The Global Jigsaw

Why are millions of Afghans pushed into circular migration and what awaits them in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan? In this series, we explore one of the world’s largest and longest-running refugee crises - a story spanning decades and affecting nearly half of Afghanistan’s population. Once welcomed as guests and embraced in the spirit of Islamic solidarity in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan, Afghan refugees now find themselves facing restrictions, discrimination and deportation. In part three, we try to understand the reality awaiting the returnees amid the information black hole surrounding their story back home.
Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk
Contributors: Haroon Rahmani, Lyse Doucet
Producer: Kriszta Satori, Barry Sadid, Elchin Suleymanov
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

Why are millions of Afghans forced to go home and what awaits them in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan? In this series, we explore one of the world’s largest and longest running refugee crises - a story spanning decades, and affecting nearly half of Afghanistan’s population. Once welcomed as guests and embraced in the spirit of Islamic solidarity in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan, Afghan refugees now find themselves facing restrictions, discrimination and deportation. In the second part of this series, we explore rising anti-migrant sentiments in Iran and Pakistan, and the official narratives used to justify the mass deportations.
Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: monitoring.bbc.co.uk
Contributors: Haroon Rahmani, Umaima Zia, Barry Sadid
Producer: Kriszta Satori, Barry Sadid
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

The contest for technological supremacy, paving the way to future wars of algorithms. Across the skies of Ukraine and Russia, an arms race is unfolding in real time. Earlier this summer it seemed Ukraine had the edge when it delivered drone strikes deep inside Russian territory. But in recent months, Russia has hit back, deploying faster, jet-powered drones, and shifting the balance once again. In this episode, we explore the relentless seesaw battle for technological dominance and ask what it tells us about the future of warfare.

Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/

Contributors: Tim Bowler, Margaryta Maliukova, Daria Mosolova
Producer: Kriszta Satori
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

Why are millions of Afghans pushed into circular migration, and what awaits them in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan? In this series, we explore one of the world’s largest and longest-running refugee crises - a story spanning decades and affecting nearly half of Afghanistan’s population. Once welcomed as guests and embraced in the spirit of Islamic solidarity in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan, Afghan refugees now find themselves facing restrictions, discrimination and deportation. In the first part, we go back to the geopolitics of the Cold War to see how the mix of Soviet tanks, American money and tribal warfare created the perfect conditions for a mass exodus.
Find out more about BBC Monitoring on our website: https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk
Contributors: Haroon Rahmani, Umaima Zia, Barry Sadid
Producer: Kriszta Satori, Barry Sadid
Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg
Music: Pete Cunningham

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