Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20250208 | 20250220 (WS) 20250223 (WS) |  | ||
| 20250215 | 20250227 (WS) 20250302 (WS) | Russia's land grab playbook aimed at erasing local identity and russifying “liberated ? territories. Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. Part two focuses on Moscow's efforts to assert itself in the separatist east. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Looking at the world through the lens of its media Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. Part two focuses on Moscow's efforts to assert itself in the east. | ||
| 20250626 | Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |||
| Ai Jihad | 20251101 | 20251102 (WS) | Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| Contested Waters: Crimea | 20240316 | 20240317 (WS) 20240318 (WS) | How water is used as a weapon of war following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An irrigation system, once created at Stalin's order as a project of grand Soviet social engineering, is now running dry. We dig into the history of the Crimean water dispute - the surprising twists and turns and the narratives constructed by both Russia and Ukraine. Presenter: Krassi Twigg Producer: Kriszta Satori Crimea is suffering from depleted water supplies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An irrigation system, once created at Stalin's order, is now running dry. | |
| Contested Waters: Helmand | 20240323 | 20240324 (WS) 20240325 (WS) | The water dispute driving the turbulent relationship between Afghanistan and Iran is in an area faced with worsening climate change. The waters of the Helmand river are a lifeline for border communities, and a live wire that has at times nearly sparked wars. We follow the twists and turns of the row between Kabul and Tehran, and the shifting role of the Taliban within it. Presenter: Krassi Twigg Producer: Kriszta Satori How the waters of the Helmand river have driven tensions between Afghanistan and Iran The waters of the Helmand river are a lifeline for border communities, and a live wire that has nearly sparked wars. We follow the twists of the dispute between Kabul and Tehran. | |
| Culture Wars: Turkey's Anti-lgbt Drive | 20241123 | 20241110 (WS) 20241111 (WS) 20241124 (WS) | What's behind the evolution of President Erdogan's narrative on LGBT issues, and how did Turkey's Islamic conservatives find common ground with American Evangelicals? President Erdogan skipped the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris in August after his granddaughter warned him about the “LGBT show ?. He berated the French organisers for “debasing humanity to a level below animals ?. His anti-LGBT push is relatively recent. We take a look at one battlefield of the global culture war. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Looking at the world through the lens of its media What's behind the evolution of the Turkish president's anti-LGBT narrative? | |
| Decoding China's Doublespeak | 20250913 | 20250914 (WS) | How the Chinese Communist Party gets lost in translation and whether it's accidental or intentional. “The Belt and Road Initiative ?, “community with a shared future for humankind ?, “socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era ? - the slogans and proclamations coming out of Beijing can sound abstract and bewildering. We examine the complex character of the language and how it's put to use by the CCP to understand why its message can get lost on the outside world. Contributor: Tom Lam Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Examining the complex character of the Chinese Communist Party's language. Is it accidental or intentional? Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. | |
| Does Russia's Election Matter? | 20240217 | 20240218 (WS) | Putin's re-election is certain, but there is still a lot at stake for the Kremlin. We look into the efforts aimed at achieving unequivocal victory in what seems to be the most oppressive election in Russia for two decades. What are the stories state media can and cannot touch, how much of a headache does dissent from the mothers and wives of soldiers pose to the authorities and does Putin really have body doubles? *This episode was recorded before the announcement of Alexey Navalny's death.* Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Editor: Judy King Sound engineer: Martin Appleby Original music: Pete Cunningham Putin's re-election is certain, but there is still a lot at stake for him and the Kremlin Putin's re-election is certain, but there is still a lot at stake for him and for the Kremlin. We look into the efforts aimed at achieving unequivocal victory. | |
| How China Sees Itself In Africa | 20240519 | “China is not buying Africa, it is building Africa ? is the view from Beijing. How is this landing with local audiences? There have been hints of a cooling down of Sino-African friendship. For this episode, the team travels to the Kenyan capital Nairobi to get a sense of Chinese influence on the ground, and understand why Beijing has chosen it as a hub for its media operation in Africa. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Beijing says it is building, not buying, Africa. Do people in Nairobi agree? “China is not buying Africa, it is building Africa ? is the view from Beijing. Do people in Nairobi agree? | ||
