The Global Story

Lab-grown meat is often touted as the solution to climate-friendly meat production. But in some parts of the world, governments are introducing laws to stop it from being produced. Why are some countries trying to ban it, before it’s even on the shelves? Host Lucy Hockings speaks with Graihagh Jackson host of The Climate Question programme on the BBC World Service and our Asia business reporter Nick Marsh, about whether cultivated meat is a potential solution to the climate crisis or just a gimmick. At the moment, we’re sharing some of our most popular episodes from the past twelve months, including this one. All of these episodes and many more are available to watch on the BBC World Service’s YouTube channel. Just search for “The Global Story” on YouTube to find us. 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: Alice Aylett Roberts and Beth Timmins Sound engineers: Ben Andrews and Hannah Montgomery Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sam Bonham

2024 is expected to be a record-breaking year for tourism, with more travellers going on holiday than ever before. But hotspots like Venice, Hawaii and Bali are also struggling from overtourism. Rajan Datar, host of the BBC's Travel Show, has been meeting people who live in some of the world's tourism hotspots and tells Lucy Hockings about the impact huge numbers of visitors are having on communities and the environment. At the moment, we’re sharing some of our most popular episodes from the past twelve months, including this one. All of these episodes and many more are available to watch on the BBC World Service’s YouTube channel. Just search for “The Global Story” on YouTube to find us. 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: Alice Aylett Roberts, Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly Sound engineers: Johnny Hall Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

In countries across the world women are deciding to delay motherhood. Increased access to education, more career opportunities and less financial stability means that more and more women are having children later in life. But fewer babies now, could mean more economic pressures on the rest of us in the future. Katya Adler explores this complex topic with the BBC's population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty and Joyce Harper, professor of reproductive science at University College London. At the moment, we’re sharing some of our most popular episodes from the past twelve months, including this one. All of these episodes and many more are available to watch on the BBC World Service’s YouTube channel. Just search for “The Global Story” on YouTube to find us. We need you to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email ideas and thoughts to theglobalstory@bbc.com. You can also message or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Beth Timmins and Miriam Quayyum Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Jonathan Aspinwall

A new BBC investigation has found that Myanmar's once-formidable military now controls less than a quarter of the country's territory. The surging resistance movement has been fuelled by young pro-democracy activists who fled to jungle camps following a brutal crackdown by the ruling junta in 2021. As the BBC witnesses the activities of one key militia group up close, we reveal their secret weapon — spies who are bringing down the army from the inside. On today's episode, Lucy Hockings is joined by BBC Burmese editor Soe Win Than and Rebecca Henschke, one of the journalists behind the investigation. They recount the events which inspired these fighters and explain why, despite their success, victory still feels a long way off. To listen to the full investigation, search for The Documentary wherever you get your BBC podcasts. 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: Laurie Kalus and Annie Brown Sound engineers: Ben Andrews and Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

BBC correspondents forecast the leading news stories for the year ahead. If 2024 was the year of elections - around half the world’s population went to the polls this year alone - then 2025 will be the year the election winners try and deliver on their promises. Among them, incoming US president Donald Trump — who has criticised the status quo domestically, and abroad. The world will also enter 2025 with wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan showing no signs of ending - could there be any breakthroughs? And - in the fight against climate change - is 2025 the year greenhouse gas emissions peak? On this episode Azadeh Moshiri asks the BBC’s top correspondents for their predictions on what they think will happen in the next 12 months. 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. Producer: Ben Carter Sound engineers: Ben Andrews and James Beard Assistant editors: Sergi Forcada Freixas and Richard Fenton-Smith