers of Jaws, Top Gun and Jurassic Park?

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Gareth Jones and Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

President William Ruto has cancelled new tax hikes after demonstrators stormed parliament. Young, middle-class Kenyans coordinated the protests on social media. BBC Senior Africa Correspondent Anne Soy tells Caitríona Perry this was unlike any protest movement Kenya has ever seen. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app. This episode was made by Tom Kavanagh and Tse Yin Lee. The technical producer was Gareth Jones and Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The far right in France are hoping to enter government for the first time since World War Two. Marine Le Pen's National Rally party won the first round of this surprise election – which has thrust French society into its biggest political turmoil in decades. Now, politicians and parties opposed to a far-right government are working together – tactically withdrawing from races to block the National Rally’s path to victory.

Caitríona Perry chats with the BBC's Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield about whether the opposition plans are likely to work or if there will be a radical new government in France.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Eleanor Sly. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

2024 is expected to be a record-breaking year for tourism, with more travellers going on holiday than ever before. But hotspots like Venice, Hawaii and Bali are also struggling from overtourism.

Rajan Datar, host of the BBC's Travel Show, has been meeting people who live in some of the world's tourism hotspots and tells Lucy Hockings about the impact huge numbers of visitors are having on communities and the environment.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Johnny Hall. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

After a turbulent decade in British politics, this is the week that UK voters will head to the polls. The election could see the Conservative party ousted after nearly 15 years running the country. Could Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s gamble on a summer election bring about a generational political shift?

Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC World Service’s UK Political Correspondent Rob Watson about the campaign. And finds out why the BBC’s Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring has been tracking the election across 24 social media accounts.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Johnny Hall. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The first US presidential debate is over, but questions about Joe Biden's age and his fitness to stand office just won't go away. The President's performance against Donald Trump was stumbling - sometimes even incoherent - which could spell disaster for the Democrats. But what do we really know about Joe Biden's brain - and also about the health of Republican candidate Donald Trump?

This bonus episode of The Global Story was published in November 2023, but it's still relevant. It explores whether Biden really is too old to be President of the United States and the science and politics of the campaign for the White House. In the episode, introduced by Caitróna Perry, Katya Adler talks to our Medical Editor, Fergus Walsh, and our Special Correspondent in Washington, Katty Kay.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This extra episode of The Global Story was made by Neal Razzell, Alice Aylett Roberts and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Matt Dean, Tom Brignell and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The candidates' age becomes an even greater focus after the first televised debate of the 2024 presidential election campaign. President Biden – sounding hoarse and at times muddling his words – gave a stumbling performance in a 90-minute showdown with Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Trump repeated falsehoods – from abortion to taxes and the deficit – and at first avoided answering if he would accept the 2024 election result.

Caitríona Perry is at the CNN Presidential Debate venue in Atlanta with Courtney Subramanian, from the BBC Digital team. They speak to former BBC US correspondent and author Nick Bryant.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Is she dead or alive? Ruja Ignatova launched a fake cryptocurrency that conned investors out of more than $4 billion. Then, with the police on her trail, she vanished. A years-long investigation has led BBC journalists down a rabbit hole of scams, spies and organised crime – including the new allegation that Ignatova may have been murdered by the suspected king of the Bulgarian underworld. But what is fact and what is rumour?

Katya Adler is joined by Rob Byrne from the BBC podcast “The Missing Cryptoqueen”, and Storm Theunissen from BBC Eye Investigations, who directed the Panorama film “The Missing Cryptoqueen: Dead or Alive?”

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

A US court has finalised a plea agreement, which will see Julian Assange become a free man. The divisive WikiLeaks founder had been facing eighteen separate counts relating to national security, but instead admitted to a single espionage charge in exchange for time served. After pleading guilty to the offence in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US Pacific territory, the United States' longstanding extradition request was nullified, and Mr Assange is now returning to his native Australia.

Caitríona Perry caught up with the BBC’s North America correspondent Nomia Iqbal, and former legal correspondent Joshua Rozenberg for their reaction to the deal. They consider how the legal saga has impacted Julian Assange’s image, and what it could mean for the future of free speech.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Can Saudi Arabia balance tradition with safety as the climate crisis deepens? Nearly 2 million people braved temperatures exceeding 50C to visit the holiest city in Islam this month. At least 1,300 of them died. So what went wrong? And what does the future hold for Hajj, as attendance numbers, and temperatures, continue to soar?

Caitríona Perry speaks to BBC Religion Editor Aleem Maqbool and our Egypt correspondent Sally Nabil.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Tom Kavanagh and Peter Goffin. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Julian Farmer. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Tesla’s shareholders want to give him $56 billion. Now, it's up to a judge if he gets it. The sum is astounding: more than the 2023 federal budget of Nigeria or Pakistan; more than twice Israel’s annual military budget; more than the individual GDPs of 100 countries. We look at Elon’s record at Tesla and examine why some investors say he needs the money to stay engaged.

Sumi Somaskanda talks to BBC Business reporter Natalie Sherman and Tim Higgins, author of “Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century.”

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Neal Razzell. The technical producer was Antonio Fernandes. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Sextortion is the fastest-growing scam affecting teenagers globally and has been linked to more than 27 suicides in the US alone. Many of the scammers appear to be from Nigeria - where authorities are under pressure to do more.

It’s feared that sextortion is under-reported due to its sensitive nature. But US crime figures show cases more than doubled last year, rising to 26,700. But what types of sextortion crimes are on the rise and what’s being done to stop them?

In this episode, Katya Adler is joined by our Cyber correspondent, Joe Tidy and Alex Goldenberg, Director of Intelligence at the Network Contagion Research Institute at Rutgers University.

WARNING: This episode deals with issues of suicide and depression. If you are experiencing distress, despair or suicidal thoughts, contact a local mental health care provider.

If you live in the US or Canada, you can call or text 9-8-8 to be connected to a support line.

You can learn about the resources available in the UK at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Or you can access help anywhere in the world through Befrienders Worldwide at www.befrienders.org

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Beth Timmins and Laurie Kalus. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Many Ukrainians are going into hiding to avoid mobilisation squads sending them to the front line. But as war with Russia continues, Kyiv is struggling to recruit enough men to defend their country. Conscription has become a divisive issue, and with the age of draft eligibility recently decreasing to 25, it is a topic which some believe could threaten national unity.

On this episode, Katya Adler speaks to BBC correspondent Jean Mackenzie, and BBC Monitoring’s Russia Editor Vitaliy Shevchenko. They examine some of the fears around enlisting, as well as the resentment of others who have served, and explain how conscription is changing the fabric of Ukrainian society.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories, and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Eleanor Sly. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas, and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

As reactors and waste grow, Finland’s fix is a lone example. Sixty nuclear power plants are under construction worldwide, and a further 110 are planned. Yet no one really knows what to do with the lethal waste. It’s been piling up for decades. Now, in a giant network of tunnels 450m underground, the Finns say they have the world’s first permanent solution.

Lucy Hockings talks to the BBC’s Adrienne Murray, who has toured the tunnels, and Graihagh Jackson, from The Climate Question podcast.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories, and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was presented by Lucy Hockings. It was made by Pete Ross and Neal Razzell. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas, and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The question of when, or whether, to allow young children to have their own smartphones is a dilemma for parents around the world. One town in Ireland decided to take action to make it easier for parents to say no. Greystones made global headlines when the headteachers from all of the town’s primary schools came together to invite parents to sign up to a voluntary code, pledging not to buy phones for children until they reached secondary school.

Around a year after the ‘ban’ of sorts came into effect, the BBC’s Beth McLeod travelled to the town in County Wicklow to investigate the impact. Through conversations with teachers, parents, children and Ireland’s health minister, she tells us about the origins of a policy designed to minimise exposure to potentially harmful online content, and hears how some people want the big tech companies headquartered in nearby Dublin to do more to prevent young people from accessing damaging material on their platforms.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Tom Kavanagh and Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The war in Ukraine has shifted the balance of power between Moscow, Pyongyang, and Beijing. As the geopolitical landscape evolves, new alliances and meetings come into focus. After Vladimir Putin's visit to China in May, there are now reports of an imminent meeting between the Russian President and Kim Jong Un. The North Korean leader has recently hailed his country's ties with Russia, saying the two nations are "invincible comrades-in-arms."

Katya speaks to the host of the BBC’s Lazarus Heist podcast, Jean Lee, and the Financial Times’ Seoul bureau chief, Christian Davies. They discuss what North Korea's end game is and how worried the rest of the world should be.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Millions of women around the world will start the menopause this year, but research shows that many are unprepared for it. For a long time, the menopause has been a taboo subject, a fact which both of our guests are seeking to change.

