The Explanation

Unspun World: Israel's war cabinet fragments

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether the Israeli government will survive the re...

The Media Show: How to interview a Prime Minister

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The art of interviewing political leaders with a journalist who recently interviewed Rishi Sunak. Also in the programme, as the alleged subject of the...

Unspun World: The new threats to global peace and security

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the new threats to peace and security on the 80th ...

The Media Show: The Business of News

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the age of social media, how easy is it to get people to pay for news? Editors from some of the world’s biggest news brands explain their strateg...

Unspun World: Will the UK's election change its place in the world?

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, considers how a snap general election might change the UK’...

The Media Show: Is this the TikTok election?

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we look at Big Tech and its role in a crucial election year around the world. Baroness Martha Lane Fox, who sat on the board of X (formerly ...

Unspun World: How has the Russia-China relationship changed?

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines how the relationship between Russia and China has ...

The Media Show: Reporting ringside at Usyk v Fury

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury to become boxing's undisputed heavyweight champion. The high-profile match was held in the Kingdom Arena i...

Unspun World: Why are US-Israel relations at an historic low?

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's range of experts across the world, analyses why Israel’s government is deliberately flouting the wishes o...

The Media Show: Netflix and the Baby Reindeer Fallout

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Baby Reindeer is the Netflix drama that purports to be a true story – but a woman has come forward to say it’s based on her, and that she’s been...

The Global Jigsaw: How China sees itself in Africa

11 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“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...

Unspun World: What is Israel's plan for Gaza?

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines what Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for Gaza is now, ...

The Media Show: Reporting the US campus protests

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

US university campuses have been the scene of pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the last month. We assess the challenges of reporting the protests a...

What is the dark web?

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The secret club which keeps illegal content hidden, using encryption and anonymisation tools. But can it also be a force for good? The dark web is a h...

The Global Jigsaw: Turkey's foothold in Africa

04 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A dive into the narratives surrounding Turkey’s ambitions in Africa, where Ankara is touting itself as a “non-colonising” alternative to Western...

The Media Show: Behind the information iron curtain

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Across large parts of the globe, access to impartial news reporting and information has never been more difficult, creating an information iron curtai...

Goodbye to the International Space Station

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It was a triumph of international collaboration - a laboratory for hundreds of astronauts - but was the 120 billion dollar investment worth it? Consid...

The Global Jigsaw: Deconstructing Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’: Part two

27 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Iran's loose coalition of allies and proxies, sworn against Israeli and US influence, that has been shaping events in the Middle East for decades. Its...

The Media Show: Secrets of the Celebrity Interview

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Decca Aitkenhead is the Chief Interviewer of The Sunday Times and has interviewed countless big names, from Hillary Clinton to Madonna. As she wins ye...

Nuclear weapons - which countries have them?

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We look at the nuclear powers and those who want to join their club. Are nuclear weapons a deterrent or a strategic show of strength? We examine what ...

The Global Jigsaw: How drones have changed war

20 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Drones have reshaped the battlefield in Ukraine - and created new challenges, raising concerns about the nature of future warfare. Drone technology ha...

The Media Show: How Taylor Swift conquered the media

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Taylor Swift is a media phenomenon. News outlets now have dedicated “Swift Correspondents”, Disney paid a record sum to stream her Eras tour, and ...

How does the New York Stock Exchange work?

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The New York Stock Exchange is the largest in the world, valued today at over $25 trillion - but does it spread wealth or increase inequality? And wha...

The Global Jigsaw: Sudan: A year of war

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As it marks a year of war with no end in sight, Sudan faces the largest humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world. There are fears that if not...

The Media Show: Building Trump's social media app

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, continues to make headlines with its public listing. Billy Boozer, its former Chief Product Office...

The Global Jigsaw: Deconstructing Iran’s 'Axis of Resistance': Part one

07 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The origins of the Iran-cultivated alliance of like-minded states and groups taking aim at Israel and the US. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (I...

