The Global Story

Marianna Spring, BBC's Social Media investigations correspondent, dives deep into the chilling assassination of Charlie Kirk. She unpacks the mysterious inscriptions on the murder's bullet casings, linking them to radical online subcultures and the complexities of political ideology. The conversation reveals how social media amplifies violent sentiments and the resurgence of historical symbols like 'Bella Ciao' as contemporary cultural touchstones. Spring expertly navigates the dark motivations fueling online discourse, highlighting the profound impact of memes and trolling.

France is facing a political crisis as President Macron struggles to maintain power. Amid protests, Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally is gaining momentum, with calls for new elections. The podcast explores the party's controversial history and its rebranding efforts to appeal to a wider audience, including its new pro-Israel stance. The potential rise of a far-right government raises questions about France's future and could reshape its relationship with the U.S. as well as impact the European Union's dynamics.

In this captivating discussion, David Weigel, a political correspondent for Semafor, delves into the impactful strategies of controversial conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He explores how Kirk reshaped conservative ideologies on college campuses and his global outreach efforts, including Nigeria. Daniel Ogoloma, a British-Nigerian student who debated Kirk at Oxford, shares his vision for introducing Kirk’s ideas into Nigerian politics. The conversation also touches on the emotional aftermath of Kirk's tragic events and the inspiring legacy he's left for future generations.

In this engaging discussion, Tom Bateman, BBC's State Department correspondent, delves into the unexpected role of Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul turned diplomatic envoy, amidst escalating tensions in Gaza and Ukraine. The conversation highlights Witkoff's unconventional approach to diplomacy, questioning if his lack of experience is a liability or an asset. Bateman analyzes the intricate dynamics of U.S. foreign policy during the Trump era and the challenges of navigating such volatile international crises.

On Tuesday, Israel carried out a series of unexpected bombings, targeting senior Hamas leaders. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it was a "precise strike" on those responsible for the October 7 attacks, but the Qataris have called the strike a "blatant violation" of international law. Qatar has been mediating indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza. In the US, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was notified about plans of the strike ahead of time, but said, “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States [...] does not advance Israel or America’s goals”. On today's Global Story, we talk to the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, about the impact this could have on future peace talks. Producers: Hannah Moore and Valerio Esposito Executive producer: Annie Brown Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China CollinsImage: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sept 8 2025. Menahem Kahana / AFP via Getty Images.

Nick Beake, a BBC Verify correspondent, shares on-the-ground insights from the recent immigration raid at the Hyundai factory in Georgia, where hundreds of South Korean workers were detained. Jake Kwon, a producer at BBC Seoul, offers the South Korean perspective, highlighting the diplomatic fallout and the emotional turmoil experienced by families. They discuss how this incident complicates U.S.-South Korea relations, scrutinizing the tension between enforcing immigration laws and the need for skilled labor in American manufacturing.

In Brazil this week an alternate reality is unfolding: a former president, who allegedly tried to incite an insurrection to overturn an election, is on trial. A verdict is expected this week, and he may go to prison for the rest of his life. On January 8th 2023, Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters broke into government buildings, demanding to overturn the result of the election Bolsonaro had lost. In the aftermath of those events, Bolsonaro was accused of masterminding a plot for a military coup. He denies these claims and says the charges are politically motivated. President Trump has called the trial a “witch hunt” and gone to extreme measures to try to influence its outcome. But have his attempts to influence the trial backfired? We speak with Ione Wells, the BBC’s South America correspondent, who has been reporting from inside the trial. Producers: Viv Jones and Valerio Esposito Executive producer: Annie Brown Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins Image: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia on July 17, 2025. Mateus Bonomi / AFP via Getty Images

In 1994, Ukraine surrendered the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal, inherited from the collapsed Soviet Union, in exchange for security assurances from the US, Russia, and the UK. Ukraine’s denuclearisation is often considered a huge success story in nuclear non-proliferation, but in retrospect, it may have paved the way for Putin's 2022 invasion. As talk of US-European security guarantees for Ukraine resurfaces in the context of tentative Russia-Ukraine peace talks, we speak with BBC Paris correspondent Andrew Harding about the history of the 1994 agreement, and consider whether Ukraine would ever again believe promises made to protect it.Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Xandra Ellin Executive producer: Annie Brown Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China CollinsFrance's President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive to chair the Coalition of the Willing Summit, at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on September 4, 2025. Ludovic Marin/ Getty

President Xi Jinping said humanity faces "a choice between peace and war” as China paraded a huge arsenal of weapons – including nuclear missiles – in Beijing yesterday. Xi's military parade, watched over by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, seemed a provocation to the west – most notably, Donald Trump – and a signal of his will to redraw the world order, lessening China’s reliance on the US. In today's episode, the BBC's Celia Hatton considers: how long will China's friendships last with world leaders who have for years been its rivals? Producers: Hannah Moore and Lucy Pawle Executive Producer: James Shield Mix: Travis Evans Senior News Editor: China CollinsImage: Xi Jingping at a WW2 anniversary reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Florence Lo/Reuters

Today, we’re joined by BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen to explore oppositional visions for a post-war Gaza — one from the Americans and the other from the rest of the western world.There are two competing international visions for the future for Palestinians: much of the Western world will recognise Palestinian Statehood at this month’s United Nations General Assembly in a push towards the two-state solution; whilst Donald Trump has touted plans for a US-controlled Gaza riviera. But how do these ideas line up with reality on the ground, as Netanyahu’s government continues to bombard the Gaza Strip, approves plans for expanding settlements and expresses support for a ‘Greater Israel’ that expands across the Middle East? We consider Gaza’s future with BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen.Producers: Samantha Chantarasak and Xandra Ellin Executive Producer: Annie Brown Mix: Travis Evans Senior News Editor: China CollinsImage: President Trump Meets With Visiting Israeli PM Netanyahu At The White House. Anna Moneymaker/Getty