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The Global Jigsaw: Daily Summaries Delivered
by BBC World Service
Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives, helping you get past the propaganda and misinformation. The Global Jigsaw comes from BBC Monitoring, which tracks, deciphers and analyses news media in 100 languages.We reach across multiple time zones, from China and India, to Iran, Africa and Latin America. We watch Russian state TV around the clock, giving unrivalled insight into the evolution of Kremlin propaganda. But propaganda is just part of the information space we inhabit. In its more extreme form, we focus on disinformation that aims to defame enemies, sway elections, and undermine democracy.We have been monitoring jihadist media for nearly two decades, following the chatter from al-Qaeda and Islamic State group, gaining extraordinary knowledge about their aims, their ideological differences and allegiances. We watch the behaviour of Russia’s Putin, Iran’s Khamenei, Turkey’s Erdogan, China’s Xi Jinp
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- 5 days ago41 min
Syria’s justice in absentia
With perpetrators in exile, closure is out of reach. As Syria’s new authorities seek to hold figures of the former regime accountable, questions remain over the fate of Bashar al-Assad. The former president and members of his inner circle were granted asylum in Russia after a rebel offensive drove him from power in 2024. The transition ushered in a new chapter for Syria, raising hopes for justice, after decades of repression. In this episode, we assess the obstacles standing in the way of accountability, justice and closure. Can victims of Assad’s brutal reign find redress when some of the regime’s most notorious figures remain beyond the reach of Syrian courts? Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/Contributors: Tess Mallinder Heron, Clare Denning, Feras Kilani, Amalia Zatari Producer: Clare Denning, Tess Mallinder Heron, Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham
- Aug 20, 202629 min
Ukraine's 'hell jumpers'
The rescuers who dodge drones and bombs to evacuate from frontline areas in Ukraine, known as the “kill zone”. More than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, thousands of civilians still live dangerously close to active combat zones. Getting them to safety requires powers of persuasion, knowledge of warfare, and nerves of steel. In this episode, we explore how volunteer evacuation efforts of civilians in eastern Ukraine have evolved throughout the war, and how rescuers continue to adapt to an increasingly hostile and unpredictable battlefield.Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: https://monitoring.bbc.co.ukContributors: Vitaly Shevchenko Producer: Kriszta Satori, Tim Bowler Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham
- Jul 24, 202627 min
What is so-called 'Jihadi cool'?
The extremist content quietly spreading on TikTok and Instagram, targeting unsuspecting young people. Through what is disguised as innocuous lifestyle content, supporters of jihadist groups like IS and al-Qaeda reach audiences outside their echo chamber. This is a recruitment drive that signals a move from direct operational instructions to “do-it-yourself jihad", with the aim of potentially inspiring lone wolf attacks. We explore the tactics used to obscure and evade detection, the challenges this poses for platforms, and how it has become a relentless game of whack-a-mole. BBC Monitoring's Mariam Soussi and Mina al-Lami talk about their recent research.Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: monitoring.bbc.co.ukProducer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham
- Jun 25, 202626 min
Moscow's enemy number one
“Perfidious Albion” - how Britain replaced the US as Russia’s top nemesis and the villain at the heart of its war narrative. Since the re-election of Donald Trump, Russian propagandists have softened their tone on the US, while intensifying their rhetoric against the UK. They’ve unleashed a wave of elaborate insults, accusations and threats against Britain, amounting at times to a full-blown character assassination. The insults may sound theatrical, and London denies the accusations, but beneath them lies a more troubling signal - one UK military chiefs take seriously. What does this shift reveal about Russia’s strategic intentions in a time of conflict?Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: monitoring.bbc.co.uk/Contributor: Bryn Windsor Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham
- May 28, 202641 min
Caucasus: Armenia’s new chapter
Will Armenia opt for a “soft divorce” with Russia and realign its foreign policy in a pivotal vote in June? As pro-Western and pro-Russian forces gear up for a showdown, we explore the ideas, the pressures and the political visions that could shape the country’s future - and the wider implications for the South Caucasus.Contributors: Daria Mosolova, Gayane Alexanyan and Grigor AtanesianProducer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham
- May 7, 202635 min
Russia’s 'nyet' to the internet
The Kremlin’s pursuit of a “sovereign internet” has raised fears of a digital Iron Curtain. After months of mobile internet shutdowns, Russian authorities have moved to block major platforms like YouTube and Telegram, along with the VPNs people rely on to bypass restrictions. We explore what’s driving the push to isolate the largest country on Earth from the global internet and unpack the political, economic and military implications of the country’s tightening digital borders.Contributors: Daria Mosolova, Howard Gethin, Gleb Borshchevski, Evgeny Pudovkin Producer: Kriszta Satori Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham
- Apr 8, 202640 min
The battle for Hungary
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
- Mar 19, 202636 min
Iran's media at war
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
About The Global Jigsaw
Looking at the world through the lens of its media. Think of us as your media detectives, helping you get past the propaganda and misinformation. The Global Jigsaw comes from BBC Monitoring, which tracks, deciphers and analyses news media in 100 languages.We reach across multiple time zones, from China and India, to Iran, Africa and Latin America. We watch Russian state TV around the clock, giving unrivalled insight into the evolution of Kremlin propaganda. But propaganda is just part of the information space we inhabit. In its more extreme form, we focus on disinformation that aims to defame enemies, sway elections, and undermine democracy.We have been monitoring jihadist media for nearly two decades, following the chatter from al-Qaeda and Islamic State group, gaining extraordinary knowledge about their aims, their ideological differences and allegiances. We watch the behaviour of Russia’s Putin, Iran’s Khamenei, Turkey’s Erdogan, China’s Xi Jinp
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