The Global Story

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...

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...

US health officials have declared that the country is facing an epidemic of loneliness that's as dangerous to health as smoking. The World Health Organisation has launched a commission to look into the health implications of loneliness with surveys consistently suggesting that one in four people around the world feel lonely. We look at what’s behind these huge numbers and explore solutions with th...

We look at how journalists get their hands on declassified documents, and how the release of these files can inform us about the true workings of government. BBC correspondent Sanchia Berg and Phil Tinline, a producer of historical documentaries for the BBC, tell us about some of the memorable documents they’ve come across, and how perusing the archives can offer valuable insight into the events o...

In this episode of The Global Story, host Katya Adler delves into the phenomenon of the Netflix series The Crown and its impact on historical accuracy. Joined by guests Elinor Evans, digital editor of the BBC History Magazine’s website History Extra, and the BBC’s royal correspondent Sean Coughlan, the episode explores the show's popularity, its attempts at historical accuracy, and the controversi...

With the help of Nuala McGovern, we ask some of the BBC's best correspondents from around the world to gaze into their crystal balls and predict what 2024 might have in store. Next year will see nearly half of the world's population going to the polls - 40 elections are scheduled to take place in countries including the USA, UK, South Africa, India, Russia, and Pakistan. How will the results of so...

Inside the multi-million dollar scramble for a top hit on the festive music charts. How can new artists take on the likes of Mariah Carey and Slade? Katya gets answers and music – lots of it – from the BBC’s music correspondent Mark Savage, and writer and musician Chris Lochery. Warning: this episode may leave you humming. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the wo...

Ukraine’s President Zelensky was elected on a platform of reform and a promise to root out corruption. While the war on the frontline continues to dominate the headlines, that fight against corruption could still shape the country’s destiny. The BBC’s Tim Whewell has been to Dnipro to speak to people who are still focussed on holding politicians to account, even in times of war. The Global Story b...

Forest City is a brand new development built by Chinese property developers in Malaysia, just across the water from Singapore. It boasts great views, superb amenities, and was billed as a state-of-the-art luxury housing complex. So why are so few people actually living there? Our BBC Asia Business Correspondent Nick Marsh paid a visit to find out what the project’s apparent failure tells us about...

Amid violent insurgencies, countries like Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are turning away from their allies in the West, particularly France. they are following in the footsteps of the Central African Republic and getting closer with Russia and its Wagner mercenaries. We look at what Russia has to gain in the region with the BBC's senior West Africa reporter Yemisi Adegoke, BBC Monitoring’s Vitaliy...

There is a row about antisemitism raging in US colleges. After widespread protests against Israel’s bombing of Gaza, Republicans in Congress have accused universities of not doing enough to combat hate speech targeting Jewish students. We look at the battle between free speech and hate speech with the BBC's North America Correspondent Nomia Iqbal and US National Digital Reporter Mike Wendling. The...

BBC Special Correspondent Fergal Keane reported on the end of apartheid with his South African producer Milton Nkosi. Thirty years after the transition from apartheid to a democratic South Africa, the two of them have taken a trip around the country to visit the people they interviewed then, to see how life has turned out. They hear of the disillusionment but also the glimmers of hope. The Global...

Two years after the Taliban stormed Kabul, thousands of people from Afghanistan tried to escape to the United States. Now many of them are stuck on the US-Mexico border. We hear about the difficult journeys they made to get there and why the crisis at the border is affecting people across the world. In this episode we speak with our US West Coast reporter Regan Morris and our South Asia and Afghan...

Forty-seven of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy campaigners have been in jail for more than a thousand days since the government’s crackdown on the movement in 2019. Ahead of their verdict, we examine whether there is still room to protest in Hong Kong, how the national security law has affected the region and what it could mean for Taiwan. We delve into the story with the BBC’s Asia Pacific editor Celia...

Reported differences between members of the British Royal Family have complicated the beginning of the reign of King Charles III. We examine whether or not the departure of Harry and Meghan from the royal fold following a highly publicised racial row is likely to leave a lasting impact on the British monarchy, and how it has affected the attitude of the public towards those inside Buckingham Palac...

Former US President Donald Trump has been criminally indicted four times and will have a series of trials to attend in 2024 as he pursues a comeback bid for the White House. In total, Trump faces 91 felony charges, including 44 federal and 47 state charges. He denies all the charges. What is his strategy, and what do these cases mean for his presidential campaign? We unpack all the legal complexit...

Javier Milei is far from your average politician. His critics call him ‘El Loco’, meaning The Madman and he certainly plays up to that reputation having claimed that he ‘hears voices’ and frequently ‘talks to his dead dog.’ Milei ran his campaign mostly on TikTok where he became known for his fiery and sometimes wild campaign promises. He has claimed he was going to shut down the central bank and...

Israel has vowed to eliminate the perpetrators of the October 7th attack, which killed more than 1,200 people and saw around 240 taken hostage. Hamas - which governs the Palestinian territory of Gaza and is viewed as a terrorist organisation by many western governments – has been the target of unprecedented force from Israeli military. So, what damage has been done? And is it really possible to de...

North Koreans are forbidden from making contact with the outside world. But what happens when one family decides they want to leave? Our Seoul Correspondent Jean Mackenzie tells us the story of one defector who we're calling Mr Kim. He and his relatives made a dangerous escape from the tyrannical state in a boat and are now adjusting to life in South Korea. The Global Story brings you trusted insi...

Elon Musk is the world's richest person. He leads Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX and he owns half the satellites in Earth’s lower orbit; with over 5,000 already operating in space. They make up a global internet constellation called Starlink, which is set to grow rapidly in the coming years. We explore how big his ambitions for space are with our science correspondent Jonathan Amos and our North Americ...

With the war in Ukraine dragging on, continuing military aid has become a contentious political issue in the United States. So, if support from Kyiv’s biggest military backer was to waver, could its other allies make up the difference? The BBC’s defence correspondent Jonathan Beale and Berlin correspondent Jessica Parker assess whether there is the political will and military capacity for Europe t...

After populist politician Geert Wilders wins the most seats in the Netherlands election, we ask if his success is part of a broader European pattern. We also explore why voters are turning away from mainstream politics with our correspondent in the Netherlands, Anna Holligan, and Professor Timothy Garton Ash. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katy...

World leaders are arriving in Dubai for COP28 – the most significant annual climate summit. The BBC’s climate editor, Justin Rowlatt, takes us behind the scenes of the summit and talks us through the expectations, and the fallout of a BBC investigation pointing out that the UAE planned to use climate talks to make oil deals. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the...

How has a small country in the Middle East managed to become a key player in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas? Today, with the BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner, and BBC Monitoring’s Jaidaa Taha in Cairo. 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...

Democrat Joe Biden, 81, is America’s oldest president. His chief rival, Republican Donald Trump, is 77. Polls consistently show voters are more worried that Mr Biden lacks “mental sharpness.” Today, why President Biden’s age matters, with our Medical Editor, Fergus Walsh, and our Special Correspondent in Washington, Katty Kay. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around th...