Kirsty Wark is perhaps best known for presenting the BBC’s Newsnight programme, but she also hosted the groundbreaking documentary ‘The Menopause and Me’ in 2017. Professor Joyce Harper of the Institute for Women's Health at University College London is an expert on the menopause, and author of the book ‘Your Fertile Years’.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Tom Kavanagh and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Ever since Israel launched its Gaza offensive in October, it has also been exchanging fire over its northern border with the Shia militia group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The Iran-backed Hezbollah are ideologically aligned with Hamas, and say they won’t back down until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza. Now, some in the region are concerned increasing tensions could lead to a full-blown ground war. On Wednesday, Hezbollah confirmed an Israeli airstrike had killed one of its senior field commanders, before responding with its own barrage of rockets.

In Israel domestic pressure to act is increasing, and arguments for the IDF to engage Hezbollah further have been bolstered in recent weeks by bushfires in the north of the country sparked by rocket-fire. As rhetoric ramps up, Lucy Hockings is joined by BBC correspondents Lina Sinjab and Hugo Bachega to discuss whether Israel can really afford a new ground operation, and those calling for de-escalation.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

President Biden's son, Hunter, has been found guilty of lying about his drug use when buying a gun in 2018. Hunter Biden now faces a possible prison term of up to 25 years, although a sentence of that length for a first-time offender is highly unlikely. The high-profile trial comes as his father runs for re-election.

It is the first time a sitting president's child has been found guilty of a crime. But what does Hunter’s conviction mean for President Biden? In this episode, our host Caitríona Perry is joined by our North America correspondent, Nomia Iqbal and our US reporter who has been covering the trail in Delaware - Bernd Debusmann Jr.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Beth Timmins and Pete Ross. The technical producer was Ben Martin. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

In the past week, 180 million people voted in elections for the European Union parliament. While the centre-right remains the biggest grouping – and made gains – it was the seats picked up by hard-right parties that captured the headlines.

In France, the far-right National Rally won an unprecedented share of the vote. And President Emmanuel Macron shocked Europe by calling a snap general election.

For today's episode, Katya Adler is wearing her other hat, as the BBC's Europe Editor. As the story unfolds, she takes us from results night in Brussels to a train to Paris to cover the snap election.

You can listen to our previous episode "Fascism in Italy: Has the country moved on from its past?” here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fascism-in-italy-has-the-country-moved-on-from-its-past/id1715473158?i=1000657436379

The Global Story delivers trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Jonny Baker. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Record rains in southern Brazil have displaced almost 600,000 people. Some will never get to go home. A vast area, including the wealthy city of Porto Alegre, remains saturated a month after devastating storms. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has declared it a “climate catastrophe.” Officials triaging overlapping humanitarian and economic crises are writing off whole neighbourhoods – telling residents these places can never be made safe.

Caitríona Perry speaks with BBC Brasil reporters Daniel Gallas and Leandro Prazeres, who have been finding out what this means for people in the flood zone, and asks if there are lessons for all of us in a warming world. The Global Story delivers trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Eleanor Sly. The technical producers were Gareth Jones and Phil Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

President Biden has announced executive action to reduce the number of people crossing unlawfully into the US. American voters often cite immigration as among the most important issues on their mind ahead of the election in November. Many have been waiting to see how the president will respond to rival Donald Trump's strong rhetoric on the issue. But can his plan win over undecided voters without alienating his core supporters?

The BBC's Angelica Casas in San Antonio, Texas shares her reporting from the border. And Nomia Iqbal, our correspondent in Washington DC guides us through a political minefield for the Democrats.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The results of the Indian general election were met with surprise the world over. Despite doing enough to secure an historic third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now rely on coalition partners in order to govern, after his BJP party failed to retain an outright majority.

So what went wrong in a campaign widely expected to be a coronation, and why did analysts fail to predict a resurgence among opposition parties? Caitríona Perry is joined by our South Asia regional editor Anbarasan Ethirajan, and BBC presenter Devina Gupta to discuss how this result could alter India’s political landscape.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed the lives of students, shop keepers and nurses who unexpectedly found themselves fighting for their country. It has also transformed childhood, with many young people seeing fathers, brothers and sisters head to the front line. A generation already disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, are now facing up to displacement, violence and bleak years ahead.

The BBC's eastern Europe correspondent, Sarah Rainsford, travelled to Ukraine to hear the stories of Angelina, Daniel and Lera. She tells us how the conflict has impacted their lives and how they adapting to overcome this new set of challenges.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran, Rachel Hagan and Eleanor Sly. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humanity – and one of the most preventable. But the number of cases around the world nearly doubled last year, and the US, UK and others have seen measles outbreaks in 2024. Katya Adler asks BBC health reporter and doctor Smitha Mundasad about the dangers of measles, why vaccination rates have fallen, and what these outbreaks say about our vulnerability to other illnesses.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Peter Goffin. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Nearly 80 years after the death of Benito Mussolini, you can still find some Italians who openly proclaim their loyalty to the dictator and give the fascist salute at rallies. That behaviour would be punished with jail time in Germany. But in Italy it’s mostly met with indifference. So why do Italians seem so casual about the country’s links to fascism, past and present? And what does it mean at a time when right-wing forces are on the rise across Europe? Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s Rome correspondent Mark Lowen, who’s just made a documentary about neo-fascism, and the Italy correspondent for The Economist, John Hooper.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producer Mike Regaard and Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Mexico is in the midst of its bloodiest ever election. The country will get its first female President but this vote has been overshadowed by the murder of dozens of local candidates. Drug cartels are expanding their power and ordinary Mexicans say they fear for their safety. Will a new leader make a real difference?

Katya speaks with the BBC's Mexico correspondent Will Grant and Latin America and Caribbean Editor Vanessa Buschschlüter.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Richard Moran and Tom Kavanagh. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Phil Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Donald Trump has been convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his historic criminal trial in New York. He called the verdict a “disgrace” and maintained his innocence - the sentencing happens on 11 July.

This episode is a collaboration with our friends at Americast. Listen to more episodes of Americast wherever you get your podcasts.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Tim Walklate and Richard Moran with Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Spain, Ireland and Norway have formally recognised a Palestinian state, as have about 140 other countries. But Israel’s most influential allies, including the US, have said they will not do so until there is a mutually agreed peace deal. Katya Adler asks the BBC’s Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale what this acknowledgment of statehood could mean for Palestinians, and what diplomatic tools governments are using to influence Israeli policy in Gaza.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producer Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Will Kennedy draw votes from Biden or Trump? It is one of the key questions in US politics. For answers, our reporters Lucy Proctor and Mike Wendling went to several Robert F Kennedy Jr’s events to hear from his supporters directly.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email [email protected] or message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

A BBC investigation has uncovered the use of child labour in the supply chains of some of the world’s most luxurious fragrances. The BBC’s evidence reveals that, during the 2023 jasmine picking season, children in Egypt - some as young as five years old - were working in dangerous conditions throughout the night, often earning as little as a dollar a day. All the luxury perfume brands claim to have zero tolerance on child labour.

Katya speaks to Ahmed ElShamy and Natasha Cox, from the BBC Eye Investigations team. You can watch BBC Eye's Perfume's Dark Secret on the World Service Youtube page.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett-Roberts, Tom Kavanagh and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Phil Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Founded in 1753, the British Museum was designed to securely showcase some of the world’s most valuable objects, a guardianship role now enshrined in UK law. So, it was nothing short of a scandal when last year it emerged that up to 1500 of its artefacts had disappeared – some allegedly stolen by a museum insider.

The BBC’s Culture Editor Katie Razzall has spoken to some of those studying what happened. She joins Katya to consider whether the iconic institution remains fit for purpose, and if it should have the right to keep a hold of many of its controversially acquired items in the first place.

For more on this topic, you can search for Katie’s new nine-part series ‘Thief at the British Museum’ wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

It is 30 years since the end of apartheid in South Africa and Nelson Mandela was elected as the country's first black president. Since then, Mandela’s party - the African National Congress - has dominated politics, delivering every president.

People are going to the polls again at the end of this month. Nomsa Maseko, the BBC's South Africa correspondent tells us what the elections might mean for the rainbow nation as voters weigh frustration and loyalty to Mandela's ANC party.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh and Rachel Hagan. The technical producers was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The war in Ukraine has turned from a relative stalemate to a major Russian offensive in the past few weeks. Several villages on Ukraine's north-eastern frontier near the city of Kharkiv have fallen under Moscow's control. Now overstretched Ukrainian troops are struggling to contain the most significant ground offensive since 2022.

On this episode Katya Adler is joined by the BBC's Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse and the host of Ukrainecast Vitaly Shevchenko to discuss whether Russia is starting to win the war with Ukraine.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Ben Andrews and Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

India is in the middle of the biggest election the world has ever seen, and social media has become a vital political tool for candidates trying to reach around a billion voters across the country.

Katya Adler is joined by Devina Gupta and Shruti Menon in the BBC’s Delhi bureau for a look inside the digital campaigns of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his main opponent, Rahul Gandhi. And they ask, how can Indian avoid the threat of online disinformation and deepfakes?

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producers were Mike Regaard, Hannah Montgomery and Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Iran is reeling after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. The country is already trying to balance deepening conflicts in the Middle East and political pressure from its own. Could this be a moment for change in Tehran? Or will the regime only tighten its grip on power? Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet about Iran’s next move.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producers were Ben Andrews and Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

For decades, China has been 'on the rise'. In that time, perceptions in the West have shifted from seeing the country as a manufacturing centre, to a potential partner to a possible threat. But how does China see the West? And if Beijing is hoping to bring a change in the global order, is it on a collision course with governments in the West?

The BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera has been taking a deep dive into this relationship for a new podcast series 'Shadow War: China and the West', which is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001z66c

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Richard Moran. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Over recent months rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been exchanging diss tracks in a bitter lyrical battle which has caught the attention of fans and media alike. Characterised by scathing personal attacks and incredibly serious allegations, their beef has divided the industry, with some members of hip-hop royalty suggesting they took things too far.

Now the furious jibes have stopped, how will this chapter in music history be remembered? To discuss the fallout, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by BBC Radio 1 & Radio 1Xtra's Kenny Allstar, and Billboard's Carl Lamarre, who consider whether this will go down as the greatest rap feud of all time.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

(Photo: Musicians Drake (L) and Kendrick Lamar (R). Credit: Prince Williams, Joseph Okpako / Getty)

What Michael Cohen’s testimony means for the case and the US election. The former president’s lawyer once said he’d take a bullet for Donald Trump. Now, he’s trying to sink the knife as the prosecution’s key witness.

Caitriona Perry in Washington talks to Madeline Halpert, who has been in court covering the trial from the start, and our North America Editor Sarah Smith.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected], or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story makes several other podcasts, including Americast and Ukrainecast. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell, Rachel Hagan and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Neom, Saudi Arabia's ambitions city of the future, promises a car-free, carbon-free space open to all. At the heart of the plans are two skyscrapers as tall as the Empire State building, carved into the desert in a straight line for more than 100 miles. But can this dream ever become a reality?

BBC Verify's Merlyn Thomas has been investigating allegations that Saudi security forces were permitted to use lethal force while clearing inhabitants from the vast building site. Our Middle East Business Correspondent, Sameer Hashmi, tells us that Saudi Arabia is banking on Neom to help future proof its economy, but that they might struggle to cover the rising costs of the project.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran. The technical producers were Gareth Jones and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

For weeks, tens of thousands of Georgians have been protesting against a new law that they say threatens democracy and freedom of speech. It targets civil society organisations and independent media that receive foreign funding. But its opponents say it is an attempt by the Georgian government to mimic Russian policy.

Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s Nina Akhmeteli who is in Tbilisi and Politico’s reporter in the region Gabriel Gavin.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Peter Goffin and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Emma Crowe and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the rise in domestic violence and violence towards women has become a "national crisis".

Katya Adler speaks with our Sydney correspondent Katy Watson and BBC journalist Tiffanie Turnbull about how Australia has responded to this growing violence and what can be done to stop it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producers were Emma Crowe and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Ever since a French police operation in 2020 which compromised the highly encrypted telecommunications network, EncroChat, organised crime bosses across Europe have been looking over their shoulders. Law enforcement agencies were granted access to a treasure trove of evidence – hundreds of millions of messages – and it has led to arrests and convictions on an unprecedented scale.

Now, the BBC has gained access to 10,000 messages which contributed to the downfall of one of the UK’s most feared families. On today’s episode, Katya speaks to investigative reporter Bronagh Munro, who reveals how this secretive organised crime group were stopped, as they sought revenge for a daring challenge to their authority.

Listeners in the UK can watch the full BBC Panorama episode ‘The Crime Bosses who Terrorised a City’ here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001ysrj/panorama-the-crime-bosses-who-terrorised-a-city Or for more on EncroChat, search for the six-part BBC series ‘Gangster Presents... Catching the Kingpins’ wherever you get your podcasts.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The President downplays demos as summer nears. What's next for the US student movement? The noisy protests over the war in Gaza are at a crossroads: the academic year is winding down and students are graduating or heading home, just as the Israeli military has begun fighting Hamas in Rafah. Sumi Somaskanda talks to BBC’s North America Correspondent Nomia Iqbal and BBC US Correspondent Helena Humphrey about what they’ve seen on campuses across the US whether President Biden’s call for order jeopardises the youth vote.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

We are part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

It has been five years since Notre-Dame de Paris was devastated by fire. Now, thanks to a massive restoration effort, French President Emmanuel Macron says the cathedral will partially reopen in December. Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield and journalist Madeleine Schwartz of The Dial Magazine about the special place Notre-Dame holds in the hearts and minds of the French people, and why people from all over the globe pitched in to help save it.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Argentina’s chainsaw-wielding President Javier Milei is implementing his radical economic agenda in a bid to stop spiralling inflation. But are Argentinians happy with how Mr Milei is reshaping their nation?

Katya Adler speaks with the BBC's South America correspondent Ione Wells about her interview with the right-wing politician, his love for Margaret Thatcher and the Rolling Stones, and what it is like to interview world leaders.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producers were Ricardo McCarthy and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The 12 months that followed the Coronation of Charles III have been marked by illness and family troubles. How has the king navigated these challenges? What is the role of a monarch in the 21st Century? And what does the future hold for the British monarchy? Adam Fleming speaks to BBC royal correspondent Sarah Campbell and journalist and royal biographer Robert Hardman.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

As part of an investigation into the conduct of Israel's security forces in the West Bank, which has been under military occupation for more than half a century, the BBC has pieced together what happened on the day two boys were killed. With violence having surged in the enclave in the months since the Hamas led attack on Israel on 7 October, the BBC team also found evidence of civilians threatened with weapons and increasing tensions.

On today’s episode, Katya is joined by director Josh Baker and reporter Isobel Yeung. They discuss what they saw and share the interviews they conducted on the ground while navigating gun battles, combat raids and secret meetings.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

When President Putin ordered Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv’s western allies assembled unprecedented sanctions packages to target the Kremlin’s access to international funds. That included freezing an estimated $300bn of central bank assets, the majority of which are held in Europe. As domestic enthusiasm for Ukrainian aid has dimmed in some western nations, the question about how to use these frozen funds has risen rapidly up the international agenda.

On today’s episode, Katya is joined by Ben Chu, BBC Newsnight’s Economics Editor, and Tom Keatinge, from the Centre for Finance and Security at the RUSI think tank. They discuss whether new US legislation could pressure European leaders to make a decision on the fate of the frozen assets, and consider the risk of retaliation by Russia.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus, Alix Pickles and Neal Razzell. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

A record number of Americans are taking their own lives, and suicide is now the second-leading cause of death in the US for people under the age of 35. Why is this happening? How can you get help if you need it? And how is the US responding to what President Biden calls a ‘crisis’ in youth mental health?

Mark Lowen speaks to BBC North America correspondent Will Vernon. He’s been to North Carolina State University, which has seen a string of student suicides over the past two years. They are joined by Jordan Burnham, a suicide survivor and youth mental health advocate in the US.

WARNING: This episode deals with issues of suicide and depression. If you are experiencing distress, despair or suicidal thoughts, contact a local mental health care provider. If you live in the US or Canada, you can call or text 9-8-8 to be connected to a support line. You can learn about the resources available in the UK at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Or you can access help anywhere in the world through Befrienders Worldwide at www.befrienders.org

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producers was Gareth Jones and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The war in Ukraine has increased tensions in Europe as governments across the continent look to secure a peaceful existence. Expanding military service, increasing defence spending and joining Nato are only a few options available. But the importance of self-defence becomes clearer each day as Donald Trump, who is famously not fond of Nato, may move back into The White House. So what are countries going to do?

Katya Adler speaks to BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake and BBC Russian Service journalist Oksana Antonenko, who is based in Latvia, about their experiences and stories from the Baltic countries and other nations bordering Russia.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The president has fired “a bazooka” of money into the economy. Will voters reward him? Joe Biden says the economy is doing great thanks to a series of policies he calls Bidenomics. The idea is to jump-start the US following the COVID collapse with massive investments in the industries of the future: EVs, microchips, solar power and so on. Almost six months out from the election, the IMF says the US is growing at twice the rate of other G7 countries. But how do American voters feel about the economy? Katya talks to the BBC’s Economics Editor, Faisal Islam, and our Chief Presenter in Washington, Caitriona Perry.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

This summer Paris will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time in a century. Excitement in the city is growing, but so is the list of problems facing organisers. Critics have warned that the river Seine is too polluted for the planned swimming competitions, and security concerns are at an all time high following threats from the Islamic State group (IS) to European sporting events.

Katya Adler speaks to BBC sports editor Dan Roan and Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield about what Parisians think about the incoming spectacle, and whether it can truly leave a legacy on the city.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Emilia Jansson and Peter Goffin. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Homelessness in the United States is at its highest level on record. It’s a topic which is presenting challenges for liberal and conservative politicians alike, and this week the nation’s Supreme Court convened to hear its most significant case on homelessness in decades. Why? It could allow cities across the country to effectively make being homeless illegal.

On today’s episode, Adam Fleming speaks to the BBC’s Samantha Granville who is reporting from LA – where almost a third of the US homeless population resides. We hear how people sleeping on the streets there feel about facing criminal punishment, and consider the political significance of this case in a presidential year.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

A decade ago, the world's eyes were focused nervously on West Africa when Ebola ravaged the region. It left 11,000 people dead in its wake. Now the epidemic is over, does the threat of its return loom and what lessons did the world learn? Arrival of vaccines are a game changer – but new strains can still pose a challenge.

The BBC’s Africa Correspondent Anne Soy tells Mark Lowen what horrors she saw on the ground when the region was struck. And Naomi Grimley, from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and former Global Health Correspondent at the BBC, shares what the world learnt from the largest Ebola epidemic in history.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Rachel Hagan. The technical producers were Frank McWeeny and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Additional reporting by Caroline Loyer.

Ever since he rose to the top of the Catholic Church in 2013, Pope Francis has had a reputation in international media as a moderniser. His forthright defence of the environment, and unprecedented outreach to members of the LGBT community, are examples of progressive positions which have caused friction with more conservative members of the faith. But a recent document released by the Vatican, headlined by its staunch opposition to gender reassignment and surrogacy, is now challenging that liberal image.

So how should we define the Pope’s ideology? On this episode, Mark Lowen is joined by the BBC’s Religion Editor Aleem Maqbool, and long-time Vatican reporter Delia Gallagher. They consider the conflicting expectations from liberal and conservative Catholics, and ask how Pope Francis might be planning for both his legacy and eventual successor.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Frank McWeeny. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

After weeks of tit for tat strikes between Iran and Israel, the dust appears to be settling on a confrontation that the whole world has nervously observed. But both sides have crossed what was previously seen as a red line.

The BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, sits down with BBC Persian Journalist Parham Ghobadi to discuss whether the Middle East can breathe a sigh of relief. And the BBC’s Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale joins from Jerusalem to consider what might happen next.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Gaza is on the brink of famine. The UN says more than half the population – over a million people – could face catastrophic hunger. But the process of delivering aid is slow and dangerous. The BBC’s Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale tells Mark Lowen about taking part in an air drop of food and other supplies to Gazans. And the Palestinian journalist Ghada Ouda shares what it’s like to live on humanitarian aid in the city of Rafah.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The elderly Swiss women behind a landmark ruling. For nearly a decade, they argued that Switzerland’s weak climate policies violated their human rights. Their victory – the first of its kind in the European Court of Human Rights – sets a precedent 46 countries must now follow. Our climate reporter, Georgina Rannard, has been covering the case for years. She shares the women’s personal stories, while climate lawyer Sophie Marjanac explains what it could mean for those seeking climate justice everywhere.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email: [email protected] or message/leave a voice note via WhatsApp: +44 330 123 9480.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. Look for them on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus, Alix Pickles and Neal Razzell. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor was Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor was Sam Bonham.

Following the knife attack in a shopping mall in Sydney, speculations and false allegations were spread online at an alarming rate. It even led to an innocent man being labelled as the attacker.

Mark Lowen speaks to the BBC’s Sydney correspondent Katy Watson on the shock and sorrow in the country. And BBC Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring tells him about her experience confronting one of the people at the heart of the social media frenzy.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

India will host the world's biggest election this year when nearly one billion people will vote. Organisers have vowed to set up polling stations within 2km of every citizen, but India's vast size means this will be a challenge. The country's 15 million election officials must travel to coastal towns, mountain villages, remote islands and dense jungles to reach every voter.

Katya speaks with BBC journalist and presenter Devina Gupta and India correspondent Soutik Biswas to break down the big numbers and discuss how it is possible to organise an election on this scale.

We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. Or, message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Devina Gupta. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Israel says 99% of the missiles and drones fired by Iran on Saturday night were intercepted without hitting their targets. Iran said the assault was in response to a deadly attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria two weeks ago. Now all eyes are on how Israel will respond to Iran's unprecedented move. James Reynolds talks to the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, who says the attack marks “a whole new chapter” in the relations between Iran and Israel. James is also joined by the BBC’s security correspondent Gordon Corera, and Siavash Ardalan from BBC Persian, to discuss how the players at the centre of this confrontation might decide their next move.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran. The technical producer was Annie Smith. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

This weekend marks a decade since 276 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram militants in Chibok, northern Nigeria. The world united in rage, with millions sharing the #bringbackourgirls campaign. Despite that, ten years later, many of the girls still haven't returned home. And Nigeria is reckoning with another wave of mass kidnappings.

Two BBC journalists - Yemisi Adegoke and Azeezat Olaoluwa - have recently visited Chibok, a town guarded on all sides by the military. They bring us the stories of the girls who escaped, the families still missing their daughters and the men repenting for their role in abduction.

We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. Or, message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

There’s no playbook for when a ship the size of the Eiffel Tower knocks over a bridge spanning more than two kilometres. The BBC’s Bernd Debusmann Jr has been on the water with the divers picking through the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. BBC News chief presenter Sumi Somaskanda has been talking to Maryland’s key political players.

The two tell Adam Fleming about the jeopardy – for Baltimore and President Biden’s leadership. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world.

We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. Or, message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The US government is suing some of the biggest tech companies on the planet – Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta – in antitrust cases. The face of Washington’s crackdown is Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, the youngest person ever to hold the post.

So, who is the woman taking on Silicon Valley? And can she succeed? To answer these questions, host Adam Fleming speaks the BBC's North America business correspondent Michelle Fleury and former North America tech reporter James Clayton.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin, Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

It’s two years since occupying Russian troops departed the Ukrainian town of Bucha. The trail of death and destruction they left behind has been widely condemned, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky among those who have alleged Russia committed war crimes there.

On today’s episode Katya speaks with BBC Eastern Europe Correspondent Sarah Rainsford, who recently returned to Bucha to hear from survivors. They’re also joined by the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen, who was among the first journalists to arrive on the scene in Bucha in 2022. They consider whether international law is sufficiently equipped to prosecute allegations of war crimes, and if tangible justice is possible.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin, Laurie Kalus, Beth Timmins and Rachel Hagan. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

It's 30 years since the genocide in Rwanda took the lives of an estimated 800,000 people. The anniversary also marks three decades since Victoria Uwonkunda fled the country with her family. Now a BBC journalist, she has returned for the first time to confront those awful days and see how the country has worked toward forgiveness, reconciliation and brighter future.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Jo Floto – who’s covered conflict for more than two decades - takes us back to the first text he received from Gaza on Oct 7th. It simply said: “They’ve started a war.” In the six months since, he and his team have been working flat out in what he calls the toughest assignment of his life. He tells his old friend, Katya, where he thinks the war could go next.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected]. Or, leave a voice note or message via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. We make several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts, too. Find them on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was produced by Neal Razzell, Peter Goffin, Alix Pickles and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Phil Bull. The assistant editor was Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

For decades the Japanese entertainment industry ignored allegations that Johnny Kitagawa – a powerful music mogul who died in 2019 – had sexually abused young men and boys who he’d promised to turn into stars. Last year, the BBC aired a documentary by journalist Mobeen Azhar which shed new light on the accusations, and led to a reckoning across Japanese pop music. Azhar has been following up on the scandal and its aftermath in a new documentary. He joins Katya Adler and BBC presenter Mariko Oi, who grew up in Japan idolising J-pop stars.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] or leave a voice note or message via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor was Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

Mixed-sex raves are illegal in Iran. Partygoers risk fines, prison or lashes from the morality police. But that doesn’t stop invite-only, clandestine clubs from thriving. Now more and more Iranian female DJs are joining the illegal dance floors of Iran and some are even touring the world. The BBC’s Faranak Amidi tells Katya about a new generation of culture warriors.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected]. Or, leave a voice note or message via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was produced by Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Sam Dickinson. The assistant editor was Sergi Forcada Freixas and the editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

China has the largest elderly population in the world. Pension and health care systems are struggling to cope at a time when women are having fewer babies. Can the country afford to grow old as its economy slows?