| How Drones Have Changed War | 20240413 | 20240414 (WS) | Drones have reshaped the battlefield in Ukraine - and created new challenges, raising concerns about the nature of future warfare. Drone technology has many iterations from Iran's Shaheds and Turkey's Bayraktars to the home-made war drone. We look into the history, the geopolitics and the worrying prospect of this tech teaming up with AI. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg | |
| Iran's Media At War | 20260319 | 20260321 (WS) 20260322 (WS) | The war in Iran through the eyes of the Islamic Republic, and how Tehran's restrictions on information went full throttle. In this episode we peek under the bonnet of the machinery that shapes official narratives and controls the media in Iran. And we revisit the turbulent first days of the war as they unfolded on national TV, from the death of Ayatollah Khamenei to the surprise apology by President Pezeshkian and the rise of a new Supreme Leader. Producer: Kriszta Satori, Barry Sadid, Krassi Ivanova Twigg Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| Israeli Media | 20250510 | 20250511 (WS) 20250531 (WS) 20250601 (WS) | Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| Jihadists And Ai | 20251030 | 20251101 (WS) 20251102 (WS) | How Jihadists wrestle with the question: to use or not to use AI. The allure of this powerful tool and the damage they fear it could inflict on their image and reputation. Supporters of the Islamic State group tend to be early adopters of new tech, and some have already experimented with generative Artificial Intelligence. But that has exposed deep divisions in jihadist circles. We explore this debate to understand what “responsible AI ? means for them. Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Steven Humphry Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham The AI dilemma facing IS and al-Qaeda Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| Language Of War - Russia | 20241228 | 20241222 (WS) 20241223 (WS) | | |
| Language Of War - Ukraine | 20241228 | 20241229 (WS) 20241230 (WS) | Kyiv's answer to the Kremlin's warspeak. In part one of this miniseries, we focused on Russia's case, trying to see through Moscow's war propaganda: its purpose and building blocks. In this episode, we turn to the Ukrainian side of this linguistic tug or war. Here we find that language itself is at the heart of this conflict, fuelling Ukraine's “linguistic decolonisation ?. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Kyiv's answer to the Kremlin's warspeak, and why language itself is at the heart of this conflict. Kyiv's answer to the Kremlin's warspeak. The linguistic tug of war between Russia and Ukraine gets powered by collective historic memory. We looked at Russia's case in part one of this miniseries, to see through the Kremlin's war propaganda: its purpose and linguistic building blocks. In this episode, we turn to the Ukrainian side, and here we find that language itself is at the heart of this conflict, inducing Ukraine's “linguistic decolonisation ?. | |
| Life In Occupied Ukraine: Crimea | 20250220 | 20250222 (WS) | Russia's land grab playbook aimed at erasing local identity and Russifying “liberated ? territories. Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. Part one looks at “ripe for Russification ? Crimea, which was annexed 11 years ago. Part two focuses on Moscow's subsequent efforts to assert itself in the separatist East. And in part three we explore the Kremlin's challenges in subjugating parts of the newly occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. As time passes, the uncertainty over the future of what Ukraine calls “temporarily occupied territories ? grows bigger. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Looking at the world through the lens of its media Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control, beginning in Crimea. | |
| Life In Occupied Ukraine: Donbas | 20250227 | 20250302 (WS) | Russia's land grab playbook aimed at erasing local identity and russifying “liberated ? territories. Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. Part two focuses on Moscow's efforts to assert itself in the separatist east. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Moscow's efforts to assert itself in the east of Ukraine Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. Part two focuses on Moscow's efforts to assert itself in the east. | |