The Media Show: Fear, threats and intimidation

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have US diplomats been targeted by Russian sonic weaponry? Unexplained symptoms such as dizziness reported by personnel working around the globe have ...

The Global Jigsaw: Moscow attack: disinfo wars

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 mo...

The Global Jigsaw: Contested waters: Helmand

24 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The water dispute driving the turbulent relationship between Afghanistan and Iran is in an area faced with worsening climate change. The waters of the...

Unspun World: What's next for President Putin after winning re-election?

23 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines what’s next for Vladimir Putin after winning re-...

The Global Jigsaw - Contested waters: Crimea

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Unspun World: Has Russia turned the tide in its war in Ukraine?

16 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Russia has turned the tide in its war in U...

The Global Jigsaw: What hope for Haiti?

10 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gang violence has turned the small Caribbean nation into a “living nightmare”, with rapes, kidnappings and killings a daily occurrence. More than ...

Unspun World: What's life like on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank?

09 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the humanitarian situation in Gaza, analyses what ...

Unspun World: Is a ceasefire in Gaza within reach?

02 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza, examines D...

Unspun World: What Alexei Navalny's death means for Vladimir Putin's grip on Russia

24 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at Vladimir Putin’s position after the death of Ale...

Unspun World: Can Israel win its war in Gaza?

17 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, talks to Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's international editor, who analyses whether Israel can win its war in Gaza. He examines what is really h...

Unspun World: How Russia's economy has survived despite sanctions

10 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses how the Russian economy has thrived despite Wester...

Unspun World: Is Ukraine losing Western support?

03 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Ukraine can win its war with Rus...

Unspun World: Is the war in Gaza slipping away from Israel?

27 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, asks whether the war in Gaza is beginning to slip away from...

Unspun World: What's the West's strategy for the Houthis?

20 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the strategy behind the US and UK attacks on the H...

What does the World Bank do?

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The World Bank was originally established after World War Two with the goal of eradicating poverty and establishing shared prosperity. With new challe...

What is sportswashing?

25 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In recent years, many sports have received huge investment from oil-rich petrostates, and while the term ‘sportswashing’ is relatively new, the id...

What is BRICS?

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa make up what is currently called BRICS, a group of emerging economies which is challenging the Western-d...

How does the World Health Organization work?

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many global health experts believe we should brace ourselves for more epidemics and pandemics in the future. But deadly diseases are not exactly new. ...

Unspun World: Can anything break the stalemate in the Ukraine war?

09 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can anything break the stalemate in the Ukraine war? Ukraine correspondent, James Waterhouse, tells the BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, abou...

What is Five Eyes?

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A secret intelligence pact between the UK and US began during the Second World War, focused on intercepting communications and breaking codes. Expandi...

Unspun World: How migration is changing European politics

02 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wilders’ Dutch victory sends tremors around Europe so why is migration now top of the European political agenda? Europe editor, Katya Adler, gives w...

Unspun World: A pause in fighting in Gaza

25 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A ceasefire in Gaza but BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, asks Yogita Limaye - who has been gathering material from the area - what it is like fo...

The Global Jigsaw: Global perspectives on the Israel Gaza war

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Israel Gaza conflict has commanded attention in every corner of the globe and has created what media present as unprecedented polarisation. Leader...

Unspun World: Can the US and China get along?

18 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

China and the US make deals on the military and fentanyl trafficking. The BBC's World Service's Asia Pacific editor, Celia Hatton, explains why the tw...

The Global Jigsaw: Israel and Gaza special

12 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The war of narratives reflecting power tilts in the Middle East. Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October, which is said to have killed a...

Unspun World: What's Israel's endgame in Gaza?

11 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Security correspondent, Frank Gardener, gives his take on the future of the region. The BBC's World Affairs editor, John Simpson, also asks Mini Al-La...

Unspun World: Tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border

04 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

BBC World Affairs editor, John Simpson, is in Lebanon - a country deeply nervous it might get sucked into yet another war with Israel. So what are the...