Katya speaks with the BBC's China correspondent Laura Bicker about how Beijing plans to tackle this ticking demographic time bomb.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Richard Moran. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Almost as soon as the company Open AI released ChatGPT4, people started to ask...will it take my job? On this episode, we’re concentrating on more hopeful questions.

Aleks Krotoski is a social psychologist and presents the BBC Radio 4 series The Artificial Human and Daniel Susskind is an economist at the Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University. They help us think about was we might futureproof our careers in this new world and the opportunities AI might open up for us.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alix Pickles, Laurie Kalus and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The Wall Street Journal reporter, who is the first US journalist charged with spying in Russia since the Cold War, has now been imprisoned for a year. His detention has been repeatedly extended and he is yet to face trial. His family, colleagues and the US government vehemently deny the accusations.

We talk with two BBC journalists who know Evan - Will Vernon and James Beardsworth. We hear what he’s like as a friend and journalist, and what his detention means for reporting on Russia.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Bethan Ashmead Latham, Alice Aylett Roberts and Richard Moran. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

In a new BBC documentary, a single Ukrainian infantry company find themselves in a life or death battle to defend the eastern front against intense Russian attacks.

Jamie Roberts tells us how he managed to get such rare access and what the fate of these men tells us about the reality of the frontlines in Ukraine.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell, Peter Goffin, Laurie Kalus, and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Sam Bankman-Fried was the golden boy of cryptocurrency. He was dubbed the king and saviour of the industry. But this week he will be sentenced to possibly decades in prison for fraud and money laundering, and his firm, FTX, went bankrupt.

Joe Tidy, the BBC's cyber correspondent tells us about SBF - the man he interviewed before his trial. And Erin Delmore, our North America business correspondent explains what his downfall means for the future of crypto.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin, Neal Razzel, Beth Timmins and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

When Guyana discovered huge offshore oil reserves in 2015, it transformed the prospects of a country which had a been an economic and political backwater. But, as one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, will drilling for oil be a windfall or a curse in the long run?

Stephen Sackur has just returned from Guyana for the BBC's HardTalk programme where he spoke to the people making the decisions about Guyana's future, and the people who will have to live with the consequences.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Richard Moran. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

On this episode, we’re covering two very different stories.

After the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack on a concert hall in Moscow, we’re revisiting a previous episode asking how much of a threat the group still pose.

Mina al-Lami from BBC Monitoring tells us that the groups fortunes fell in 2023, with them claiming far fewer attacks. And Josh Baker from The Shamima Begum Story podcast joins us to explain why they still pose a credible threat.

Previous episode: Islamic State group – spent force or present threat? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0h42vkq

Also, as spring approaches in the United States, millions of young people are heading off on spring break. But some cities have had enough of student revellers unwinding and the chaos that can arrive with them.

Terry Ward, a travel writer and BBC contributor tells us what it’s like to go on spring break. And Beatriz Diaz from BBC Mundo explains why Miami is discouraging spring breakers.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Politicians across Europe have long been grappling with the issue of irregular migration, and their attempts to stem the influx of people across the Mediterranean – often by force – have yielded mixed results. But an $8.1 billion agreement signed last week between the EU and Egypt has attracted attention as the most prominent example so far of an alternative approach - investing more heavily in Africa - to address the reasons people leave in the first place.

The agreement has not come without scrutiny, with senior MEPs saying Europe is ‘bankrolling dictators’ in Egypt and Tunisia. On this episode Katya is joined by BBC population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty, and the Atlantic Council’s Alissa Pavia, to discuss the implications of outsourcing Europe’s migration policy.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus, Beth Timmins, and Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

US intelligence says China may use Tik Tok to interfere in the presidential election. Now Washington is debating a bill that would force the app’s Chinese owners to sell up, even as politicians like Joe Biden use Tik Tok as a campaign tool.

So, how might Beijing use social media to undermine American democracy? And would selling or even banning Tik Tok do anything to stop it? Lyse Doucet speaks to BBC North America correspondent John Sudworth and Wired senior political writer Makena Kelly.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.

This episode was made by Peter Goffin, Beth Timmins and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Since conflict broke out in April 2023, it has been almost impossible for international media to report from Sudan. In that time, stories of horrific violence and sexual violence have been told by hundreds of thousands of people who have fled the country.

Feras Kilani, the BBC Arabic special correspondent, has just returned from Sudan, where he got a rare insight into life in the country. Mercy Juma, the BBC Africa correspondent also tells Lyse Doucet about the survivors of ethnic violence and sexual assault she met in Chad, the neighbouring country where hundreds of thousands have fled.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Richard Moran, Bethan Ashmead-Latham and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The Princess of Wales is at the centre of a media storm. Statements from Kensington Palace and the release of an edited family photo have only spurred further rumour and speculation about her health and her absence from public life. In this episode we ask how the royal family’s publicity team handles major stories like this one, how the British monarchy is adapting to the 21st Century media landscape, and why people are so interested in the royals’ private lives.

Our presenter Adam Fleming is joined by BBC Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph and Simon Lewis, the former communications secretary to Queen Elizabeth, now co-presenter of the BBC podcast “When It Hits the Fan”.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producers were Emma Crowe and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The Demilitarised Zone - the strip of no-man’s land separating North and South Korea – is the unlikely home to a tiny community of South Koreans. But, 70 years since it was established as a symbol of peace following the Korean war, the village of Taesung is now seeing its population decline rapidly.

Over the past year tensions have flared between the two countries in the peninsula, and in January North Korean leader Kim Jong Un officially abandoned the longstanding policy of reunification with the South. In this episode Adam Fleming speaks to the BBC’s Seoul correspondent Jean Mackenzie about the symbolic importance of Taesung, and asks what life is like there after she gained a rare level of access to the village.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

More than 100 million Russians are expected to vote for the next president over the coming days. Officially, there are four candidates on the ballot, but if you were watching Russian TV, you're likely only going to hear one name...Vladimir Putin. We're taking a moment to tune in to the election coverage inside Russia and ask what you might believe if you were following the election through a screen in Moscow, Omsk or Rostov-on-Don.

Mark Lowen speaks to Francis Scarr who keeps a close eye on Russian media channels for BBC Monitoring, and Oleg Boldyrev, who is covering the election for the BBC from Riga, Latvia.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email [email protected], or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Richard Moran, Laurie Kalus and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The signs Xi Jinping’s woes are growing: a deputy diminished. Missing ministers. Stricter security laws. And we haven’t even mentioned the economy. Is President Biden right to suggest China is not rising, but in relative decline?

Adam Fleming talks to Celia Hatton, the BBC’s Asia Pacific Editor, and Rana Mitter, host of several BBC documentaries about China and a professor of US-China relations at the Harvard Kennedy School.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email [email protected], or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Beth Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Powerful gangs are elbowing their way into the race for power after Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry was forced to resign. Hundreds of gun-wielding groups are terrorising the capital’s streets and have plunged the long-suffering nation into anarchy. Aid agencies warn of a looming famine and more than 15,000 Haitians have been left homeless by the attacks. Our Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet speaks to the BBC's Vanessa Buschschlüter, and a journalist living in Haiti, Harold Isaac.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Rachel Hagan. The technical producers were Philip Bull and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The most famous waterway in the Americas is running dry. The water level in the Panama Canal is falling critically low, which means the number of ships that can pass through has been reduced. This is having a major impact on the international shipping industry with delays to deliveries and increased costs. James Reynolds speaks with the BBC's North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury who has been to Panama to find out more.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Peter Goffin, Alix Pickles and Jay Gardner. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

As war continues in Gaza, a cultural row is flaring on the other side of the world over Israel’s involvement in the 2024 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The country’s act was initially blocked from entering the world's largest music competition as its proposed lyrics were deemed too political, but they have since been cleared to compete. This has outraged many on social media, with some fans calling for other countries to boycott the event.

Eurovision's organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, insist the contest is apolitical, but they have invited scrutiny in recent years particularly over the decision to ban Russia from competing due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. On this episode James Reynolds discusses the fallout with Eurovision reporter Daniel Rosney, and they consider whether it’s ever possible for Eurovision to stay out of politics.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Hollywood’s big night is upon us, and the studios have spent millions of dollars to make sure their favourite contenders win. Are the Academy Awards really about honouring cinematic achievement? Or does it all come down to campaigns and connections?

