The Global Story

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Life as a woman under Taliban rule Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

How are Afghanistan’s women and girls coping with harsh new restrictions? When the Taliban took back power in 2021, it promised to uphold women’s rights with the limits of what it called “Islamic law”. But officials have placed strict limits on women’s education, employment opportunities, dress codes and, now, even the volume at which they speak.

In this episode, Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s South Asia Correspondent Yogita Limaye, who has been interviewing Afghan women about their feelings of hopelessness, the state crackdown on protests and a growing mental health crisis.

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.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Eleanor Sly.

Sound Engineers: Hannah Montgomery and Rohan Madison.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Ireland’s growing far right Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

Violent unrest is forcing Ireland to reckon with increasing hostility to high levels of immigration, which has not traditionally been a major point of political debate. That is changing, however, with roughly one in five Irish residents today born overseas. The country is grappling with a burgeoning far right movement, with much of the conversation happening on social media. In recent years, hostility towards foreigners which has been nurtured online has spilled over into the real world, the most stark example being a widely-covered riot in Dublin in November 2023. So how is a country which has historically been shaped by the emigration of its own people dealing with the issue of immigration in the 21st century, and is Ireland’s political establishment ready to meet the challenge?

On this episode of The Global Story, Washington DC-based host Caitríona Perry is joined by the BBC’s Dublin reporter Aoife Moore, and by Shane Harrison, who worked as the BBC’s Ireland correspondent for three decades.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Alice Aylett Roberts and Laurie Kalus

Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Path to the Presidency: Debate fallout Sep 14, 2024

Show notes

Did the Harris-Trump debate actually change voters' minds? Caitríona Perry, Sumi Somaskanda, and Katty Kay discuss the state of the 2024 US election, explore what’s happening behind the scenes of the campaigns, and provide insights into how both voters and candidates are preparing for election day. From now until the US election, every weekend The Global Story brings you "Path to the Presidency," where we delve into the state of the race and examine what’s on the minds of those closest to it.

Producer: Aiden Johnson.

Sound Engineer: Ben Andrews.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

The Russians snitching on each other for anti-war views Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

Ever since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine there have been widespread reports of Russians reporting fellow citizens to the police for anti-war views; often leading to prosecution and, in some cases, prison sentences. It’s revived memories of the Soviet past when informing on colleagues and neighbours was actively encouraged.

Katya Adler speaks to our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg about the people he has met who have been caught up in this new wave of denunciations.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Eleanor Sly and Beth Timmins.

Sound Engineers: Antonio Fernandes and Rohan Madison.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Why Indian midwives killed baby girls Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

Inside a 30-year mission to expose a pattern of infanticide. In the 1990s, midwives in northern India admitted that they were regularly paid to kill new-born baby girls whose families did not want them. It’s an issue that speaks to India’s complicated relationships with gender, caste and wealth. So what do these killings say about the status of women and girls in India? And why are some babies still being rejected by their families in 2024? Katya Adler speaks to journalists and filmmakers Amitabh Parashar and Anubha Bhonsle, who have just made a documentary for the BBC called “The Midwife’s Confession”.

Producers: Peter Goffin and Eleanor Sly.

Sound Engineers: Dafydd Evans and Philip Bull.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Harris and Trump clash in fiery first debate Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

The Republican and Democratic presidential candidates traded claims over key election issues including the economy, immigration and abortion. They discussed policy but personal attacks also dominated their first debate. So, who had a good night, and to what extent will this debate sway voters, with less than two months to go before polling day?

Sumi Somaskanda hosts this episode from Philadelphia, where the debate took place. She’s joined by Courtney Subramanian and Bernd Debusmann, from the BBC’s North America digital team.

Producers: Richard Moran and Tom Kavanagh.

Sound Engineer: Hannah Montgomery.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Brazil goes to war with Elon Musk Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

Brazil’s Supreme Court has banned the social media platform X - formerly known as Twitter. It was one of the platform’s biggest markets, with millions of Brazilians using it. The boss of X, Elon Musk, has complained that the move is destroying free speech but the country's top judge says it is necessary to stop the spread of disinformation.

Katya Adler speaks with Daniel Gallas and Leandro Prazeres from BBC Brazil about the battle between free speech and disinformation in Brazil. And if other countries could follow Brazil’s lead in blocking access to X.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Alice Aylett Roberts and Tse Yin Lee.

Sound Engineer: Philip Bull.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Money, money, money…and the US election Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

Democrats and Republicans are donating billions to back candidates in November’s election. So far, the 2024 US election has been defined by surprises and unprecedented moments. But if one thing is certain, it's that the election will cost a lot of money. Donors from both major parties are donating billions of dollars in the hopes of seeing their candidates win the White House and hundreds of local races. So, what is all that money spent on? And what impact is it having on US politics?

Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s correspondent in Washington DC, Anthony Zurcher, and Matt Foster from American University, also in the capital.

Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles.

Sound Engineer: Hannah Montgomery.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Will Netanyahu change course? Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

Israel has been rocked by huge protests after six hostages being held in Gaza were shot and killed last weekend. Fury at the Netanyahu government’s handling of negotiations with Hamas has prompted a wave of public indignation which has spilled into the streets. We examine whether or not the demonstrations and rising international pressure over the number of Palestinians being killed in Gaza, will force Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to change its position. On today's episode, host Katya Adler is joined by the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen, who has been reporting from the Middle East for decades. 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. Producers: Peter Goffin, Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh. Sound Engineer: Jack Graysmark. Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas. Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

Investigating illegal settlements in the West Bank Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

BBC analysis has identified almost 200 settler outposts in the West Bank, which are illegal under both international and Israeli law. Experts say these outposts are able to seize large swathes of land more rapidly than settlements, and are increasingly linked to violence and harassment towards Palestinian communities. And the BBC World Service has seen documents showing that organisations with close ties to the Israeli government have provided money and land used to establish them.

On today's episode, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by Matthew Cassel, who shot and directed the new film 'Settlements Above the Law' from BBC Eye Investigations. He talks about the Palestinians he met who have been forced from their homes, and the settlers they say are responsible. He also discusses calls for the international community to target powerful organisations inside Israel, as critics question the impact of sanctions against individual settlers.

You can see the full investigation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxLDYkX7l9A

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Tom Kavanagh.

Sound Engineers: Hannah Montgomery, Mike Regaard, and Phil Bull.

Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas.

Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith.

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