The one big story. Making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, Monday to Friday, from the BBC. Episodes will be ready by 10:30 GMT. Host Katya Adler and our BBC teams guide you through one major global news story each episode. From Beijing to Boston, Baghdad to Bangalore, our unrivalled reach will take you beyond the headlines to help understand and explore what’s happening. The Global News Podcast brings you the latest updates and, on The Global Story, we will drill deep into a single story. From the climate emergency, to the burning questions around Artificial Intelligence, to the movements of money and markets, and the power of the ballot and the bullet. Katya Adler has been a BBC correspondent and editor for more than 25 years, covering conflicts in the Middle East, political and economic crises in Europe, and drug cartels in Mexico. The Global Story team would like to hear your stories and experiences on the issues that we’re covering on the podcast. Please get in touch: theglobalstory@bbc.com #TheGlobalStory and tell us your thoughts on what you would like us to talk about.
President Trump has been in office for nearly 100 days. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Bernd Debusmann discuss what voters think of his administration so far. Plus, we explore potential tariff and trade deals. Every weekend, we take a closer look at what's happening in US politics and what's going on behind the scenes at the White House and on Capitol Hill. If you'd like to get in touch, email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com.Producer: Aisling Taylor. Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.
Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann are joined by Politico's Jack Blanchard to discuss the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case and Trump's meeting with El Salvador's president. While Republicans frame immigration as a winning issue, Democrats focus on the economy, with AOC and Bernie Sanders' "Fighting Oligarchy" tour drawing huge crowds in red states.Producers: John Ringer and Jack Maclaren Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
President Trump's tariff policy has led to confusion on Capitol Hill, and in the markets. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about what comes next. Plus, are the Democrats trying to take a new approach to tackling Trump?
Presidents Trump's tariffs trigger the steepest US stocks drop since 2020. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about what comes next. Plus, Democrat Cory Booker's record-breaking filibuster.
A journalist ended up in a top secret US military group chat. How did that happen? And how is Washington reacting? BBC's Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann chat about Signalgate. Plus, a look at the other executive orders signed by President Trump this week.Producers: Aisling Taylor and Peter GoffinSound engineer: Mike RegaardEditor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Ever since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, his representatives have been following through on promises to slash federal spending. Their latest target is public media, and this week fierce Trump-loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene led a hearing demanding that the bosses of NPR and PBS justify their government funding. Public broadcasting has been a longtime bugbear for many conservatives, who say it is tainted by a liberal bias. So, as pressure mounts, can these organisations survive?On today's episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to Micah Loewinger, co-host of On the Media, a podcast covering the intersection between politics and the media – it's made by WNYC, a member station of NPR. They discuss the resilience of public media, and consider what defunding it could mean for free speech and accountability in the modern political landscape.Producers: Laurie Kalus and Peter GoffinTechnical producer: Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
Malcolm and Simone Collins hope to have 10 children to help avoid what they see as a pending demographic collapse. They tell Lucy Hockings that as pronatalists they want to promote the dangers of falling fertility rates and encourage other people to have more children.Whereas many people might see their lifestyle as extreme, pronatalism seems to be gaining support at the heart of the Trump administration. But some people worry that some pronatalist practices cross the line into eugenics and that the far right are also adopting the ideology. Our correspondent in Washington, Nomia Iqbal, helps us to put it all in context.Producers: Richard Moran and Mhairi MacKenzieTechnical producer: Frank McWeenyAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
The baby boomer generation has become the richest in history. In recent years there has been some degree of animosity between the boomer generation and their younger millennial counterparts. The millennial generation have been much less well off than their parents and are often stereotyped as living beyond their means. But this could all be about to change. Now younger people are expected to inherit billions from their parents. It's expected to be the largest transfer of wealth in human history. But that won't be shared out equally… So, what are the social and economic implications of The Great Wealth Transfer? Lucy Hockings speaks with BBC business correspondent Erin Delmore and the BBC's population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty. They discuss what The Great Wealth Transfer could mean for the millennial generation.Producers: Richard Moran, Eleanor Sly and Alice Aylett RobertsSound engineer: Ricardo McCarthyAssistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
