The Global Story

During the pandemic, for the first time in most of our living memories, the balance of power shifted from employer to employee. By 2021, the percentage of people in the US quitting their jobs was the highest it had been in decades, with tens of millions of people quitting in a single year, confident that they could find something better elsewhere - a trend dubbed ‘The Great Resignation’.
Five years on, and the quitting rates are way down. People are staying in jobs longer, if they are lucky enough to have one. Why?
On today’s show, Tristan is joined by Anthony Klotz, a professor of organisational behaviour at University College London and author, who coined the term ‘The Great Resignation’ and Sarah O'Connor, a columnist for the Financial Times and author of ‘We Are Not Machines: The Fight for the Future of Work’, to explore how the world of work has been changed by AI, political and economic instability, and to consider how we can better enjoy the jobs we are in.
Producer: Hannah Moore
Mix: Travis Evans
Executive producer: James Shield
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: Woman working on laptop at home. Credit: BBC

On Wednesday, President Trump met with Iranian leaders to sign an initial memorandum of understanding towards ending the months-long war. In a press conference after the signing, Trump was triumphant. Specifically, he touted the deal’s firmness on one of the US’s key priorities: ensuring that Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon.
Whilst Iran has agreed to “not procure or develop nuclear weapons," there are many questions left unanswered. What does it actually look like to police the weapons programmes
Today, we speak to someone intimately familiar with the weapons inspection process: President of the Institute for Science and International Security, David Albright. In the 1990s, Albright worked in Iraq with the UN, investigating the nation’s weapons programme under Sadaam Hussein.
Producers: Xandra Ellin and Cat Farnsworth
Executive producers: Bridget Harney and China Collins
Mix: Travis Evans
Video producer: Matt Pintus
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein

On Sunday, Colombia will elect a new president. A Trump-endorsed outsider, Abelardo de la Espriella, nicknamed ‘The Tiger,’ is now ahead in the polls, and within striking distance of the presidency. His platform promises a military crackdown on narcoterrorism and closer collaboration with the United States.
Many Latin American nations have shifted to the right in recent elections, and the Colombia vote is seen as a crucial litmus test for the wider region’s political landscape. Could Colombia be the next country in Latin America take a hard turn to the right? And how might that benefit President Donald Trump? We speak to BBC South America correspondent, Ione Wells.
Producers: Viv Jones and Xandra Ellin
Executive producer: Bridget Harney
Mix: Travis Evans
Video producer: Matt Pintus
Senior news editor: China Collins
Phto: Colombian right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella. REUTERS/Cesar Quiroz

Global fertility rates are at record lows globally, and governments around the world are urging couples to grow their families.
Under Viktor Orbán’s leadership, Hungary implemented some of the most aggressive pro-natalist policies in the world — including generous subsidies for couples who promise to have children, lengthy paid maternity leave, and thousands of dollars in interest-free loans.
But does paying people to have kids actually work? We speak to BBC populations correspondent Stephanie Hegarty about the possibilities and limitations of pro-natalist government policies.
Producers: Xandra Ellin and Hannah Moore
Executive producer: Bridget Harney
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: A mother holding the feet of her baby. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

The US and Iran have agreed a deal to end the war, which – if all goes to plan – will be signed at a ceremony in Switzerland on Friday.
But the agreement remains shrouded in mystery, and major questions remain about whether both sides can reach a long-term peace deal.
We speak to the BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, about how the past few months have affected the global economy, the region, Iran’s nuclear capabilities, its regime and its people.
Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Lucy Pawle
Executive producer: James Shield
Audio mix: Travis Evans
Video producer: Matt Pintus
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: A drone view shows vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 15, 2026. Photo credit: Reuters