| Life In Occupied Ukraine: Kherson And Zaporizhzhia | 20250306 | 20250309 (WS) | Russia's land grab playbook aimed at erasing local identity and Russifying “liberated ? territories. Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we ask what life is like in areas under Russian control. Part 1 looks at “ripe for Russification ? Crimea, which was annexed 11 years ago. Part 2 focuses on Moscow's subsequent efforts to assert itself in the separatist East. And in Part 3 we explore the Kremlin's challenges in subjugating occupied parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. As time passes, the uncertainty over the future of what Ukraine calls “temporarily occupied territories ? grows bigger. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg The uncertainty over what Ukraine calls temporarily occupied territories grows bigger Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Three years into the full scale invasion of Ukraine, we explore the Kremlin's challenges in subjugating the newly occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. | |
| Made In Russia: The Kremlin's Economic Rebrand | 20251204 | 20251207 (WS) | Moscow is working around international sanctions by promoting self-sustainability, elevating Russian brands and deepening trade with friendly countries. After Western companies retreated as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine started, Russian consumer habits and the economy began to shift. We explore how sanctions reshaped everyday life and ask: can Russia sustain a forever war? Krassi Ivanova Twigg speaks to the BBC's military and economy expert Tim Bowler, who has been tracking the movement of foreign companies in Russia's new reality. And Evgeny Poduvkin of the BBC Russia team explores the 'grey markets' where ordinary Russian citizens are acquiring western brands. Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Producer: Kriszta Satori Music: Pete Cunningham How Moscow is working around international sanctions by promoting self-sustainability Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives How Moscow is working around international sanctions by promoting self-sustainability, elevating Russian brands and deepening trade with friendly countries. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. | |
| Monitoring Africa | 20241207 | 20241208 (WS) 20241209 (WS) | What does it take to track media in Africa where radio is king? Originally set up as the East Africa Unit after the Suez crisis, BBC Monitoring's Nairobi operation has seen history unfold on the continent over six decades. The team travels to Nairobi to meet the monitors. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg | |
| Moscow Attack: Disinfo Wars | 20240330 | 20240331 (WS) | Who is behind the Crocus City Hall attack? Within an hour of last week's deadly attack on a concert hall outside Moscow, a campaign was gathering momentum to blame Kyiv for the atrocity while a parallel storyline claimed it was a Russian false flag operation. We track the blame game: the narratives and the counter-narratives underpinned by generous doses of disinformation. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Who is behind the Crocus City Hall attack? We track the blame game. Who is behind the Crocus City Hall attack? We track the blame game: the narratives and the counter-narratives underpinned by generous doses of disinformation. | |
| Netanyahu's Media Squeeze | 20250530 | 20250605 (WS) 20250608 (WS) | The Israeli government's push to transform the media landscape has been described by critics as a “hostile takeover ? that poses a threat to press freedom. In this episode we take a look at what people in Israel see about the war in Gaza on their TV screens. We examine the methods and the motives behind the prime minister's media squeeze, and ask what this means for the country priding itself on being ‘the only democracy' in the Middle East. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Contributor: Shaina Oppenheimer Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| Nuclear Tensions In The Middle East | 20251004 | 20251005 (WS) | The narratives and the doctrines built on ever-growing suspicions and fears that are once again stirring the Middle East. Russia's invasion of Ukraine hasn't just threatened to redraw the map of Europe - it has transformed the global security landscape. The ripple effects have been felt way beyond the continent, reigniting fears not felt since the Cold War - of a new nuclear arms race. In this episode we go back to the beginnings of nuclear ambitions in the Middle East to weigh up the consequences for the world today. Contributors: Barry Sadid, Shaina Oppenheimer, Florence Dixon, Nihan Kale Producer: Kriszta Satori, Barry Sadid Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham Why fears of a new nuclear arms race are growing in the Middle East Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Russia's invasion of Ukraine hasn't just threatened to redraw the map of Europe - it has transformed the global security landscape. The ripple effects have been felt way beyond the borders of the continent, reigniting fears not felt since the Cold War - of a new nuclear arms race. In this episode of The Global Jigsaw we take stock of the narratives in the nuclear hotspot of the world - the Middle East. We go back to the beginnings of nuclear ambitions in the region, assess the reasons why countries want to go nuclear and weigh up the consequences for the world today. A look at the narratives in the nuclear hotspot of the world - the Middle East. | |
| Persian Poetry And Politics | 20251225 | 20251228 (WS) | How poetry is used by Persian speaking leaders to build legitimacy and shape the political narrative. Across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, millions share a language - and a passion for poetry. But with its abundance of lovers and wine, Persian poetry sits uneasily with Iran's theocratic leaders. We explore their complicated relationship with this facet of Persian identity, and how they occasionally turn to verse to secure popular appeal. Producer: Kriszta Satori, Barry Sadid Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. | |
| Russia's \u201cspecial Demographic Operation\u201d | 20241116 | 20241117 (WS) 20241118 (WS) | Why is the Kremlin worried about population decline? President Putin has made the increase of human capital a national priority. Decision-makers have been competing to offer a solution, from fiscal incentives to encourage women to have more children, to restricting access to abortion, to banning 'propaganda' of “childless lifestyle ?. Will their plan work? Producer: Francis Scarr, Veronika Malinboym, Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Twigg Why is the Kremlin worried about population decline? President Putin has made the increase of human capital a priority. Will his plan work? | |
| The Battle For Hungary | 20260409 | Viktor Orban faces a high-stakes showdown as Peter Magyar takes him on in one of Europe's most consequential elections in years. A former ally-turned-rival Peter Magyar has built a remarkable momentum in a short time, with polls placing him ahead of the incumbent. Yet victory may still prove elusive within a power structure designed to protect the status quo. In this episode we examine the unequal playing field that is the election machine. We cut through the exuberance of the campaign to distil the messages of the rival camps, Fidesz and Tisza, and explore how the outcome could redefine Hungary's role in the region. We speak to Amitis Sedghi, Rita Palfi and Zsofia Paulikovics. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Viktor Orban faces a high-stakes showdown as a former ally-turned-rival takes him on in one of Europe's most consequential elections in years The Global Jigsaw investigates issues around the world. | ||
| The Evolution Of The Islamic State Group | 20240615 | 20240620 (WS) 20240623 (WS) | After a lull in activities, in 2024 the Islamic State Group claimed to be behind several major attacks, showing the world they haven't gone away. Among them was the storming by gunmen of a Moscow concert hall. Ten years after the Islamist extremists declared the establishment of a caliphate, our Jihadist Media Monitoring Team considers the current capabilities and ambitions of the group that once ruled over a large territory in Iraq and Syria. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg After a lull in activities, in 2024 IS claimed to be behind several major attacks | |
| The Global Jigsaw: The Women Of Is (3-3) | 20260312 | 20260315 (WS) | After the fall of the Islamic State caliphate, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurds, those camps are now under the control of the Syrian authorities who are hoping to close them down and repatriate their residents. We look into the complexities of the task and ask who are the women of IS. After the fall of the Islamic State caliphate we look at who are the women of IS. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| The Jnim Branch Of Al-qaeda | 20250724 | 20250802 (WS) 20250803 (WS) | The JNIM branch of al-Qaeda is one of the world's deadliest jihadist groups. It has firmly planted its flag in the Sahel. Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as a key battlefront for jihadists: around 50 percent of deaths from terrorism in 2024 were registered in the Sahel region alone, according to the Global Terrorism Index. JNIM is an eclectic yet united coalition, rooted in the tribal desert regions of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. We look into its leaders, its narrative, and its modus operandi, and analyse the complexity of a region beleaguered by military coups, ethnic violence, and climate change. Contributors: Barry Marston, Jacob Boswall Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| The Kurdish Issue: - Part One | 20250417 | 20250420 (WS) | What does the future hold for Kurdish people? Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish issue - the persecution, the resistance and their attempts to form a state. We ask what the future holds for one of the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world scattered across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. | |
| The Kurdish Issue: - Part Three | 20250501 | 20250504 (WS) | Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish issue - the persecution, the resistance and their attempts to form a state. We ask what does the future hold for one of the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world scattered across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. What does the future hold for Kurdish people? Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| The Kurdish Issue: - Part Two | 20250424 | 20250427 (WS) | Will the call for the PKK to disarm end in a new era of peace for the Kurds, or is this just another turn in a tortured history? In February, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, released a jaw-dropping written message to his followers from his jail cell, calling for the group to lay down arms and disband. In this series we explore the Kurdish issue - the persecution, the resistance and their attempts to form a state. We ask what does the future hold for one of the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world scattered across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. What does the future hold for Kurdish people? Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. | |
| The Language Of War: Russia | 20241221 | 20241222 (WS) 20241223 (WS) | Decoding the Kremlin's warspeak to understand the power of propaganda as a weapon of war. “Let's cut dill ?, “a pop of cotton ?, “meat assault ?: expressions the average foreigner might struggle to understand. We analyse Moscow's military jargon; in part two of this mini-series, we'll explore Kyiv's answer to it. Producer: Kriszta Satori, Vitaly Shevchenko Presenter: Krassi Twigg | |
| The Rebels Who Retook Aleppo | 20241206 | A shock offensive on Aleppo turned Syria's forgotten conflict into hot war. The group spearheading it, Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), has been at pains to present itself as a credible governing body, having renounced its jihadist past. With a bounty on his head, its leader, Abu Mohammed al Jawlani, has been spinning his propaganda machine in the northern province of Idlib, wearing western suits and taking selfies with the locals. We track his journey of transformation in this episode, first published in 2023. Producer: Kriszta Satori, Anne Dixey Presenter: Krassi Twigg A shock offensive turned Syria's forgotten conflict into hot war A shock offensive on Aleppo turned Syria's forgotten conflict into hot war. The group spearheading it was once an al-Qaeda offshoot. | ||
| The Re-emergence Of The Islamic State Group | 20240615 | 20240620 (WS) 20240623 (WS) | After a lull in activities, in 2024 IS claimed to be behind several major attacks, showing the world they haven't gone away. Among them was the storming by gunmen of a Moscow concert hall. Ten years after the Islamist extremists declared the establishment of a caliphate, our Jihadist Media Monitoring Team considers the current capabilities and ambitions of the group that once ruled over a large territory in Iraq and Syria. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg After a lull in activities, in 2024 the Islamic State Group claimed to be behind several major attacks. What are their current capabilities and ambitions? | |
| The Sahel's Coup Contagion | 20240727 | 20240728 (WS) | The geopolitical tectonic shifts in Africa that could be felt in Europe too. A year after the coup in Niger, which was seen as a key ally of the West, Africa's ‘coup belt' faces growing uncertainty about its future security. As US and international forces withdraw, legacy Wagner groups seek to conquer new zones of influence for Russia in the face of a growing jihadist threat. What hope is there for the region? Producers: Kriszta Satori, Linnete Bahati, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Twigg The geopolitical tectonic shifts in Africa that could be felt in Europe too. A snapshot of the year since the coup in Niger. | |
| The Taliban's War On Women | 20240808 | The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan has led to the erasure of women from public life. There's a UN-led campaign to recognise it as “gender apartheid ?, but the international community is divided and lacking leverage. Three years after the group took the capital Kabul, our experts explain what life is like for half of the population and why women have become a proxy for the nation's image of itself. Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Twigg The group's return to power in Afghanistan has seen the erasure of women from public life | ||
| The Trump Effect On Global Media | 20250508 | 20250510 20250510 (WS) 20250511 (WS) | We assess the damage to independent journalism globally by cuts to USAGM and USAID, described as “the chainsaw approach ? of the Trump administration. The defunding of Voice of America, RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) and its multiple language services has been decried as “a gift to dictators ?. Although these cuts are being disputed in court, they could have long-lasting implications for audiences around the world. Can the harm be undone? Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg Contributors: Pascal Fletcher, Samia Hosny, Margaryta Maliukova, Andrey Vladov, Tom Lam, Sarbas Nazari, Moses Rono Exploring the changes to media around the world caused by cuts to USAGM and USAID Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives We assess the damage to independent journalism by cuts to USAGM and USAID, described as the 'chainsaw approach ? of the Trump administration. This episode of The Global Jigsaw explores the earth-shattering changes to media around the world caused by cuts to USAGM and USAID. It's unprecedented in its scale and it leaves more vacuum to be filled by the expanding Russian Sputnik, Turkish TRT and Iran's IRIB, to name a few. This episode will aim to get a sense of how these changes are transforming the global information space. | |
| The Women Of Is (1-3) | 20260226 | 20260301 (WS) | After the fall of the Islamic State caliphate, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurds, those camps are now under the control of the Syrian authorities who are hoping to close them down and repatriate their residents. We look into the complexities of the task and ask who are the women of IS. After the fall of the Islamic State caliphate we look at the women of IS. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| The Women Of Is (2-3) | 20260305 | 20260308 (WS) | After the fall of the Islamic State caliphate, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurds, those camps are now under the control of the Syrian authorities who are hoping to close them down and repatriate their residents. We look into the complexities of the task and ask who are the women of IS. After the fall of the Islamic State caliphate we look at who are the women of IS. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| The Women Of Is: - Part One | 20260226 | What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? After the fall of the so-called “caliphate', tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, those camps are now in the process of being closed down by the Syrian authorities. This three-part series explores the trauma that led to the prolonged existence of these camps and what the future might hold for their residents. In part one, we zoom in on the tent city of al-Hol. Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Jiyar Gol, Barry Marston, Mohammed Al-Jumaily Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham What next for the women and children living in Syria's detention camps? Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Who are the women and children living in the detention camps of north-eastern Syria, and what will happen to them as the camps are closed down? | ||
| The Women Of Is: - Part Three | 20260312 | 20260315 (WS) | What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? After the fall of the so-called “caliphate ?, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the Islamic State group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, those camps are now in the process of being closed down by the Syrian authorities. This series explores the trauma that led to the prolonged existence of the camps and what the future might hold for their residents. In part three, we discuss justice and rehabilitation, as well as where the latest dramatic events leave the story. Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Barry Marston, Clare Denning, Samia Hosny, Mohammed al-Jumaily, Bryn Windsor Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham What do developments in the Middle East mean for those in Syrian detention camps? Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| The Women Of Is: - Part Two | 20260305 | 20260308 (WS) | What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? After the fall of the so-called “caliphate ?, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the Islamic State group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, those camps are now in the process of being closed down by the Syrian authorities. This three-part series explores the trauma that led to their prolonged existence and how it might affect their future. In part two, we examine where governments are drawing the line on repatriation, from Britain's tough stance to Kazakhstan's model of success. Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Jiyar Gol, Barry Marston, Clare Denning, Mohammed Al-Jumaily, Bryn Windsor Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham How governments are drawing the line on repatriation of refugees from camps in Syria Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? How governments are drawing the line on repatriation of refugees. | |
| Turkey's Foothold In Africa | 20241221 | 20241215 (WS) 20241216 (WS) | A dive into the narratives surrounding Turkey's ambitions in Africa where Ankara is touting itself as a “non-colonising ? alternative to Western powers. Turkey has been expanding its influence operations in Africa in recent years: from military muscle and drone diplomacy to education and humanitarian projects to soft power and spiritual bonding. We ask what sets Turkey apart from other foreign powers vying for influence on the continent and what its distinctive approach has achieved. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg | |
| Ukraine: Whose Peace? | 20260130 | 20260201 (WS) | Can diplomacy alone end the war in Ukraine in the absence of a compromise? After nearly four years of fighting and countless deaths, top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the US and Europe have been hard at work trying to hammer out a peace deal. Indeed, this work has produced several multi-point peace plans amid proclamations of “productive talks ?, creating the impression that peace is around the corner. We compare the Russian and Ukrainian wish lists to reveal two parallel realities of peace that cannot coexist. What are the peace negotiations achieving? Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives | |
| What Hope For Haiti? | 20240309 | 20240310 (WS) 20240311 (WS) | Gang violence has turned the small Caribbean nation into a “living nightmare ?, with rapes, kidnappings and killings a daily occurrence. More than a decade after a devastating earthquake - and billions of dollars spent on recovery - Haiti is back on its knees. Plans for a new Kenya-led, UN-approved security deployment have stalled amid a debate about how much of a help or hindrance foreign assistance is. We check-in with the reality on the ground and take stock of the arguments. Gang violence has turned the small Caribbean nation into a living nightmare Gang violence has turned the small Caribbean nation into a “living nightmare ?. Plans for a new UN-approved security mission have stalled. | |
| What Is The 'russian Cultural Code'? | 20251127 | 20251130 (WS) | Why the traditional kokoshnik headdress is en vogue in Russia, and how it has become a poster image for the Kremlin's vision of national identity. When President Putin talks not of tanks but of tiaras, it's a signal that symbolism matters. We unpick the dress code of the Russian “patriot ? to explore a deeper idea at the heart of everything from fashion and music to entertainment and literature. We go on a mission to decode the “cultural code ? that, in the eyes of Russia's leaders, makes the nation unique - and morally superior. Contributors: Veronika Malinboym, Yulia Volovik Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham Why a headdress has become a poster image for the Kremlin's vision of national identity Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. | |
| What Next For Poland? | 20250626 | Why are Poland's young voters turning to the right? With his veto powers, Poland's president-elect Karol Nawrocki could halt the pro-EU government of Donald Tusk. Poland is a NATO member and backs Ukraine in the war with Russia. Scaling up security is an issue almost all Poles agree on, yet there are some signs of shifting attitudes - on foreign policy and immigration. We examine the gender gap among voters and the recent election discourse to understand how conflicting priorities and enduring conservative values are shaping the eastern flank of the West. Contributors: Margaryta Maliukova Producers: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Why are Poland's young voters turning to the right? We examine how conflicting priorities and enduring conservative values are shaping the eastern flank of the West. | ||
| What Next For Poland? | 20250626 | 20250629 (WS) | Why are Poland's young voters turning to the right? With his veto powers, Poland's president-elect Karol Nawrocki could halt the pro-EU government of Donald Tusk. Poland is a NATO member and backs Ukraine in the war with Russia. Scaling up security is an issue almost all Poles agree on, yet there are some signs of shifting attitudes - on foreign policy and immigration. We examine the gender gap among voters and the recent election discourse to understand how conflicting priorities and enduring conservative values are shaping the eastern flank of the West. Contributors: Margaryta Maliukova Producers: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives Why are Poland's young voters turning to the right? We examine how conflicting priorities and enduring conservative values are shaping the eastern flank of the West. Looking at the world through the lens of its media. We live in an age of information warfare, weaponised narratives and captured media. So, what agendas are at play? BBC Monitoring tracks and analyses media in up to 100 languages. Think of us as your media detectives, lifting the language barrier to tell you what's being said, to whom, and why. | |