London Heathrow saw all its flights cancelled on Friday after a fire at a local power supply station. The news led to rampant speculation online – rumours of foreign interference, accusations against executives, and angry questions about who was to blame. So why wasn't there a contingency plan to keep such an essential transport hub running?Caitríona Perry is joined by Theo Leggett, the BBC's international business correspondent, to discuss Heathrow's temporary closure and what it says about the vulnerabilities of our major infrastructure.Producers: Laurie Kalus and Alice Aylett RobertsSound engineer: Stephen BaileyAssistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
This week, Donald Trump and his team are continuing the immigration squeeze. When 238 Venezuelans were deported from the US, a federal judge ordered the planes be stopped and turned around. The administration decided to proceed, setting up a fraught legal battle between the Trump team and the federal courts.Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann offer insight and analysis on another whirlwind week in Washington DC.Producers: Richard Moran and Aisling TaylorSound engineer: Mike RegaardAssistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested on Wednesday on corruption and terror charges he insists are politically motivated. Considered the leading candidate to face Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the next election, Mr Imamoglu's eligibility had been thrown into doubt after his university degree was annulled earlier this week. His detention is being compared to President Erdogan's own arrest when he was Istanbul mayor more than a quarter of a century ago - a moment widely seen as the catalyst for his rise to national stardom.On this episode, Jonny Dymond is joined by journalist and author Elcin Poyrazlar, and BBC Monitoring's Dilay Yalcin. They discuss how Turkey has changed under Erdogan's leadership, and consider what the arrest of his rival says about his fears for future.Producers: Laurie Kalus, Tom Kavanagh and Eleanor SlySound engineers: Jack Graysmark and Mike RegaardAssistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
We spend around a third of our lives sleeping. But many people struggle with insomnia or have difficulty staying asleep, and research shows that bad sleep can increase the risk of multiple health conditions. How harmful is bad sleep to our health? And what can we do about it? Jonny Dymond speaks with Professor Russell Foster, Director of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford, and author and sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan about how people can get enough sleep.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 theglobalstory@bbc.comProducers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth TimminsSound engineers: Mike RegaardAssistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
On Tuesday night, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that combat against Hamas in Gaza had resumed in full force.This followed several hours of early morning air strikes targeting Gaza, which killed more than 400 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, making it one of the deadliest days of the conflict so far. Jonny Dymond speaks to the BBC's Jon Donnison, who witnessed the strikes from the Israeli border town of Sderot. He helps us to understand this latest escalation and why Israel has decided to return to war. Producers: Richard Moran, Mhairi MacKenzie and Tom KavanaghAssistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
The Russian leader has been mulling a 30-day ceasefire proposal put forward by the US, ahead of talks with Donald Trump on Tuesday. Will Vladimir Putin accept a temporary pause in fighting, let alone a long-term deal? What are the pressures that could sway him toward peace, or cause him to drag out the war in Ukraine? On this episode, presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to journalist Owen Matthews, author of the book “Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin's 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Peter Goffin and Tom KavanaghSound engineers: James Piper and Mike RegaardAssistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
Argentina's football star Diego Maradona is once again back in the spotlight as a long-delayed trial examining the circumstances around his death gets underway in Buenos Aires. When Diego Maradona died in 2020, Argentinians took to the streets, united in both grief and in the celebration of a soccer legend. But it didn't take long before suspicions around his death started to circulate. In today's episode, we look at the trial involving his medical team and ask why Maradona's legacy is still so strong. Lucy Hockings is joined by Marcela Mora y Araujo. She's a journalist based in Buenos Aires who translated Diego Maradona's autobiography.Producers: Laurie Kalus and Alice Aylett RobertsSound engineers: Mike Regaard and Jonny HallAssistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
This week President Trump's promises of tariffs became a reality, with universal levies on aluminium and steel imports becoming a reality. The EU responded with their own tariffs on items from bourbon to jeans and the mayor of Ontario threatened to turn of electricity supplies to the US. Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann offer insight and analysis on another whirlwind week in Washington DC. Producer: Aisling Taylor Sound engineer: Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: China Collins
Over the past decade fentanyl use has spiked, leading to tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. Most of the deadly drug enters the US via its border with Mexico, concealed deep within vehicles and even hidden inside food packages. The Trump administration has previously accused the Mexican government of colluding with the drug cartels. He's now hoping that the threat of import tariffs on Mexico will stem the flow of the deadly drug into the US. The Mexican government has responded to potential import tariffs by deploying national guard troops along its northern border. So can Mexico's new president Claudia Sheinbaum get the fentanyl crisis under control?Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's special correspondent Quentin Sommerville, who has been on the ground at the US-Mexico border and has visited one of the drug cartels' operations. He also speaks to the BBC's Mexico and Central America correspondent Will Grant.Producers: Richard Moran, Alice Aylett Roberts and Eleanor SlySound engineer: James Piper Assistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: China Collins
How did Saudi Arabia come to host leaders from the US, Russia and Ukraine for peace talks? Just a few years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was publicly identified as the man who ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. As a result, he was referred to as a pariah by former President Joe Biden. So, how did MBS go from pariah to peacemaker?Jonny Dymond speaks to journalist Jonathan Rugman, producer of the BBC documentary 'The Kingdom' about the life of Mohammed bin Salman.Producers: Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh, Mhairi MacKenzie and Eleanor SlySound engineers: Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Richard Fenton-SmithSenior news editor: China Collins
The former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity. Duterte oversaw a bloody war on drugs that left tens of thousands of people dead, but he remains extremely popular with many in the Philippines, who say he cleaned up their country. On this episode, presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to the BBC's Southeast Asia correspondent Jonathan Head about Duterte's years in power, and why the current government in Manila has turned him over to the ICC.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Peter Goffin and Tom KavanaghSound engineers: Mike Regaard and Jonny BakerAssistant editor: Richard Fenton-SmithSenior news editor: China Collins
When Syria's Bashar al-Assad was toppled in a lightning offensive in December, his successor Ahmed al-Sharaa promised to unite a broken country. Barely three months on, a surge in fighting between pro-Assad gunmen and transitional government security forces has reportedly left hundreds of civilians dead and exposed the enduring divides in Syrian society. As al-Sharaa vows a national dialogue will continue, has his grand vision for Syria already fallen at the first hurdle?Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's Middle East correspondent, Lina Sinjab, and BBC Monitoring's MENA expert, Hesham Shawish.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experience to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Laurie Kalus, Tom Kavanagh and Mhairi MacKenzieSound engineers: Mike Regaard and Dafydd EvansAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
The people of Greenland go to the polls for an election this week at a time when Donald Trump says he wants to take over the autonomous Danish territory. The US President hasn't ruled out using military force, arguing that America needs the world's biggest island for Arctic security. A majority of Greenlanders say they don't want to be owned by the US, but many are asking serious questions about whether it should seek independence. Jonny Dymond speaks with the BBC's Europe correspondent Nick Beake and Ulrik Pram Gad, a Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, about the Danish view of the potential US land-grab and the likelihood of an independent Greenland.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Peter Goffin, Tom Kavanagh and Alice Aylett RobertsSound engineers: Dafydd Evans and Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
JD Vance has enjoyed increased prominence over the past week, as his headline-grabbing speech at the Munich Security Conference was followed by a starring role in the Oval Office blow-up between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. We look at how the VP's central role compares to that played by Mike Pence during the first Trump administration, and how the current arrangement may be beneficial to the president.Plus, why President Trump is struggling to get a handle on food price inflation despite having made tackling it a key election campaign pledge, and how that may help the Democrats, as the party plots its next move following November's humbling election result.Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann offer insight and analysis on another whirlwind week in Washington DC.Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Aisling TaylorSound engineer: Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
In February, hackers launched what is being considered the biggest heist of all time, when they stole almost $1.5bn from the cryptocurrency trading platform, Bybit. The record theft reportedly went down in just two minutes, and it set in motion a race against time to freeze some of the funds before the culprits could cash out. Soon, evidence began to point to Lazarus, an elite hacking group widely linked to the North Korean intelligence agency. So with analysis suggesting the country's malicious activity is on the rise, how are international governments fighting back, and are we more vulnerable to sophisticated cyber threats than ever before?Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's cyber correspondent, Joe Tidy. They examine how the hack was carried out, and consider what it means for the wider crypto landscape, as Donald Trump announces his plans for a US cryptocurrency reserve.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Laurie Kalus and Eleanor SlySound engineers: Dafydd Evans and Jonny BakerAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
China's retaliatory tariffs on US agricultural exports could hit President Trump's rural heartlands. This week, 3,000 of China's most influential politicians have gathered for the annual National People's Congress. Premier Li Qiang referred to the economy as a “giant ship” moving “steadily towards the future.” But behind the optimistic rhetoric, China faces significant challenges. Among them, a renewed trade war with the United States.In recent days, China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods, specifically targeting agricultural exports from key states like Iowa, Illinois or Kansas. So, is Xi Jinping taking the trade war straight to Iowa? And how will these new tariffs impact Trump's heartland?On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC's North America business correspondent, Michelle Fleury, and Shawn Yuan, from the BBC's Global China Unit.(Picture: Headshot of China's President Xi Jinping. Credit: Agustin Marcarian/Reuters)Producers: Richard Moran and Tom KavanaghSound engineer: Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
Vaccine mistrust is on the rise. And when US President Donald Trump's new cabinet met for the first time last week, all eyes were on the new Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr who has long been known as a vaccine sceptic. With doubts about vaccines increasing in many parts of the world, will his appointment have an effect on the way vaccinations are viewed globally? Presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to Jim Reed, a BBC health reporter and Dorcas Wangira, the BBC's Africa Health Correspondent, in Nairobi.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Eleanor Sly and Tom KavanaghSound engineer: James PiperAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
After a tense meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday, relations between the US, Ukraine, and European allies seem to have reached a new low. Meanwhile, ties between the White House and the Kremlin appear to be warmer than they have been in decades. President Trump has publicly praised his close relationship with Vladimir Putin, fuelling speculation about whether this move signals a new direction in diplomacy or if there is a strategic calculation behind Washington's pivot to Moscow.Sumi Somaskanda discusses the Trump-Putin dynamic with the BBC's State Department correspondent Tom Bateman, and Vitaly Shevchenko from BBC Monitoring.(Photo: Composite image of Donald Trump, Credit: Nathan Howard/Reuters, and Vladimir Putin, Credit: Sergey Bobylev/Reuters)Producers: Richard Moran and Tom KavanaghSound engineer: Dafydd EvansAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: China Collins
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been on a diplomatic rollercoaster in the last few days. His meeting with Donald Trump descended into argument and accusation on Friday. Then, he was greeted with open arms by European leaders at a summit in London. Following that meeting, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new plan for Europe's defence of Ukraine – but said it needs US support to succeed. So, where do this hectic series of events leave Zelensky? Is his relationship with Trump permanently damaged? And does he have any cards left to play? On this episode, presenter Sumi Somaskanda speaks to the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale and the BBC's Daniel Wittenberg, who was in the Oval Office for the meeting between Trump and Zelensky. 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.(Picture: Volodomyr Zelensky at a summit with European leaders in London. Credit: Javad Parsa/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Producers: Richard Moran and Peter GoffinSound engineer: Stephen BaileyAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
Emilia Pérez is the most talked-about movie of awards season. But despite a divisive premise about a Mexican drug boss seeking gender affirming surgery, it's the fallout off-screen which is causing controversy. The re-emergence of offensive tweets by its lead star, trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón, has derailed the movie's momentum. After promoters pivoted to remove her from marketing, the film has still seen significant success, but ahead of the Oscars, debate is growing about the extent to which this scandal has harmed its performance.Lucy Hockings is joined by BBC culture reporter Noor Nanji and Matthew Belloni, entertainment journalist and founder of the digital media platform, Puck. They dissect the noise around the movie, and consider what Academy voters might be thinking.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.(Photo: Composite image of Karla Sofía Gascón, Credit: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters, and Academy Awards statuette, Credit: Caroline Brehman/EPA)Producers: Laurie Kalus and Tom KavanaghSound engineers: Phil Bull and James PiperAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington on Friday, after a preliminary deal was agreed to share his country's mineral resources. Kyiv insists it is still seeking additional security guarantees from the US, before anything is signed. Meanwhile, Ukraine's long defence against Russia's invasion continues, and three years into the war some frontline troops have told the BBC they feel revitalised after the Trump administration excluded them from controversial negotiations with Vladimir Putin. But can they really fight on?On today's episode Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's international editor, Jeremy Bowen. We hear his take on the current attitudes of those inside Ukraine, after reuniting with some of the people he met there during the first weeks of 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Peter Goffin, Laurie Kalus, and Mhairi MacKenzieSound engineer: Phil BullAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
The number of cancer cases among the under-50s around the world appears to have risen sharply in the past 30 years. Studies have shown that there are rising cases of breast, colorectal and other cancers in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. But what is driving the increase in younger adults getting cancer and can anything be done to stop it?Presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to freelance health journalist David Cox about what scientists think could be driving this worrying trend.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Eleanor SlySound engineers: Mike Regaard and Phil BullAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
The challenges and opportunities facing Beijing. China has been recalibrating its economic, political and diplomatic strategies since Donald Trump returned to the White House. From renewing the state's relationship with powerful tech giants to expanding Chinese influence in the developing world, President Xi Jinping is preparing his country for a new international order. On this episode, presenter Jonny Dymond speaks to the BBC's China correspondent Laura Bicker. 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.(Picture: Headshot of China's President Xi Jinping. Credit: Adriano Machado/Reuters)Producers: Peter Goffin and Mhairi MacKenzieSound engineers: Mike Regaard and Phil Bull Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
What have Russians won and lost during the conflict in Ukraine? Three years after the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia has entered talks with Donald Trump – and not Kyiv – about ending the war. For Vladimir Putin, this could be a chance to end the conflict on his terms, and forge a new international order with Russia and the US at its centre. But what about the people who live under Putin's rule? What do Russians stand to gain from these talks? On this episode, presenter Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Peter Goffin and Mhairi MacKenzieSound engineer: Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
The world of international relations was shaken as the US held talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The relationship between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky has soured, with Trump calling Zelensky a "dictator" and accusing him of doing a "terrible job." Zelensky has fired back, claiming that the US President is trapped in a "disinformation space" fuelled by Russia.On this episode, Caitríona Perry is joined by Sumi Somaskanda, who is in Berlin to cover the German elections, and Bernd Debusmann, who has been travelling with President Trump aboard Air Force One. Together, they explore the implications of this dramatic turn in global politics.Producers: Charlie Jones and Aisling TaylorSound engineer: Hannah MontgomeryEditor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
With President Trump back in the White House, his Brazilian former counterpart Jair Bolsonaro is attempting his own return to high office. Bolsonaro has been nicknamed the 'Trump of the Tropics' but he is facing a lot of hurdles to reclaim his position. He has been barred from standing in the next election by the courts and he has been charged with planning a coup. Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's South America correspondent Ione Wells. They discuss the close relationship between Trump and Bolsonaro and ask whether or not Brazil's former president might ever be able to return to office.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Laurie Kalus and Beth TimminsSound engineer: Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
A decade of migration through the eyes of a German city. Ten years ago Germany opened its borders to more than a million people at the height of Europe's so-called migrant crisis. A decade later, that warm welcome has cooled as issues of culture, integration and national identity spark fierce debate across the continent. With German elections just days away, the BBC has revisited one migrant family and the city they landed in, to see how life has changed since 2015 – and what their experience says about the way Europeans now view migration. On this episode, Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's Berlin correspondent Jess Parker, and Mark Lowen, the BBC's former southern Europe correspondent who covered the refugee crisis for years.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Peter Goffin and Mhairi MacKenzie Sound engineers: Hannah Montgomery and Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