Unspun World: Will Israel invade Gaza?

28 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Will Israel launch a ground assault in Gaza and, if they do, what is at stake? BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson gets the latest from Middle East ...

The Global Jigsaw: Who’ll be Argentina’s next president?

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After a shock primary win, far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei is leading polls ahead of Argentina's presidential election. He's vowing to up...

Unspun World: Israel declares war on Hamas after deadly attack

14 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Israel starts 'a prolonged and powerful campaign' in Gaza. What might be the consequences? BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson analyses the fallout....

Unspun World: Are democracies hindering the fight against climate change?

07 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Short-term politics gets in the way of dealing with an ever-warming planet. The BBC's climate editor, Justin Rowlatt, discusses the problems with how ...

Unspun World: Can anyone in Russia challenge Putin now?

30 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Now Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead, can anyone in Russia challenge President Putin’s power? BBC Russian news editor Famil Ismailov gives us his vision of...

The Global Jigsaw: Wagner after Prigozhin

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What next for the notorious Wagner group after the plane crash that wiped out its leadership? The Russian private military group that’s left boot pr...

Unspun World: What has changed for women in Iran, a year after Mahsa Amini's death?

23 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Iranian women are still fighting for freedom, despite government crackdowns. World Service correspondent Faranak Amidi speaks to the BBC’s world aff...

The Global Jigsaw: Grain deal special

09 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Russia and Turkey failed to reach an agreement to bring Ukrainian grain to countries that desperately need it, at a meeting in the Black Sea resort of...

Could Puerto Rico become America's 51st state?

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a US territory, Puerto Rico uses the dollar, its people are US citizens and they can move freely back and forth. However, it isn’t a US state, an...

Kosovo–Serbia relations

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After unilaterally declaring independence in 2008, Kosovo has been recognised by many countries, but not Serbia, which still claims it as one of its p...

What is Nato?

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nato members agree to support each other if they come under attack. That’s the fundamental purpose of Nato, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organizatio...

Venezuela crisis

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How has Venezuela, home to the world's largest oil reserves, become crippled with food and medicine shortages, hyper-inflation, violence and corruptio...

The EU

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With its foundations in the ashes of World War II, the European Union was initially formed to avoid further wars and remove trade barriers. It grew fr...

Who are the Rohingyas?

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In 2017, a deadly crackdown by Myanmar's army resulted in the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh. Years later, many of ...

What is a war crime?

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is the difference between a war crime, a crime against humanity and genocide? And who holds those responsible to account?Anna Holligan, the BBC's...

Unspun World: Is it time to return looted art?

08 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What should we done with stolen treasures? The BBC's culture editor, Katie Razzall, confronts colonialism's legacy with world affairs editor John Simp...

Haiti's gang crisis

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Since Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010, the country has been in turmoil. Some 200 gangs have taken control in the absence of a functioning sta...

Unspun World: Is Putin's time up?

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

President Putin's days might well be numbered, BBC Russian service editor Famil Ismailov tells world affairs editor John Simpson. John also hears from...

How Lebanon’s economy collapsed

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Protests, power cuts and bank hold-ups – Lebanon was already struggling before the 2020 port explosion that devasted its capital, Beirut, but now it...

Unspun World: Xi Jinping: President or emperor?

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chinese service editor Howard Zhang speaks to world affairs editor John Simpson about Xi Jinping's growing ambition and what it means for China - and ...

What is the Wagner Group?

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Wagner group has been linked to military conflicts around the world, but who are they?The Russian mercenary organisation is believed to have been ...

Unspun World: Who can challenge Trump?

17 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, asks defence correspondent Jonny Beale where the war in Ukraine is heading and what victory might look l...

Unspun World: What's it like reporting on the war from inside Russia?

10 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The BBC's world affairs editor, John Simpson, asks Russia editor Steve Rosenberg what the mood is like in Russia as the war gets closer to home; finds...

