The Global Jigsaw

Two rivers helped build civilisation. Now they are at the centre of a geopolitical struggle that casts a shadow over the future of the Middle East. For centuries, the Tigris and Euphrates carried goods, armies and ideas, shaping some of history's greatest empires. But today, a toxic mix of climate change, outdated irrigation methods and conflicting national interests is pushing these rivers to the brink. As Turkey’s vast dam projects reduce downstream flows, Iraq is being forced into negotiations that go far beyond water, touching on security cooperation, trade routes and energy. This is the story of how water became a geopolitical bargaining chip.
Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: monitoring.bbc.co.uk/
Contributors: Dilay Yalcin, Mohammed al-Jumaily
Producer: Dilay Yalcin, Barry Sadid
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

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

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.uk
Contributors: Vitaly Shevchenko
Producer: Kriszta Satori, Tim Bowler
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

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.uk
Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

“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