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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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.

Should Germany ban the popular far-right AfD party?

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.

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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 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, 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.

Mexico election: A blood-soaked ballot

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 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, 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.

Americast: Donald Trump found guilty

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 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, 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.

Palestinian state recognition: Does it change anything?

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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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.

US election: The RFK Jr wildcard

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 theglobalstory@bbc.com 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.

Should Germany ban the popular far-right AfD party?

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