Presenter James Reynolds speaks to film journalist Tom Brook, who has covered every Oscars since 1982, and Leila Latif, a journalist who has worked on Oscar campaigns.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell

The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] or message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory. This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

How big money is chasing a tiny number of voters. It’s (almost) official: Joe Biden will face Donald Trump in November. Both men did well enough on Super Tuesday to look ahead to the general election. Now, it gets interesting. The campaigns need to find the few Americans still unsure who should be president and get in their heads.

James Reynolds talks to the BBC’s Special US correspondent, Katty Kay, and Eli Yokley, from Morning Consult.

More episodes to understand the US election: Meet Trump's new inner circle: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-trumps-new-inner-circle/id1715473158?i=1000642760501 Joe Biden's ageing brain: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joe-bidens-ageing-brain/id1715473158?i=1000636759143

We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] or message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory This episode was made by Richard Moran and Neal Razzell. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The disappearance of flight MH370 is the greatest unsolved mystery in aviation. Ten years after the plane vanished from radar with 239 passengers and crew on board, only a few traces have been found. Could a new radio technology finally help locate the missing aircraft and give families the answers they desperately need?

James Reynolds assesses the latest evidence about what happened to MH370 with the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head and Alessandra Bonomolo, director of a new documentary on the disappearance of MH370 – Why Planes Vanish: The Hunt for MH370.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Young people around the world are having less sex than older generations. It had been assumed that coming of age in an era of dating apps would mean that Gen Z were more sexually active, but that is not the case.

In this episode, Katya Adler speaks with Kaye Wellings, Professor of Sexual and Reproductive Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and BBC journalist Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty about why Gen Z are being dubbed 'the sexless generation'.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. The technical producers were Rohan Madison and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The rise of defending world, European and Premier League champions Manchester City has been as rapid as it has been controversial. From allegations of sportswashing against its Emirati ownership, to the no less than 115 charges it is facing for alleged violations of football’s financial rules, headlines about the club’s off-field conduct are eclipsed perhaps only by their sustained on-field dominance.

On today’s episode, Katya is joined by football writers Simon Stone and Rory Smith to explain how City Football Group have supercharged their development by revolutionising a specific business model surrounding the acquisition of sister clubs across the world. They discuss whether this has set an irreversible trend of multi-club ownership, amidst fears that competition within the beautiful game could be under threat.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Jay Gardner, Laurie Kalus and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

His tricky campaign balancing act. A surprise court ruling in Alabama that found frozen embryos to be children has put reproductive rights back on the national agenda. Donald Trump has called himself “the most pro-life president” in US history, but some of his socially conservative supporters want him to go further and back a national ban. Mr Trump is not keen, but Democrats are delighted. They believe any talk of abortion could swing voters toward President Biden.

Katya speaks to BBC Washington Correspondent Nomia Iqbal and Barbara Carvalho, director of polling at the Marist Poll, at Marist College, New York.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] or message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Peter Goffin and Bethan Ashmead. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The United States has just returned to the Moon for the first time in 50 years. But they are not the only country in the world with their sights set on space exploration. Why are countries like India, China, Japan and Saudi Arabia trying to complete their own lunar landings? Katya Adler speaks with Dr Kevin Fong, presenter of the BBC podcast 13 Minutes to the Moon and Jonathan Amos the BBC’s science correspondent.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We need you to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email ideas and thoughts to [email protected]. You can also message or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The city the world is watching. Overflowing with hungry refugees and facing a lethal showdown between Hamas and Israeli forces, Rafah is at the heart of an urgent push for peace. Children are scavenging for food even as aid trucks line up over the border in Egypt and diplomats try to avert a further humanitarian catastrophe. President Biden is positive a deal can be reached. But Israel says its hostages must be home by Ramadan, or else.

Katya speaks to the BBC’s Gaza correspondent, Rushdi Abualouf, and our special correspondent in Jerusalem, Fergal Keane.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] or message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Neal Razzell, Bethan Ashmead Latham and Laurie Kalus. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

In countries across the world women are deciding to delay motherhood. Increased access to education, more career opportunities and less financial stability means that more and more women are having children later in life. But fewer babies now, could mean more economic pressures on the rest of us in the future. We explore this complex topic with the BBC's population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty and Joyce Harper, professor of reproductive science at University College London.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We need you to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email ideas and thoughts to [email protected]. You can also message or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Beth Timmins and Miriam Quayyum. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Sweden is struggling to contain the gang wars that are spilling out onto the streets. Innocent people are being caught in the crossfire while child soldiers carry out dangerous shoot-to-kill missions for leaders who live abroad. The Swedish government has even recruited the army to help stop the violence. But is it too late?

We explain how the peaceful nation has turned into a European hotspot for shootings with the leading Swedish journalist in gang crimes, Diamant Salihu, and Matilda Welin from BBC Monitoring.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Emilia Jansson and Neal Razzell. The technical producers were Mike Regaard, Sam Dickinson and Jonny Baker. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

At least three million people died in the Bengal Famine of 1943 in British India. It was one of the largest losses of civilian life on the Allied side. But there is no memorial to them anywhere in the world. A new BBC documentary series, 'Three Million', examines the devastating impact of the Bengal famine during the Second World War. Katya speaks to presenter Kavita Puri about why so little attention has been paid to such a massive tragedy, and to the people who lived through it.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We need you to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email ideas and thoughts to [email protected]. You can also message or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Peter Goffin, Beth Timmins and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Sam Dickinson. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

A surgeon in a wheelchair, an indomitable grandmother, and a man taking care of eight cats in a bombed-out flat: just some of people the BBC’s Andrew Harding has met on repeat trips to Ukraine’s front lines. He and the BBC’s Olga Robinson, who has family in Russia and Ukraine, talk to Katya about the power of individual stories, two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We need you to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email ideas and thoughts to [email protected]. You can also message or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Neal Razzell and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

When #MeToo surfaced in October 2017, it was viewed as a time of change for the US and Hollywood. But in France – another country with a rich cinematic heritage – there was major backlash to allegations made against its own stars. Now though, a new wave of controversy, headlined by prolific actor Gerard Depardieu, has reignited media debate.

Katya is joined by journalists Catherine Guilyardi and Nina Kropotkine to consider whether the #MeToo movement is finally exploding in French cinema.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Sam Dickinson and Graham White. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Hurricanes are among the most dramatic examples of extreme weather. And with climate change making tropical cyclones ever more intense, some scientists are arguing that the way we categorise them doesn’t sufficiently describe how dangerous these storms can be. They say the solution is to add a brand new ‘category 6’ to the system known as the Saffir-Simpson scale.

On this episode, Katya is joined by the BBC’s Graihagh Jackson, host of The Climate Question. They examine how hurricanes are classified, and ask if we need to find more efficient methods of saving lives.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This podcast was made by Neal Razzell, Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Graham White. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Demand for ‘Hollywood’ weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, has turned a once-niche Danish pharmaceutical firm into Europe’s most valuable company. As Novo Nordisk’s stock price skyrockets, it’s outsizing Denmark’s economy, and its growth has been credited with single-handedly staving off a national recession. James Reynolds examines how Novo is viewed by Danes, and what it’s doing to stay ahead of international competitors, with BBC reporter in Copenhagen, Adrienne Murray.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Neal Razzell. The technical producers were Dafydd Evans and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Russia's most significant opposition leader for the past decade, Alexei Navalny, has died in an Arctic Circle jail, the prison service has said. What does that mean for the future of Russia, its opposition movement and its leader, Vladimir Putin?

In this special episode of The Global Story, Gabriel Gatehouse speaks to the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, Olga Ivshina from the BBC's Russian Service, and Francis Scarr, who covers Russian media for BBC Monitoring.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Peter Goffin and Miriam Quayyum. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

There is growing concern that a new wave of violent misogyny is becoming popular with young men. Many blame social media and online influencers like Andrew Tate for promoting extreme anti-feminist views. Gabriel Gatehouse speaks with BBC filmmaker Matt Shea and Cosmopolitan's Harriet Hall to explore what Gen Z think about sexism and if young people are becoming more polarised in their views.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Javier Milei was sworn in as Argentina’s president in December. He's referred to as El Loco (the madman) by his critics and many supporters. His promise to take a chainsaw to government in an attempt to solve rampant inflation, won over voters who'd had enough of the status quo. But do they have the patience for his economic shock therapy, and the pain he said would be felt before any benefits?

The BBC's South America correspondent Ione Wells tells us what people in Argentina make of his first two months. And Evan Davis, former BBC economics editor, explains what the names of his four pet dogs tells us about his economic inspirations.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. Is there a story where you are that we should be telling as part of The Global Story? Email us at [email protected] You can also message or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Richard Moran and Jay Gardner. The technical producer was Sam Dickinson. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Nearly 40 years after the BBC brought famine in Ethiopia to the world's attention, there are fresh warnings that the tragedy could be repeated.

