The Global Story

The Princess of Wales is at the centre of a media storm. Statements from Kensington Palace and the release of an edited family photo have only spurred further rumour and speculation about her health and her absence from public life. In this episode we ask how the royal family’s publicity team handles major stories like this one, how the British monarchy is adapting to the 21st Century media landscape, and why people are so interested in the royals’ private lives.

Our presenter Adam Fleming is joined by BBC Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph and Simon Lewis, the former communications secretary to Queen Elizabeth, now co-presenter of the BBC podcast “When It Hits the Fan”.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected]. You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Beth Timmins. The technical producers were Emma Crowe and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The Demilitarised Zone - the strip of no-man’s land separating North and South Korea – is the unlikely home to a tiny community of South Koreans. But, 70 years since it was established as a symbol of peace following the Korean war, the village of Taesung is now seeing its population decline rapidly.

Over the past year tensions have flared between the two countries in the peninsula, and in January North Korean leader Kim Jong Un officially abandoned the longstanding policy of reunification with the South. In this episode Adam Fleming speaks to the BBC’s Seoul correspondent Jean Mackenzie about the symbolic importance of Taesung, and asks what life is like there after she gained a rare level of access to the village.

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

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

More than 100 million Russians are expected to vote for the next president over the coming days. Officially, there are four candidates on the ballot, but if you were watching Russian TV, you're likely only going to hear one name...Vladimir Putin. We're taking a moment to tune in to the election coverage inside Russia and ask what you might believe if you were following the election through a screen in Moscow, Omsk or Rostov-on-Don.

Mark Lowen speaks to Francis Scarr who keeps a close eye on Russian media channels for BBC Monitoring, and Oleg Boldyrev, who is covering the election for the BBC from Riga, Latvia.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email [email protected], or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Richard Moran, Laurie Kalus and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The signs Xi Jinping’s woes are growing: a deputy diminished. Missing ministers. Stricter security laws. And we haven’t even mentioned the economy. Is President Biden right to suggest China is not rising, but in relative decline?

Adam Fleming talks to Celia Hatton, the BBC’s Asia Pacific Editor, and Rana Mitter, host of several BBC documentaries about China and a professor of US-China relations at the Harvard Kennedy School.

The Global Story brings trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email [email protected], or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Beth Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Powerful gangs are elbowing their way into the race for power after Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry was forced to resign. Hundreds of gun-wielding groups are terrorising the capital’s streets and have plunged the long-suffering nation into anarchy. Aid agencies warn of a looming famine and more than 15,000 Haitians have been left homeless by the attacks. Our Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet speaks to the BBC's Vanessa Buschschlüter, and a journalist living in Haiti, Harold Isaac.

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

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Rachel Hagan. The technical producers were Philip Bull and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The most famous waterway in the Americas is running dry. The water level in the Panama Canal is falling critically low, which means the number of ships that can pass through has been reduced. This is having a major impact on the international shipping industry with delays to deliveries and increased costs. James Reynolds speaks with the BBC's North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury who has been to Panama to find out more.

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

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Peter Goffin, Alix Pickles and Jay Gardner. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

As war continues in Gaza, a cultural row is flaring on the other side of the world over Israel’s involvement in the 2024 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The country’s act was initially blocked from entering the world's largest music competition as its proposed lyrics were deemed too political, but they have since been cleared to compete. This has outraged many on social media, with some fans calling for other countries to boycott the event.

Eurovision's organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, insist the contest is apolitical, but they have invited scrutiny in recent years particularly over the decision to ban Russia from competing due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. On this episode James Reynolds discusses the fallout with Eurovision reporter Daniel Rosney, and they consider whether it’s ever possible for Eurovision to stay out of politics.

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

This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Alix Pickles. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Hollywood’s big night is upon us, and the studios have spent millions of dollars to make sure their favourite contenders win. Are the Academy Awards really about honouring cinematic achievement? Or does it all come down to campaigns and connections?

Presenter James Reynolds speaks to film journalist Tom Brook, who has covered every Oscars since 1982, and Leila Latif, a journalist who has worked on Oscar campaigns.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell

The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] or message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.

How big money is chasing a tiny number of voters. It’s (almost) official: Joe Biden will face Donald Trump in November. Both men did well enough on Super Tuesday to look ahead to the general election. Now, it gets interesting. The campaigns need to find the few Americans still unsure who should be president and get in their heads.

James Reynolds talks to the BBC’s Special US correspondent, Katty Kay, and Eli Yokley, from Morning Consult.

More episodes to understand the US election:

We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at [email protected] or message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory This episode was made by Richard Moran and Neal Razzell. The technical producer was Matt Hewitt. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

The disappearance of flight MH370 is the greatest unsolved mystery in aviation. Ten years after the plane vanished from radar with 239 passengers and crew on board, only a few traces have been found. Could a new radio technology finally help locate the missing aircraft and give families the answers they desperately need?

James Reynolds assesses the latest evidence about what happened to MH370 with the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head and Alessandra Bonomolo, director of a new documentary on the disappearance of MH370 – Why Planes Vanish: The Hunt for MH370.

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

This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.