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 [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Tom Kavanagh

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Jonny Baker

Assistant editors: Richard Fenton-Smith and Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior 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 [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via Whatsapp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus, Tom Kavanagh and Mhairi MacKenzie

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Dafydd Evans

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior 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 [email protected] 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 Roberts

Sound engineers: Dafydd Evans and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior 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 Taylor

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior 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 [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineers: Dafydd Evans and Jonny Baker

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior 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 Kavanagh

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior 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?

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 [email protected] 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 Kavanagh

Sound engineer: James Piper

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior 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 Kavanagh

Sound engineer: Dafydd Evans

Assistant 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 [email protected] 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 Goffin

Sound engineer: Stephen Bailey

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior 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 [email protected] 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 Kavanagh

Sound engineers: Phil Bull and James Piper

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: China Collins