James Landale, the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent has just returned from the northern state of Tigray, where officials say hunger could reach levels worse than in the 1980s.

Kalkidan Yibeltal, our correspondent in Addis Ababa, tells how the region’s problems today can partly be traced back to the famine decades ago.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler.

Is there a story where you are that we should be telling as part of The Global Story? Email us at [email protected] You can also message or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Richard Moran and Jay Gardner. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Access to Putin and Trump puts him in a powerful position, less than a year since losing his high-profile job with Fox News. His interview with the Russian president has him back at the centre of the global conversation. Donald Trump’s wife and son have reportedly floated Carlson’s name as a possible Republican vice-presidential candidate. But would he in fact have more influence as a pundit? Gabriel Gatehouse talks to the BBC’s Francis Scarr, who covered Carlson’s trip to Moscow, and Laura Trevelyan, who covered the US for the BBC for more than two decades. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory. This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Anxiety disorders are the world’s most common mental health condition, affecting over three hundred million people, but only one in four affected actually get treatment for them. Data shared with us by Google says that over the last decade, countries are searching the term more frequently. Ukraine, Ireland and the Philippines the top three countries searching the word anxiety. In this episode, we explore how the disorders culturally manifest and hear what they look and feel like first hand.

BBC Special Correspondent Fergal Keane, who was diagnosed with PTSD in 2008, lays bare his experience of the anxiety disorder PTSD. Katya is also joined by Professor of Psychiatry Femi Oyebode. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

This episode was made by Beth Timmins and Miriam Quayyum. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Taylor Swift is the world’s biggest pop star and an economic powerhouse. She has become so popular that allies of the likely Republican nominee Donald Trump are worried about her political influence if she publicly endorses Joe Biden. But does the singer really have the sway to decide the outcome of the US election? The BBC's North America Business Correspondent Erin Delmore looks at the evidence.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Richard Moran and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Farmers’ protests have swept across France, Germany, Spain, Italy and beyond, and descended on the European Union headquarters in Brussels. They’re outraged over rising costs, EU red tape and cheap imports from Ukraine. And they say their elected leaders are ignoring them. That’s left the door open to the far-right, which is trying to position itself as a friend to the rural voter. To understand what that means for the future of European politics, Katya speaks to Politico senior correspondent and BBC contributor Clea Caulcutt. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Today’s podcast was made by Peter Goffin and Jay Gardner. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

As the US opioid crisis continues, politicians in Washington are blaming Mexico’s cartels. But what about Mexico itself? Our correspondent Will Grant says Fentanyl addiction was evident from the moment he arrived in the border town, Tijuana, to the moment he left, and death rates there are high.

Until recently Mexico’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador denied there was a fentanyl usage problem in his country. This changed at the end of January when he announced that he was going to ask congress to adopt anti-fentanyl consumption legislation. But given the drug is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and can quickly be fatal, has too much damage already been done in Tijuana?

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Bethan Ashmead Latham and Laurie Kalus. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

As governments across the globe grapple with ways to tackle the climate crisis, seventeen critical elements known as rare earths are thought to be central to any future solution. These minerals are crucial to emerging technologies from consumer electronics to wind and solar energy production, making the market for them hyper-competitive.

Katya speaks with BBC climate reporter Esme Stallard and veteran broadcaster Misha Glenny about what has become a new geopolitical battleground. We look at the science and diplomacy behind these essential raw materials.

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Laurie Kalus and Neal Razzell. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

It’s 20 years since Facebook was brought into the world by a group of Harvard University roommates. In the years since, millions of us have shared our photos, our memories, our lives…and our data.

In the early days Facebook’s mantra was ‘move fast and break things’. By last week, CEO Mark Zuckerberg was facing a US Senate hearing and accusations that the company ‘has blood on its hands’.

The BBC’s Cyber Correspondent Joe Tidy and Technology Reporter Shiona McCallum tell Katya how Facebook has changed our world. And how our feelings about Facebook have changed at the same time.

Listen: BYD - the Chinese carmaker challenging Tesla’s dominance https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/byd-the-chinese-carmaker-challenging-teslas-dominance/id1715473158?i=1000643776176

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler.

Is there a story where you are that we should telling as part of The Global Story? Email us at [email protected] You can also message or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Richard Moran and Bethan Ashmead-Latham. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas. Our senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

In 2017, Stuart McCormick survived the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in US history, while visiting Las Vegas. In the months that followed, his understanding of what happened that October night became twisted and distorted. The BBC's disinformation correspondent, Marianna Spring, has been speaking to Stuart for her new podcast series, Why Do You Hate Me. She explains that it is rare for survivors of attacks like this to become embroiled in conspiracy theories about them. But if it can happen to someone like Stuart, are any of us safe from being conned?

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Today’s podcast was made by Richard Moran and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Elon Musk says Chinese electric vehicles could ‘demolish’ competition unless trade barriers are put in place. The Chinese company BYD sold more electric vehicles than Tesla in the last three months of 2023, challenging their global dominance. So does this spell trouble for Elon Musk? BBC Asia Business reporter Monica Miller, and electric car analyst Robert Llewellyn explain how China has invested in EVs and what this means for the industry.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Today’s podcast was made by Richard Moran, Neal Razzell and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The politics of growing anger from desperate relatives. Israel’s crushing military response to the Hamas mass murder and kidnapping on October 7th has failed to free all the hostages. It refuses to negotiate directly with Hamas, which it calls a terrorist organisation. Our reporter Anna Foster has spent months listening to the stories of those who saw their loved ones taken by gunmen. She explains how their deep anxiety is a growing challenge for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s strategy in Gaza.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s podcast was made by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and Neal Razzell. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Tehran’s Middle East strategy after a lethal attack on US troops. The risk of military escalation in an already volatile region is growing. President Biden has promised to respond after what he called “Iran-backed militants” killed three American soldiers and injured dozens at a base in Jordan. Iran denies it. But its proxies are active across a number of fronts, from Gaza to Lebanon, Yemen to Syria. For insight into how these pieces fit together, Katya speaks with the BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, and BBC Persian’s senior reporter, Parham Ghobadi. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Today’s podcast was made by Peter Goffin, Richard Moran, Neal Razzell and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Germany is wrestling with the question of whether to ban the country’s second-most popular political party – Alternative für Deutschland – known as the AfD. The ever-more radical far-right party is soaring in the polls, but there is growing concern about the party's anti-immigration stance and links to neo-Nazi influencers.

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Thousands of people from Georgia in Eastern Europe have found out that they were stolen from their parents at birth and sold. It’s believed the black market in baby trafficking operated for decades from the late 1970s up to the mid-2000s. We speak with BBC journalists and documentary makers Fay Nurse and Woody Morris.

You can watch the full documentary, Betrayal at birth: Georgia’s Stolen Children, on the BBC World Service YouTube channel.

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Since President Putin’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, protests related to the conflict have been supressed inside Russia. But one group are publicly criticising the authorities. More than 300,000 reservists have been mobilised to fight in the conflict. The BBC’s Russia editor – Steve Rosenberg – has been speaking to the women in their lives, who are fighting to bring them home. The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Richard Moran and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

In the eight years since he entered office and three since he left it, Donald Trump has time to rethink his approach. Rousing at his rallies in 2016, and frustrated by Washington bureaucracy in his presidential term, the former US president now takes the counsel of trusted loyalists with serious republican campaigning credentials. Meanwhile the scratch team of big egos has moved to the periphery. But who is the 2024 team behind Trump? Is he listening to them? And will this alter the Donald Trump we see this year?

Discover the story behind Trump's team with insights from the North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and US special correspondent Katty Kay.

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Richard Moran and Beth Ashmead Latham. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt, Michael Regaard and Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The inside story of a wave of assassinations in Yemen, led by former US Special Forces. An investigation by BBC Arabic has found evidence that the United Arab Emirates hired American mercenaries to train Emirati officers to assassinate political enemies in Yemen. It's triggered a wave of killings that continues today and demonstrates the complex role foreign powers are having in Yemen's civil war. Former US servicemen who worked for the company, Spear Group Operations, have spoken to our reporter Nawal Al-Maghafi.

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Neal Razzell and Tom Kavanaugh. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The politics of prayer at a divine but divisive site that’s shaped modern India: Ayodhya. The opening of the new temple is widely seen as the unofficial launch of Mr Modi’s re-election campaign. His ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been agitating for a temple here since the 1980s. For his supporters, now is a moment of triumph. For Muslims, it’s a moment of trepidation. In 1992, a Hindu mob used bare hands to tear down a mosque where the temple now stands, triggering a national spasm of communal violence that left some 2,000 people – mostly Muslims - dead.

With a national election looming, Katya asks two veteran BBC India correspondents, Yogita Limaye and Soutik Biswas, what the new temple means for Indian unity and for Mr Modi’s campaign for a third term.

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode of The Global Story was made by Neal Razzell and Beth Timmins. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Ever since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7th, the BBC has been reporting on the ongoing Israeli response through air bombardment and ground offensives. Leading our coverage from the ground in Gaza was our correspondent Rushdi Abualouf, a Palestinian who has lived in the enclave his entire life.

After being forced to leave their home in Gaza City, Rushdi and his family fled south with hundreds of thousands of others attempting to reach safety. He continued to report on the conflict, even as it threatened the lives of those closest to him, before he secured his family’s escape to Turkey. Now covering the war from a distance in Istanbul, Rushdi caught up with Katya, to discuss the traumatic events he has lived through over the past three months.

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Laurie Kalus and Richard Moran. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The American Library Association says attempts to ban books have reached a record high. Most of the books targeted are by or about members of the LGBTQ community and other minorities. The main battleground is in schools, with parents and teachers arguing about what’s appropriate for children and what’s censorship.

To explain this chapter of America’s culture wars, Katya speaks with the BBC’s Annie Phrommayon, who’s based in Florida, where the debate over books is sharpest, and Lucy Proctor, who made the award-winning BBC podcast series The Coming Storm, about polarisation and conspiracies in the US.

The Global Story delivers insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Alice Aylett-Roberts, Neal Razzell and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Poland's president, Andrzej Duda, and the country's new prime minister, Donald Tusk, are locked in a power struggle that’s testing the very foundations of the state. Poland has gone through turmoil as the new government reverses changes made by its predecessor. As tens of thousands flood the streets in protest, the situation captures the attention of Brussels, Washington, and Moscow.

In this episode, Katya Adler delves into the complexities of Poland's power struggle with the BBC's Eastern Europe Correspondent, Sarah Rainsford.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Neal Razzell, Tom Kavanagh and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Over the past week prisoner escapes, hostage taking and violence in Ecuador has made headlines around the world. Many people were shocked by the chaos in a country that was previously among the most peaceful in a turbulent region. Will Grant, the BBC’s Central and Latin America correspondent tells us what he found on the ground in Ecuador in the days after the attacks. Ana Maria Roura, from BBC Mundo, shares how the rapid rise of drug trafficking gangs has torn apart the country she grew up in. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists around the world. We want what’s happening where you are, to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory This episode was made by Richard Moran, Alix Pickles and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

We take a look behind the gilded gates of Mumbai’s one-percenters. The city is driving – and being transformed by – India’s incredible economic growth. The country is expected to be the world’s third largest economy by 2030. But can all Indians aspire to be part of Mumbai’s expanding mega rich?

Teresa Watkins is executive producer of ‘Streets of Gold: Mumbai’, a BBC series that follows the super-rich in India’s financial capital. She introduces us to Shobhaa De, who has built a business empire as one of India’s bestselling novelists. Our Mumbai Business Correspondent, Nikhil Inamdar, helps us put it all in context.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Richard Moran and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

In this special edition of The Global Story, Katya Adler talks to the BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner about the strikes on Houthis and the strategy behind them. Who are the Houthis and how are they reacting? We hear how US and UK naval forces in the Red Sea have launched air strikes against Houthi targets across Yemen. They’re in response to repeated attacks by the Iran-backed group on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis in Yemen have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November, disrupting the global shipping trade and causing concerns about increased oil prices. The Houthis say the strikes on their positions in Yemen will not go without "punishment or retaliation". So what happens next? How is all of this directly linked to events in Gaza and how does it represent an escalation of the crisis that is gripping the region? The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Alice Aylett-Roberts, Neal Razzell, Tom Kavanagh and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The Danish Queen abdicates, taking her country by surprise. The oldest monarchy in Europe will now have a King, and so will all other monarchies in continental Europe.

The Global Story talks to the US Special Correspondent for BBC Studios, Katty Kay. Katty has travelled from Denmark to Belgium to explore how European monarchies have survived in the 21st century. Katya also discusses the state of European royal families with Roger Lundgren who’s a royal expert for Swedish National broadcasting, SVT.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Today’s episode of The Global Story was made by Farhana Haider and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Ketamine is licenced to be used as an anaesthetic and has a reputation as an illegal party drug. But after trials in the US and UK, many are calling for its wider use to treat depression. However, it is a powerful drug that can have dangerous side effects and was recently linked to the death of US actor Matthew Perry.

Professor of Psychopharmacology at the University of Exeter, Celia Morgan joins Katya Adler to talk about her trials of the drug to treat addiction. And neuroscientist Dr Dean Burnett, from the BBC’s Science Focus Magazine tells us what he learnt after legally experiencing ketamine therapy in the US.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The Islamic State group dominated headlines in the years after seizing large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq in 2014. The footage they shared of their brutal attacks and executions horrified the world, but attracted thousands of international recruits. Mina al-Lami from BBC Monitoring tells us that the groups fortunes fell in 2023, with them claiming far fewer attacks. And Josh Baker from The Shamima Begum Story podcast joins us to explain why they still pose a credible threat. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory This episode was made by Richard Moran. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Jon Ronson on the origins of some of today’s most divisive issues. The acclaimed writer gives a peek into season two of his new BBC podcast series, Things Fell Apart. It details how seemingly random events, including an argument between a teenager and her mother and a misdiagnosis in a series of murders in Miami, came together in a few short weeks in May, 2020 to shake The United States and beyond.

He tells Katya Adler about how these personal stories spiral beyond private lives to impact wider society, and what bearing they might have on the upcoming US presidential election.

The Global Story delivers trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

Season two of Things Fell Apart is available as a box set on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Beth Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The evangelical pastor TB Joshua amassed millions of followers around the world. Many thousands came to The Synagogue Church of All Nations in Nigeria to witness him perform miracles and heal the sick. Now, an investigation by BBC Africa Eye reveals allegations of systematic rape, physical abuse and forced abortion inside the church led by TB Joshua. Through first-hand accounts of the women who escaped, Africa Eye’s Charlie Northcott and Peter Murimi tell us what they uncovered. And explain how TB Joshua is alleged to have got away with it. You can watch Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua on the BBC Africa YouTube channel and listen to the new season of World of Secrets wherever you get your BBC podcasts. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory This episode was made by Richard Moran and Adelle Kalakouti. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Taiwan is going to the polls on January 13th to pick its new President and the island's future relationship with China is a key election issue.

The opposition KMT wants closer ties with mainland China – the country that sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. But the ruling party, the DPP, wants to strengthen Taiwan's partnership with other countries. Both are concerned about military threats coming from Beijing.

Our correspondent in Taipei, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes and our Asia Pacific editor, Celia Hatton, join host James Reynolds to look at how elections in Taiwan could decide its future with China.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Ashmead Latham. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Kamala Harris made history in 2020, becoming the first woman, first Asian-American and first black vice-president in the history of the United States. She made it onto the Biden ticket despite struggling to make a positive impression on Democratic party voters during her own attempt to secure the nomination, eventually dropping out before the first primary contest. With her personal poll numbers sagging, some within the party have reportedly contemplated replacing her altogether ahead of the November 2024 presidential election.

We look at her performance in the job so far, and examine the role of vice-president. In this episode, James Reynolds is joined by the BBC’s US special correspondent Katty Kay, and former BBC North America correspondent Jamie Coomarasamy.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Tom Kavanagh. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Drone and rocket attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea have led many of the world's biggest shipping companies to announce they will avoid the area. The attacks are by the Houthis - an Iran-backed rebel group which controls a large part of Yemen and began after the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In this episode, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner joins host James Reynolds to look at why the Houthis attacked the ships, who backs them and what it means for protection in the region.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Deepfakes, distrust and democracy: Billions of people will have the chance to vote this year in elections around the world. There will be campaigns in eight of the 10 most populous countries, including India and the Biden/Trump race for the White House in the US. Given the stakes, the chance for AI shenanigans is high. Sam Altman, founder of ChatGPT, has warned “of a new kind of interference that was just not possible before AI.”

It raises two basic questions: How that might work? And, what might it mean? For answers, Katya speaks with leading experts in AI and democracy, each of whom have delivered the prestigious BBC Reith Lectures:

- Stuart Russell, Professor of Computer Science and founder of the Centre for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence at the University of California, Berkeley

- Ben Ansell, Professor of Comparative Democratic Institutions at Nuffield College, Oxford University

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Neal Razzell, Tom Kavanaugh and Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.