The Global Story

Singapore has some of the harshest drug laws in the world. The penalties for trafficking illegal narcotics include decades in prison and even a death sentence. Citizens of Singapore face consequences even if they take drugs while abroad. The government argues its zero-tolerance policy towards drugs – including cannabis - is an effective deterrent.

Katya Adler speaks to journalist and documentary maker Linda Pressly about whether Singapore's harsh drugs laws really deter drug crimes.

You can listen to Linda's full documentary 'Assignment: Singapore – drugs, rehab, execution' by searching for The Documentary wherever you get your podcasts.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Peter Goffin

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Phil Bull

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

What the president-elect's inner circle says about his priorities. Donald Trump is surrounding himself with loyalists, billionaires and political newcomers as he prepares for his second term in the White House.

On this episode, Caitríona Perry asks the BBC’s senior North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher about new additions to Team Trump like Elon Musk, and notable absences, like Ivanka Trump.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Tom Kavanagh

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Gareth Jones

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Chancellor Scholz’s three-party coalition government has fallen apart, leaving Germany mired in a period of political instability. Disagreements between the chancellor and his finance minister Christian Lindner had bubbled for months, ultimately leading to the latter’s dismissal. That prompted two of Lindner’s party colleagues to resign, effectively dismantling the coalition and leaving the chancellor at the head of a minority government.

The political turmoil in Berlin comes as Donald Trump’s second election victory leaves the world wondering whether American support will be pulled from Ukraine. Germany is the European Union’s largest economy, but its manufacturing sector has been struggling, while consumers have been affected by high inflation.

The BBC’s Berlin correspondent Damien McGuinness and The Guardian’s Berlin correspondent Kate Connolly tell host Katya Adler about the roots of this crisis, and discuss how it may have ramifications around Europe and beyond.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Can the world fight climate change without the US? Donald Trump’s election victory threatens to derail the COP29 climate talks taking place in Azerbaijan this week. The US is one of the world’s biggest sources of carbon emissions but the president-elect has called global warming a hoax, championed the oil industry and promised to withdraw from international climate agreements.

On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s US climate correspondent Carl Nasman and the host of the BBC podcast The Climate Question, Graihagh Jackson.

Producers: Peter Goffin, Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins

Sound engineers: Jonny Baker and Ricardo McCarthy

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The proportion of people without children is growing around the world. For some, this new reality reflects changing social attitudes and a desire not to have children, but for others, the decision has been taken out of their hands by a range of factors. The latest statistics available reflect the extent to which this has become a global phenomenon: while the US birth rate is at a record low, China reported its first population decline in six decades in 2022.

The BBC’s population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty tells host Lucy Hockings that economic concerns are among the most important when it comes to individuals and couples deciding whether or not the time is right to have a baby, and discusses how the concept of “male malaise” is impacting fertility rates.

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

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Laurie Kalus and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineer: Phil Bull

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

President-elect Donald Trump has begun appointing his incoming administration. In the span of two months, he will hire four thousand political appointees and move back into the White House. With the Democrats losing the presidential election and control of the Senate, the party now faces a critical reckoning: What went wrong for Kamala Harris and her campaign?

On this episode, the BBC's Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay discuss what the next few weeks in US politics may look like after Donald Trump's election victory.

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.

Producer: Aiden Johnson

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Thousands of North Korean troops have been sent to Russia to support their war in Ukraine. The US government says thousands of troops are now in the Kursk region – right next to the Ukrainian frontline. Can North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia change the dynamics of the war in Ukraine? And how does North Korea benefit from this arrangement?

Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse and Seoul correspondent Jean Mackenzie about whether North Korea's entry into the Ukraine war will turn it into a truly global conflict.

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 and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineers: Phil Bull and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Leaders across the world have been reacting to Donald Trump's stunning victory in the US presidential election. America's president-elect returns to the global stage in the context of multiple ongoing conflicts, and economic uncertainty for major players. So as international governments adjust to his seismic comeback, how might the policy decisions of a second Trump administration be felt worldwide?

On this episode Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale, to discuss the potential implications in Ukraine, the Middle East, China, Europe, and beyond...

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us 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, Mariana Hernández Carrillo, Beth Timmins, and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The former president claims he's been given an "unprecedented mandate" by voters.

On this episode, Azadeh Moshiri speaks to BBC Chief Presenter Christian Fraser about the prospect of a second Trump term.

And Katya Adler asks BBC Correspondent Will Grant and BBC Digital reporter Bernd Debusmann about the mood in the Trump camp, and where Kamala Harris underperformed.

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 Richard Moran

Sound engineers: Hannah Montgomery and Jonny Baker

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

On the final day Americans cast their votes, the US presidential election remains tighter than ever. Success for either candidate depends on their ability to win over undecided voters in swing states — a diverse group with varied backgrounds, concerns, and voting histories. How have Kamala Harris and Donald Trump been trying to convince them? And which states lie in their path to victory and the White House?

Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s senior North America correspondent Gary O’Donoghue and digital reporter Ana Faguy, who tell us which of the early results might give an indication of who's in the lead.

Listen to our previous episode on the Senate, House and Governors races that could shape the United States here: https://link.chtbl.com/OtherRaces

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: Richard Moran, Laurie Kalus, Mariana Hernández Carrillo, and Mhairi Mackenzie

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson