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The Global Story: Daily Summaries Delivered
by BBC World Service
Where the world and America meet. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption.
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- Yesterday27 min
How white South Africans became the face of Trump’s refugee policy
In the last year, the US has admitted just 13,000 refugees — a fraction of the number it has accepted in previous years. And almost all of those new arrivals have been white South Africans.The Trump administration says Afrikaners are fleeing persecution in South Africa. But there is little evidence of attacks specifically targeting the country’s white Afrikaner minority. South Africa’s new ambassador to the US has told the BBC that the idea of a mass attack against white Afrikaners simply does not exist.So why have Afrikaners been given preferential access to the US refugee programme? And what has life in America been like for those who have made the journey?Today on The Global Story, the BBC’s North America correspondent Ione Wells and Africa producer Ed Habershon share their conversations with the Afrikaners who are using new refugee policies to immigrate to the US — and the South African officials who say the Trump administration is overlooking the full picture.Producer: Cat Farnsworth, Aron Keller and Xandra EllinExecutive producer: Martine PowersMix: Travis EvansDigital producer: Charlie Firth Senior news editor: China CollinsPhoto:US President Donald Trump meets with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 21 May 2025. Credit: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Shutterstock
- 2 days ago26 min
Inside the Flydubai attack that could upend Israeli elections
How did the passengers of Flydubai's flight FZ1073 prevent a catastrophe after a cockpit attack? And what does this incident mean for Israel at a politically charged moment?On Wednesday, a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after one pilot allegedly stabbed the other. The aircraft entered a 17,000ft plunge before passengers and crew forced their way into the cockpit, overpowered the alleged attacker and helped bring the plane back under control. The injured pilot, identified as Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar, was taken to hospital after the flight landed and later called a "hero" by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Now, Israeli officials are investigating whether the stabbing was an act of terrorism – and whether any warning signs were missed. On The Global Story, Tristan Redman speaks to BBC Middle East correspondent Yolande Knell, who explains what we know so far about the Flydubai flight and the significance of a suspected security incident so close to pivotal elections in Israel. Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Valerio EspositoExecutive producers: James Shield and Martine PowersSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
- 3 days ago26 min
Is Meta dying?
Fifteen years ago, the film The Social Network told the story of Facebook’s rise to global prominence. As Meta faces growing scrutiny from regulators and pours billions into AI, a new movie examines what the company allegedly knew about the harms linked to Facebook.Jeff Horwitz is the journalist whose reporting inspired the new film, The Social Reckoning, which hits cinemas next week. Horwitz helped expose internal debates at Meta over misinformation, teenage well-being, political polarisation and the tension between keeping users safe and growing the business. After a turbulent year for the company and amid declining public trust, The Global Story’s Tristan Redman talks to Horwitz about whether Meta can reinvent itself while remaining one of the world’s most powerful tech giants.Producers: Xandra Ellin and Valerio EspositoExecutive Producer: Martine PowersDigital Producer: Charlie FirthMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsImage: CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg (Annabelle Gordon/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
- 4 days ago27 min
Did a farmer foil a plot to attack a UK military base?
In the early hours of Sunday morning, three vans were spotted near a British military base used by the United States for its bombing operations in Iran. A huge police operation followed, bomb disposal teams were spotted on the scene, and five men were arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences. Donald Trump said the men were “looking to do big damage to our fort” and that “we had them under investigation”.The suspects – all British nationals – were released on police bail on Monday afternoon, leaving questions about how dangerous a plot this was alleged to be.What is going on? We speak to Nick Aldworth, a former Detective Chief Superintendent in UK Counter Terrorism Policing.Producers: Aron Keller, Mhairi MacKenzie, Lucy Pawle and Valerio EspositoMix: Travis EvansDigital producer: Charlie FirthExecutive producer: James ShieldSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: B‑1B Lancer bomber is parked at the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 27, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Toby Shepheard
- 5 days ago27 min
The Super El Nino: what happens when it hits us?
Climate scientists have put out a dire warning about this year’s El Niño; that it will likely be the worst in recorded history. And if previous ‘super’ El Niños are anything to go by, that means that this cycle will bring extreme weather - flooding, drought, wildfires, and hunger- across the world. But how do scientists know what the effects of an El Niño will be? And how do they communicate that information to governments and the public in a way that causes calm preparedness instead of panic?Tom Di Liberto is a former climate scientist for the US government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a science communicator, who specialises in monitoring El Niño phenomena. He joins us on today’s show.Producers: Hannah Moore and Mhairi MacKenzieExecutive producer: Bridget HarneyMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: A man wades through water in northern Peru, in 2017, during that year’s El Niño. Credit: Ernesto Benavides/AFP.
- 1 weeks ago27 min
Katseye, America and the dark side of K-pop perfection
What happens when K-pop’s gruelling formula meets the American music industry?The global girl group Katseye has gone from a reality-show experiment to a global phenomenon. With chart-topping hits, a viral Gap campaign and a sold-out international tour, the group has become one of the biggest success stories in pop.But as Katseye breaks through in America, it is also bringing new attention to the intense training, fierce competition and relentless scrutiny that helped fuel its rise. Has the group’s success shown that the K-pop model can work outside South Korea, or exposed the costs of trying to recreate it? The Global Story’s Asma Khalid and Tristan Redman speak with BBC music correspondent Mark Savage about whether the discipline, pressure and perfectionism that drive K-pop’s success can translate to an American audience.(Photo: Katseye performs in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Credit: Paul Bergan/ EPA/ Shutterstock)Clips: Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE | Official Trailer | NetflixProducer: Sam Chantarasak and Cat FarnsworthExecutive producer: Martine PowersSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China Collins
- 1 weeks ago27 min
Is a free press at serious risk in Trump’s America?
Last week, President Donald Trump barred CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, accusing them of spreading "fake news". After their reporters had their press passes revoked and were denied access to the building, the three outlets launched a joint legal challenge, arguing that the move was unconstitutional.How unprecedented is this decision? And how does it compare with the treatment of journalists in other countries around the world?Jason Rezaian, host of the Washington Post podcast Freedom Desk and the paper's former Tehran bureau chief, has a unique perspective on these questions. While reporting from Iran, he experienced restrictions on press freedom and was ultimately imprisoned by the regime. Since his release, he has become a prominent advocate for press freedom around the world.He joins The Global Story’s Tristan Redman to discuss where President Trump's decision fits into a broader pattern in the relationship between political leaders and the media over recent decades.Producers: Xandra Ellin and Cat Farnsworth.Executive producer: Martine Powers Mix: Travis EvansDigital producer: Sam Gruet Senior news editor: China Collins. Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio points as members of the media raise their hands during a press briefing at the White House in Washington DC, May 5, 2026. Credit: Kylie Cooper/Reuters.
- 1 weeks ago26 min
Inside China’s push to become the world’s AI superpower
China’s President Xi returns to the White House on Thursday for the first time in over a decade. A priority for both leaders will be to discuss AI. The two countries are currently locked in a fierce competition for AI dominance, amid dire warnings from US tech executives in recent weeks that the speed of AI development needs to be slowed, as the risks to humanity are too great. President Trump has rejected those calls for a slowdown or suggestions of regulation, in part because of his concerns that China will overtake the US in AI development. In this episode we speak to the BBC’s China correspondent Laura Bicker who tells us what China’s AI revolution looks from inside the country. And we ask how this issue is changing the power dynamics between the US and China. Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Lucy PawleExecutive producer: Bridget HarneyDigital producer: Sam GruetSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China Collins Photo: A child speaks to a UBTech AI Wukong Robot for sale, during the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing, China August 21, 2026.
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About The Global Story
Where the world and America meet. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption.
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