Hollywood’s big night is upon us, and the studios have spent millions of dollars to make sure their favourite contenders win. Are the Academy Awards really about honouring cinematic achievement? Or does it all come down to campaigns and connections?   Presenter James Reynolds speaks to film journalist Tom Brook, who has covered every Oscars since 1982, and Leila Latif, a journalist who has worked on Oscar campaigns.  The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell  The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com or message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.
This episode was made by Peter Goffin and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

How to win an Oscar

The one big story. Making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, Monday to Friday, from the BBC.  Episodes will be ready by 10:30 GMT. Host Katya Adler and our BBC teams guide you through one major global news story each episode. From Beijing to Boston, Baghdad to Bangalore, our unrivalled reach will take you beyond the headlines to help understand and explore what’s happening. The Global News Podcast brings you the latest updates and, on The Global Story, we will drill deep into a single story. From the climate emergency, to the burning questions around Artificial Intelligence, to the movements of money and markets, and the power of the ballot and the bullet. Katya Adler has been a BBC correspondent and editor for more than 25 years, covering conflicts in the Middle East, political and economic crises in Europe, and drug cartels in Mexico.  The Global Story team would like to hear your stories and experiences on the issues that we’re covering on the podcast. Please get in touch: theglobalstory@bbc.com #TheGlobalStory and tell us your thoughts on what you would like us to talk about.

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Over recent months rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been exchanging diss tracks in a bitter lyrical battle which has caught the attention of fans and media alike. Characterised by scathing personal attacks and incredibly serious allegations, their beef has divided the industry, with some members of hip-hop royalty suggesting they took things too far.  Now the furious jibes have stopped, how will this chapter in music history be remembered? To discuss the fallout, Sumi Somaskanda is joined by BBC Radio 1 & Radio 1Xtra's Kenny Allstar, and Billboard's Carl Lamarre, who consider whether this will go down as the greatest rap feud of all time. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory. TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app. This episode was made by Laurie Kalus. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Drake v Kendrick: The biggest rap feud of all time?

What Michael Cohen’s testimony means for the case and the US election. The former president’s lawyer once said he’d take a bullet for Donald Trump. Now, he’s trying to sink the knife as the prosecution’s key witness.   Caitriona Perry in Washington talks to Madeline Halpert, who has been in court covering the trial from the start, and our North America Editor Sarah Smith.  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, or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.   The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story makes several other podcasts, including Americast and Ukrainecast. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.  This episode was made by Neal Razzell, Rachel Hagan and Emilia Jansson. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Trump on trial: The star witness speaks

Neom, Saudi Arabia's ambitions city of the future, promises a car-free, carbon-free space open to all. At the heart of the plans are two skyscrapers as tall as the Empire State building, carved into the desert in a straight line for more than 100 miles. But can this dream ever become a reality? BBC Verify's Merlyn Thomas has been investigating allegations that Saudi security forces were permitted to use lethal force while clearing inhabitants from the vast building site. Our Middle East Business Correspondent, Sameer Hashmi, tells us that Saudi Arabia is banking on Neom to help future proof its economy, but that they might struggle to cover the rising costs of the project. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory. The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app. This episode was made by Richard Moran. The technical producers were Gareth Jones and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Neom: Can Saudi Arabia afford to build the futuristic mega-city?

For weeks, tens of thousands of Georgians have been protesting against a new law that they say threatens democracy and freedom of speech. It targets civil society organisations and independent media that receive foreign funding. But its opponents say it's an attempt by the Georgian government to mimic Russian policy. Katya Adler speaks to the BBC’s Nina Akhmeteli who’s in Tbilisi and Politico’s reporter in the region Gabriel Gavin. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory. The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app. This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts, Peter Goffin and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Emma Crowe and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Georgia protests: Is “Russia law” a threat to democracy?

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the rise in domestic violence and violence towards women has become a "national crisis". Katya Adler speaks with our Sydney correspondent Katy Watson and BBC journalist Tiffanie Turnbull about how Australia has responded to this growing violence and what can be done to stop it. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory.  The Global Story is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app. This episode was made by Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producers were Emma Crowe and Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

How to win an Oscar

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