| What's Iran's Irgc? | 20250619 | The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Quds force and the Basij militias are back in the news due to the conflict between Israel and Iran. What are they, how do they operate and how have they become so influential? In this episode, we look at the origins, the branding and the ideological blueprint of the Tehran-led influence network that has been shaping events in the Middle East for decades. The engine powering Tehran's Axis of resistance Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives The engine powering Tehran's “Axis of resistance ?: What are the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Quds force and the Basij militias? | ||
| Who'll Be Argentina's Next President? | 20231021 | After a shock primary win, far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei is leading polls ahead of Argentina's presidential election. He's vowing to upend the status quo. With poverty rising, inflation into triple digits and recession looming, Argentinians are divided over who to trust to lead them out of the crisis. The intensifying virulence of the debate in the already polarised political landscape makes that choice even harder. Get in touch: theglobaljigsaw@BBC.co.uk Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg After a shock primary win, a far-right libertarian economist is in pole position Looking at the world through the lens of its media After a shock primary win, far-right economist Javier Milei is leading polls ahead of Argentina's presidential election. He's vowing to upend the status quo. | ||
| Why Russia's Election Matters | 20240217 | 20240218 (WS) | Putin's re-election is certain, but there is still a lot at stake for him and for Russia. Looking at the world through the lens of its media | |
| Yemen: A Frozen Conflict | 20241116 | 20241117 (WS) 20241118 (WS) 20241201 (WS) 20241202 (WS) | Ten years on, where do the warring parties stand? And is there a way out of the stalemate? This is not just a civil war - it's a battle between rival camps in the Middle East, led by Iran on the one hand, and Saudi Arabia on the other. The Houthis are said to be Iran's proxy, but they sometimes act against Tehran's interest. We go granular on the complexities in the alliances and the rivalries that shape the conflict. Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Twigg Ten years on, where do the warring parties in Yemen stand? Ten years on, where do the warring parties in Yemen stand? And is there a way out of the stalemate? | |
| Yemen: A Tale Of Three Cities | 20240926 | 20241110 (WS) 20241111 (WS) 20241124 (WS) 20241125 (WS) | Ten years after the start of the civil war in Yemen, Sanaa, Aden and Taiz are stuck in a “no war, no peace ? limbo. The three ancient cities are ruled by different warring parties, all vying to expand their reach. We look at life under the Houthis, the “government of hotels ?, the separatists and the snipers. Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov, Sumaya Bakhsh Presenter: Krassi Twigg Sanaa, Aden and Taiz - stuck in a no war, no peace limbo | |
| 10 | Contested Waters: Crimea | 20230320 | 20240310 (WS) 20240311 (WS) 20240317 (WS) 20240318 (WS) | How water is used as a weapon of war following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An irrigation system, once created at Stalin's order as a project of grand Soviet social engineering, is now running dry. We dig into the history of the Crimean water dispute - the surprising twists and turns and the narratives constructed by both Russia and Ukraine. Presenter: Krassi Twigg Producer: Kriszta Satori Crimea is suffering from depleted water supplies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An irrigation system, once created at Stalin's order, is now running dry. |
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| 12 | Contested Waters: Helmand | 20230320 | 20240324 (WS) 20240325 (WS) | The water dispute driving the turbulent relationship between Afghanistan and Iran is in an area faced with worsening climate change. The waters of the Helmand river are a lifeline for border communities, and a live wire that has at times nearly sparked wars. We follow the twists and turns of the row between Kabul and Tehran, and the shifting role of the Taliban within it. Presenter: Krassi Twigg Producer: Kriszta Satori How the waters of the Helmand river have driven tensions between Afghanistan and Iran The waters of the Helmand river are a lifeline for border communities, and a live wire that has nearly sparked wars. We follow the twists of the dispute between Kabul and Tehran. |
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| 14 | Deconstructing Iran's 'axis Of Resistance': - Part One | 20240406 | 20240407 (WS) | The origins of the Iran-cultivated alliance of like-minded states and groups taking aim at Israel and the US. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Quds, or Jerusalem, force and the Basij militias regularly feature in the news; what are they, how do they operate and how have they become so influential? In this episode, we look at the branding and the ideological blueprint of the Tehran-led influence network that has been shaping events in the Middle East for decades. Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Twigg |
| 15 | 20240413 | 20240414 (WS) |