Unspun World: Can the US transform the world's economy?

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can the US transform the world's economy? We get the detail - and why it matters for the rest of us - from economics editor Faisal Islam. And our host...

Unspun World: Could AI outsmart humanity?

27 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Unspun World provides an unvarnished version of the week's major global news stories with the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson and the BBC's un...

Unspun World: Is Ukraine's counter-offensive a turning point?

20 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Unspun World provides an unvarnished version of the week's major global news stories, with the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson and the BBC's u...

Introducing The Explanation

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On a mission to make sense of the world. A new podcast, with hosts John Simpson and Claire Graham. Episodes released weekly from 20 May 2023.

How the Good Friday Agreement helped bring peace to Northern Ireland

04 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This year marks 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, signed by politicians from Northern Ireland and the British and Irish governments in an atte...

Ethiopia, Eritrea and border wars

25 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia have historically been difficult. Eritrea won independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year war. A bitter ...

Sudan’s journey from independence to revolution

18 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A military coup in 1989 brought Omar al-Bashir to power, until being overthrown by the military in the face of mass protests in 2019. During this time...

How Yemen has been engulfed by civil war

11 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After almost a decade of fighting, civil war in Yemen has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Nawal Al-Maghafi is a Special Correspon...

Who are the Uyghurs and why are they being persecuted?

04 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

China has been accused of the mistreatment of the Uyghur people in the north-western region of Xinjiang for a number of years. This Muslim ethnic grou...

Cuba–United States relations

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cuba and the United States share a long, complex history. From the Spanish-American War of 1898 to Fidel Castro's Cuba, these neighbours have often ha...

Roe v Wade and abortion in America

21 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fifty years ago, Jane Roe found herself at the centre of a ruling that would fuel US politics for the following decades. The Roe V Wade case gave wome...

How Syria's peaceful uprising became a civil war

14 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by the Arab Spring, peaceful protests began in Syria in early 2011. However, a complex civil war followed which has lasted over a decade and ...

Understanding the long history between Russia and Ukraine

16 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Graham talks to former BBC foreign correspondent Kevin Connolly about what has historically bound Russia and Ukraine together, and what has pul...

Understanding South Africa’s continuing quest for equality

09 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Graham talks to the former BBC News Africa Bureaux Chief, Milton Nkosi, to get a better understanding of why the post-apartheid dream of a ‘R...

Understanding the power that Saudi Arabia wields

02 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Graham and guests explain the important, long-running stories that are in the newsClaire Graham talks to the BBC’s Middle East correspondent,...

Understanding relations between Taiwan and China

26 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Graham talks to the BBC’s Taiwan correspondent, Cindy Sui, to get a better understanding of China’s reluctance to accept Taiwan’s strengt...

Understanding the rise of Boko Haram

19 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Graham talks to the BBC’s West Africa correspondent, Mayeni Jones, to get a better understanding of how Boko Haram, the militant Islamic grou...

Understanding North Korea and the Kim dynasty

12 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Claire Graham talks to the BBC’s Correspondent in Seoul, Laura Bicker, to get a better understanding of North Korea, one of the world’s most secre...

Understanding the Islamic State group

25 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anu Anand talks to Quentin Sommerville about the rise, fall and potential re-emergence of the Islamic State group.

Understanding how Russia has changed under Putin

18 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anu Anand talks to Sarah Rainsford about how everyday life in Russia has changed under Vladimir Putin.

Afghanistan: Women, girls and their rights

11 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anu Anand talks to Yogita Limaye about the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. They reveal how a turbulent history dictates the ever-shifting at...

Understanding Iran: Reconciling religion and democracy

04 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anu Anand talks to Rana Rahimpour about how decades of turbulence have shaped Iran, and why religion, democracy and ideals all combine to explain Iran...

Israeli-Palestinian relations

27 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How did the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians reach its current point? Jeremy Bowen talked to Anu Anand in 2021 about the backstory behin...