The Global Story

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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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.