The mineral-rich east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been dogged by conflict for more than 30 years, since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Violence has once again seen an uptick in recent months as the M23 rebel group has captured a number of key cities and towns. Led by ethnic Tutsis, the militia has long been associated with the Rwandan government by the UN and others, but President Paul Kagame has consistently dismissed the links. But, as international attention on the humanitarian situation in the eastern DRC grows, is this a line he can sustain?On this episode, Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's Deputy Africa Editor, Anne Soy. They track the origins of the conflict, and consider the incentive behind Rwanda's alleged involvement.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Laurie Kalus and Beth TimminsSound engineer: Dafydd EvansAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
With the Trump administration threatening to redirect America's foreign defence spending from Ukraine and Europe to other parts of the world, European leaders are grappling with what the future of their security could be without US support. Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale. They discuss the threat of Russia and how Europe could defend its borders if the United States were to withdraw its money and manpower from the continent. 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Eleanor Sly and Laurie KalusSound engineer: Gareth Jones Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
Gaza has an incredibly young population, with pre-war estimates suggesting around half of those living in the territory are under 18, according to health ministry figures. When the conflict began in October 2023, Israeli authorities told civilians to move to a 'humanitarian zone' to ensure their safety. But, BBC analysis shows that this area was targeted almost 100 times in an eight-month period last year - the Israel Defence Forces say Hamas fighters were operating there. Now, a new BBC documentary filmed in the zone shows what civilian life in the midst of war is really like, as three children fight to survive.Jonny Dymond is joined by Jamie Roberts, a co-director of the film. He introduces us to Zakaria, an 11-year-old living alone at one of Gaza's few functioning hospitals, al-Aqsa. Listeners in the UK can see the full documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, on BBC iPlayer.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Laurie Kalus, Eleanor Sly and Richard MoranSound engineers: Ben Andrews and Dafydd EvansAssistant editors: Alice Aylett Roberts and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
On this episode of The President's Path, Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda and Bernd Debusmann Jr discuss a week of major foreign policy developments in Washington DC. The proposed meetings between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could herald a new dawn in US-Russia relations, while critics fear Ukraine could be sidelined during negotiations to end the war in the country. Plus, the latest on the president's plan to take over the Gaza Strip, which he reiterated during a visit from King Abdullah of Jordan. And how rising egg prices could be a major thorn in the side of the new administration.Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Charlie JonesSound engineer: Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Alice Aylett Roberts Senior news editor: China Collins
In a surprise move this week, US President Donald Trump announced that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The pair held what Washington described as a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call, ending an effective boycott of high-level diplomatic dialogue with the Kremlin by western leaders. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke separately with President Trump, has emphasised his scepticism about Russia's readiness for peace. So, does this moment mark the first step towards formal talks?On this episode, Jonny Dymond is joined by the BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet. She dialled in from the Munich Security Conference, where Ukraine looks to be high on the agenda.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Tom KavanaghAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
Antimicrobial drugs like antibiotics have saved countless lives and transformed the health of humanity. Before these drugs were discovered, even something as simple as a papercut could be life-threatening. Some of the greatest advances in the development of these drugs have been forged in wartime. But now those same wars threaten the progress that has been made.Host Jonny Dymond speaks with the BBC's Global Health correspondent Dominic Hughes about the hidden threat that wars around the world pose to modern medicine. And also the BBC's Abdujalil Abdurasulov who has been speaking to soldiers and hospital staff in Ukraine to see how antimicrobial resistance is affecting their ability to treat casualties.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Peter Goffin and Mhairi MacKenzieSound engineer: Mike RegaardAssistant editors: Alice Aylett Roberts and Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins
President Bukele has offered to house US criminals in El Salvador's mega-jail, built as part of his crackdown on drug gangs. Since taking office he has arrested thousands of people, but many remain in jail without facing trial. Host Jonny Dymond speaks to BBC Mundo's Leire Ventas who is one of the few journalists to have been inside the mega prison. Our correspondent in Central America, Will Grant, tells us the story of two mothers - one who welcomes President Bukele's approach and another who says it has torn her family apart.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 theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Richard Moran and Mhairi MacKenzieSound engineer: Ben AndrewsAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins