The Global Story

Episodes

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  Is Trump sacrificing Ukraine for cheaper diesel? 19.10.2026 26m

  America’s pain at the pump could have major implications for the future of the war in Ukraine.US President Donald Trump wants to bring down fuel prices for Americans. One way he’s trying to do it is by reopening the door to Russian energy, reversing a policy designed to deprive Russian President Vladimir Putin of money for his war in Ukraine.The shift comes as relations between Trump and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky have deteriorated dramatically. Trump has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for contributing to the global diesel shortage, while Ukraine says those refineries are a crucial source of revenue for Russia’s war machine.So is American angst about fuel prices changing Trump’s approach to the war? And would importing Russian diesel even make a meaningful difference to US prices?The Global Story’s Tristan Redman speaks to BBC Verify’s Ben Chu about the fuel crisis drawing together Trump, Putin, Zelensky and the American midterm elections.Producers: Aron Keller, Jo Casserly and Cat Farnsworth Mix: Travis EvansExecutive producer: Martine PowersSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a press conference in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque
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  America’s rogue ambassadors 16.10.2026 26m

  A diplomat’s job is traditionally to represent their country’s interests while maintaining good relations with their host nation. But some of Donald Trump’s ambassadors are taking a different approach. On Tuesday, Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned from her ambassadorship in Greece after serious allegations were raised about her conduct. According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, the former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. allegedly asked a Trump donor to pay off her $100,000 Amex bill — allegations she denies. Guilfoyle is not the only ambassador to have caused a stir. US envoys around the world have sparked diplomatic rows, controversy and, in some cases, appeared to step beyond the traditional boundaries of their role. What do Donald Trump’s ambassador picks, and their conduct, tell us about the new way that America does diplomacy? Reuters’ senior White House correspondent, Humeyra Pamuk, breaks down how Trump’s ambassadors are breaking with tradition. Producers: Valerio Esposito and Kateryna Pavlyuk Mix: Travis Evans Executive producer: Martine Powers Senior news editor: China Collins Photo: US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle speak during a dedication ceremony at the chancery of the US Embassy, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Athens, Greece. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS
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  Why Trump is not going to war with the Houthis 15.10.2026 26m

  Is Washington leaving Saudi Arabia to fend for itself? Last week, Houthi rebels launched a series of missile strikes on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. Surveillance footage showed a fireball erupting as airport passengers ran for cover. At least 14 people have been killed and hundreds were injured.The attack is the latest escalation in a decade-long war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in neighbouring Yemen. The Saudis have long relied on financial, military and intelligence support from the United States, particularly in their fight against the Houthis. But Washington so far has shown little appetite for direct involvement in the fighting.So why is the United States holding back? And what does that mean for the people caught in the middle?The BBC’s chief international investigations correspondent, Nawal al-Maghafi, recently reported from inside Yemen and joins The Global Story’s Asma Khalid to discuss why this conflict is escalating and what might happen next.(Photo: Houthi supporters rally against Saudi Arabia in Sanaa, Yemen, 9 October 2026. Credit:Yahya Arhab / EPA / Shutterstock)Producer: Cat Farnsworth and Mhairi MacKenzie Sound engineer: Travis EvansExecutive producer: Martine PowersDigital producer: Charlie FirthSenior news editor: China Collins
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  Could Gen Z bring down India’s Modi? 14.10.2026 26m

  This week tens of thousands of young people have taken to the streets of Delhi, India’s capital, demanding changes to the electoral system and the resignation of the country’s electoral commissioner. Thousands have been detained by police in the process.They represent the ‘cockroach’ movement, a grassroots campaign group started by a Boston University graduate in protest at government policies and high youth unemployment. How did a movement that started as a meme capture the minds of India’s young people, and start to pose a challenge to its long-serving prime minister, Narendra Modi?The BBC’s South Asia correspondent, Azadeh Moshiri, explains.Producers: Hannah Moore and Lucy PawleMix: Travis EvansExecutive producer: James ShieldSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A protester gestures while being detained by security personnel during a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, near the protest site in New Delhi, India, October 10, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Adnan Abidi
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  Was World War Two worth it? Some US conservatives have doubts 13.10.2026 26m

  Since World War Two ended, most people living in the United States or Europe have generally upheld a consensus about its morality; that it was a just war fought against an evil Nazi regime, and the allies were right to fight it. But in a viral podcast debate with the British conservative Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Tucker Carlson seemed to disagree with that narrative, causing deep consternation within the wider conservative movement.The Global Story’s Tristan Redman speaks to BBC Newscast’s Adam Fleming about Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and the strand of British conservatism he represents. We also hear from the Conservative politician and Times of London columnist Lord Daniel Finkelstein - whose parents were survivors of a Nazi concentration camps and a Russian gulag - about why he thinks one of America’s most influential right-wing voices is casting doubt on World War Two history. (Photo: Tucker Carlson speaks at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, 18 July, 2024. He has short brown hair with side parting. He gestures with both arms outstretched to the side as he speaks into a mic. He wears a dark blue jacket, a blue and white gingham shirt and a dark blue tie with yellow, diagonal stripes. Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters)Producer: Aron Keller and Cat Farnsworth Executive producer: James ShieldDigital producer: Sam GruetSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China Collins
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  Are we really living in unprecedented times? 12.10.2026 27m

  Politicians and commentators keep telling us we are living through unprecedented times. But how unusual is the world we are living in, really?John Simpson has spent 60 years reporting for the BBC, witnessing some of the most consequential moments in modern history. He was on the plane that brought Ayatollah Khomeini back to Iran during the 1979 revolution. He watched the Berlin Wall come down. And he reported from Beijing during the protests in Tiananmen Square.Those experiences have left Simpson with a perspective that is not entirely pessimistic. Having lived through the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of apartheid, Simpson has seen seemingly entrenched systems change in ways few thought possible.Now, as wars rage and the global order shifts again, he joins The Global Story’s Asma Khalid to reflect on what those moments can tell us about the present and whether today’s conflicts are repeating familiar patterns.(Photo: John Simpson enters Kabul, 2001)Producer: Xandra Ellin and Mhairi MacKenzieExecutive producer: James Shield and Martine PowersDigital producer: Charlie FirthSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China Collins
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  What’s really happening with plague in Russia? 09.10.2026 26m

  A plague scare in Siberia has become a Rorschach test for public health fears in a post-Covid world.Russian officials are investigating the death of a worker at a plague research laboratory. They say she died of pneumonia. But speculation online has suggested she may have died from pneumonic plague.Russian authorities deny this and say there is no risk of an outbreak. So why has the story sparked so much alarm? And how has the legacy of the Covid pandemic played into people's fears of another global health crisis? The BBC’s health reporter, Jim Reed, joins The Global Story’s Tristan Redman to explain what we know about the case in Russia – and whether the world is prepared for a potential outbreak.Producers: Hannah Moore and Cat FarnsworthExecutive producer: Martine PowersDigital producer: Charlie FirthTechnical producer: Mike RegaardMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: Plague bacteria (Yersinia pestis), computer illustration. The bacterium causes bubonic plague. Credit: Getty Images.
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  Why French teenagers are fighting for their education 08.10.2026 26m

  What began as a revolt over public school funding has spilled into a much bigger fight over the future of France.Now, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets, and clashes with police have left teenagers and officers injured. More than 6,000 people have been arrested, most of them minors. But what sparked these demonstrations? How could they shape next year’s election in France? And why have they become a conservative political talking point in the US?The Global Story’s own Tristan Redman — a Paris resident himself — speaks with co-host Asma Khalid about the history of Parisian street protests, what he’s heard from students on the ground, and what this movement could mean for France’s future.Producers: Mhairi MacKenzie and Xandra Ellin Executive producer: Martine Powers Digital producer: Mel Stewart-Smith Technical producer: Mike Regaard Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A student holds up a French national flag while demonstrating outside the Carmes campus of the Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP), in Paris, France. (Firas Altoukhi/EPA/Shutterstock)
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  The warnings before 7 October 07.10.2026 27m

  Israel is marking three years since the 7 October attacks, in which around 1,200 people were killed by Hamas-led attackers and a further 251 hostages were taken back to Gaza. The commemorations come in the final weeks of a pivotal election campaign. Benjamin Netanyahu’s record on national security is coming under immense scrutiny, amid reports that the government failed to act on warnings in the months leading up to the 2023 attacks – allegations that the prime minister has strongly denied.Tristan Redman speaks to BBC correspondent Jon Donnison, who is in East Jerusalem. Producer: Sam ChantarasakExecutive producer: James ShieldSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China Collins(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a memorial ceremony for the three year anniversary of the October 7 attack. Credit: Debbie Hill/Reuters)
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  Smart glasses or ‘pervert glasses’? 06.10.2026 26m

  At a recent Meta product launch, Mark Zuckerberg promised that the company’s smart glasses would give wearers “new superpowers”, but what are they? Amid criticisms of its privacy and child protection policies, Meta is betting big on smart glasses as a way to restyle the company’s image, but they too have caused controversy – dubbed by critics ‘pervert glasses’ because they have been used to film women without their knowledge. So why are Meta and other big tech firms investing billions in this tech? Who is it for? Lily Jamali, the BBC’s North America technology correspondent, joins us to explain.Producer: Hannah MooreExecutive producers: James Shield and Martine PowersMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wears the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses during the Meta Connect event at the company's headquarters in California. Credit: Reuters/Carlos Barria/File Photo.
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  America’s global hunt for execution drugs 05.10.2026 26m

  Why do executions in the United States keep going wrong?Last week, Tennessee attempted to carry out the execution of Christa Pike, a convicted murderer who had spent three decades on death row. But the execution did not go as planned: After she was injected with two lethal doses of pentobarbital, Pike remained alive. She was then taken to hospital by ambulance.This isn’t the first time an American execution hasn’t gone as planned. One reason is that the drugs needed for lethal injection have become increasingly difficult for US prison officials to obtain. Pharmaceutical companies don’t want their medicines used in executions — particularly manufacturers in Europe, where governments have opposed the death penalty for decades.So, without access to regulated drugs, American prisons have had to improvise — sometimes with horrifying results.The Global Story’s Tristan Redman speaks with investigative reporter Livvy Haydock about the consequences when the pharmaceutical supply chain refuses to feed the machinery of American executions.Listen to Livvy’s podcast, Killing Death Row: bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001rjdp Producers: Mhairi MacKenzie and Cat FarnsworthExecutive producer: Martine PowersMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: Christa Pike entering a Knox County Criminal Court in Knoxville, Tennessee in December 2007. Credit: J. Miles Cary/Reuters
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  How white South Africans became the face of Trump’s refugee policy 02.10.2026 27m

  In the last year, the US has admitted just 13,000 refugees — a fraction of the number it has accepted in previous years. And almost all of those new arrivals have been white South Africans.The Trump administration says Afrikaners are fleeing persecution in South Africa. But there is little evidence of attacks specifically targeting the country’s white Afrikaner minority. South Africa’s new ambassador to the US has told the BBC that the idea of a mass attack against white Afrikaners simply does not exist.So why have Afrikaners been given preferential access to the US refugee programme? And what has life in America been like for those who have made the journey?Today on The Global Story, the BBC’s North America correspondent Ione Wells and Africa producer Ed Habershon share their conversations with the Afrikaners who are using new refugee policies to immigrate to the US — and the South African officials who say the Trump administration is overlooking the full picture.Producer: Cat Farnsworth, Aron Keller and Xandra EllinExecutive producer: Martine PowersMix: Travis EvansDigital producer: Charlie Firth Senior news editor: China CollinsPhoto:US President Donald Trump meets with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 21 May 2025. Credit: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Shutterstock
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  Inside the Flydubai attack that could upend Israeli elections 01.10.2026 26m

  How did the passengers of Flydubai's flight FZ1073 prevent a catastrophe after a cockpit attack? And what does this incident mean for Israel at a politically charged moment?On Wednesday, a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after one pilot allegedly stabbed the other. The aircraft entered a 17,000ft plunge before passengers and crew forced their way into the cockpit, overpowered the alleged attacker and helped bring the plane back under control. The injured pilot, identified as Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar, was taken to hospital after the flight landed and later called a "hero" by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Now, Israeli officials are investigating whether the stabbing was an act of terrorism – and whether any warning signs were missed. On The Global Story, Tristan Redman speaks to BBC Middle East correspondent Yolande Knell, who explains what we know so far about the Flydubai flight and the significance of a suspected security incident so close to pivotal elections in Israel. Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Valerio EspositoExecutive producers: James Shield and Martine PowersSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
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  Is Meta dying? 30.09.2026 26m

  Fifteen years ago, the film The Social Network told the story of Facebook’s rise to global prominence. As Meta faces growing scrutiny from regulators and pours billions into AI, a new movie examines what the company allegedly knew about the harms linked to Facebook.Jeff Horwitz is the journalist whose reporting inspired the new film, The Social Reckoning, which hits cinemas next week. Horwitz helped expose internal debates at Meta over misinformation, teenage well-being, political polarisation and the tension between keeping users safe and growing the business. After a turbulent year for the company and amid declining public trust, The Global Story’s Tristan Redman talks to Horwitz about whether Meta can reinvent itself while remaining one of the world’s most powerful tech giants.Producers: Xandra Ellin and Valerio EspositoExecutive producer: Martine PowersSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsImage: CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg (Annabelle Gordon/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
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  Did a farmer foil a plot to attack a UK military base? 29.09.2026 27m

  In the early hours of Sunday morning, three vans were spotted near a British military base used by the United States for its bombing operations in Iran. A huge police operation followed, bomb disposal teams were spotted on the scene, and five men were arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences. Donald Trump said the men were “looking to do big damage to our fort” and that “we had them under investigation”.The suspects – all British nationals – were released on police bail on Monday afternoon, leaving questions about how dangerous a plot this was alleged to be.What is going on? We speak to Nick Aldworth, a former Detective Chief Superintendent in UK Counter Terrorism Policing.Producers: Aron Keller, Mhairi MacKenzie, Lucy Pawle and Valerio EspositoMix: Travis EvansDigital producer: Charlie FirthExecutive producer: James ShieldSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: B‑1B Lancer bomber is parked at the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 27, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Toby Shepheard
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  The Super El Nino: what happens when it hits us? 28.09.2026 27m

  Climate scientists have put out a dire warning about this year’s El Niño; that it will likely be the worst in recorded history. And if previous ‘super’ El Niños are anything to go by, that means that this cycle will bring extreme weather - flooding, drought, wildfires, and hunger- across the world. But how do scientists know what the effects of an El Niño will be? And how do they communicate that information to governments and the public in a way that causes calm preparedness instead of panic?Tom Di Liberto is a former climate scientist for the US government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a science communicator, who specialises in monitoring El Niño phenomena. He joins us on today’s show.Producers: Hannah Moore and Mhairi MacKenzieExecutive producer: Bridget HarneyMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A man wades through water in northern Peru, in 2017, during that year’s El Niño. Credit: Ernesto Benavides/AFP.
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  Katseye, America and the dark side of K-pop perfection 25.09.2026 27m

  What happens when K-pop’s gruelling formula meets the American music industry?The global girl group Katseye has gone from a reality-show experiment to a global phenomenon. With chart-topping hits, a viral Gap campaign and a sold-out international tour, the group has become one of the biggest success stories in pop.But as Katseye breaks through in America, it is also bringing new attention to the intense training, fierce competition and relentless scrutiny that helped fuel its rise. Has the group’s success shown that the K-pop model can work outside South Korea, or exposed the costs of trying to recreate it? The Global Story’s Asma Khalid and Tristan Redman speak with BBC music correspondent Mark Savage about whether the discipline, pressure and perfectionism that drive K-pop’s success can translate to an American audience.(Photo: Katseye performs in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Credit: Paul Bergan/ EPA/ Shutterstock)Clips: Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE | Official Trailer | NetflixProducer: Sam Chantarasak and Cat FarnsworthExecutive producer: Martine PowersSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China Collins
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  Is a free press at serious risk in Trump’s America? 24.09.2026 27m

  Last week, President Donald Trump barred CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, accusing them of spreading "fake news". After their reporters had their press passes revoked and were denied access to the building, the three outlets launched a joint legal challenge, arguing that the move was unconstitutional.How unprecedented is this decision? And how does it compare with the treatment of journalists in other countries around the world?Jason Rezaian, host of the Washington Post podcast Freedom Desk and the paper's former Tehran bureau chief, has a unique perspective on these questions. While reporting from Iran, he experienced restrictions on press freedom and was ultimately imprisoned by the regime. Since his release, he has become a prominent advocate for press freedom around the world.He joins The Global Story’s Tristan Redman to discuss where President Trump's decision fits into a broader pattern in the relationship between political leaders and the media over recent decades.Producers: Xandra Ellin and Cat Farnsworth.Executive producer: Martine Powers Mix: Travis EvansDigital producer: Sam Gruet Senior news editor: China Collins. Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio points as members of the media raise their hands during a press briefing at the White House in Washington DC, May 5, 2026. Credit: Kylie Cooper/Reuters.
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  Inside China’s push to become the world’s AI superpower 23.09.2026 26m

  China’s President Xi returns to the White House on Thursday for the first time in over a decade. A priority for both leaders will be to discuss AI. The two countries are currently locked in a fierce competition for AI dominance, amid dire warnings from US tech executives in recent weeks that the speed of AI development needs to be slowed, as the risks to humanity are too great. President Trump has rejected those calls for a slowdown or suggestions of regulation, in part because of his concerns that China will overtake the US in AI development. In this episode we speak to the BBC’s China correspondent Laura Bicker who tells us what China’s AI revolution looks from inside the country. And we ask how this issue is changing the power dynamics between the US and China. Credit: Reuters/Tingshu WangProducers: Sam Chantarasak and Lucy PawleExecutive producer: Bridget HarneyDigital producer: Sam GruetSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China Collins Photo: A child speaks to a UBTech AI Wukong Robot for sale, during the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing, China August 21, 2026.
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  Why the world wants American surrogates 22.09.2026 26m

  The United States is one of the few wealthy countries where commercial surrogacy remains legal. Bans elsewhere in the world, combined with a largely free-market approach at home, have made the US an international destination for would-be parents from around the globe – fuelling the industry’s rapid expansion. But could it all come to an end?Today on The Global Story, we speak to fertility technology reporter Emi Nietfeld about how the US became a global hub for surrogacy – and why a series of high-profile cases is raising difficult questions about the industry. Producer: Valerio EspositoExecutive producer: Martine PowersDigital producer: Charlie FirthSound Engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A pregnant woman holding her stomach. Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire