Podcast appearances and mentions of olga ivshina

How are Russian POWs treated in Ukrainian captivity? Is Kyiv's claim that Russia has suffered more than 1 million casualties during the war accurate? And during WW2 Britain used flat-pack bomb shelters - could they also now work in Ukraine?These are just some of the questions you've been sending in to the Ukrainecast team. Jamie and Vitaly are joined by Olga Robinson from BBC Verify and Olga Ivshina from BBC Russian to answer them.Today's episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov and Polly Hope. The technical producer was James Piper. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast's Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Minimal progress in another round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The two countries have agreed, in Istanbul, to exchange sick and wounded prisoners of war, and those under 25. Meanwhile, Ukraine's carried out drone strikes on several Russian air bases. BBC's Olga Ivshina says even the loss of one plane is significant, as Russia can't replicate it quickly. She told Ryan Bridge Russia has also launched attacks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Russian military weaker than at the start of the war? Will European allies expand their drone industries to aid Ukraine? And what has happened to Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia?We answer all that and discuss whether Germany will arm Ukraine with Taurus missiles, with Olga Ivshina from BBC Russian, and Mikey Kay, a former senior officer in the British military who hosts The Security Brief on BBC News.Today's episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko.The producers were Laurie Kalus, Ben Carter and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast's Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

The stage is set in Turkey for a potentially historic meeting in a few hours between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's personally attending and has challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to do the same. It has now been confirmed that Putin will not attend the meeting, but the Kremlin had previously refused to confirm either way. BBC Senior Russia Reporter Olga Ivshina told Ryan Bridge that Putin follows his own logic – which is quite unpredictable. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

durée : 00:04:37 - Récits d'enquête - par : Mattéo Caranta - BBC Russia et Mediazona comptent le nombre de morts russes depuis le début de l'invasion de l'Ukraine, en février 2022. Un travail de fourmi aux enjeux mémoriels qui dépassent la guerre en Ukraine.

Russia appears to be pleased with the position it's in. US and Russian officials are en route to Saudi Arabia for talks, excluding Ukraine and Europe. France is hosting an emergency summit with European and NATO leaders to discuss the situation. BBC Senior Russia Reporter Olga Ivshina told Mike Hosking Russia is presenting itself like it has the upper hand in negotiations. However, she says Ukraine's control over a part of Russia is an issue that bothers Vladimir Putin. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 18th of February, France is hosting an emergency summit for European leaders as the talks between Russia and the US loom. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon answers questions about Ukraine, the public service, and just what it is our retail crime group is doing, if anything. Friend of the show Graham Norton steps away from the big red chair to talk to Mike about his upcoming NZ tour. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2022, the city of Bakhmut in Eastern Ukraine was attacked by Russian forces. The fight for Bakhmut lasted over 10 months and claimed the lives of thousands of people on both sides, becoming the longest and bloodiest battle in this war so far. But why was this sleepy town such an important target for Russia? And what role did the mercenary Wagner group play there? BBC Russian's Olga Ivshina and Ukrainecast presenter Vitaly Shevchenko investigate. Produced by Alice Gioia and Hannah Dean. (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

How many soldiers are fighting - and dying - for Russia in Ukraine? Who are they, and what do their stories tell us about Russia's frontline tactics? We'll ask Olga Ivshina, who has been monitoring Russian losses in Ukraine from day one. Plus, Anne McAlpine from BBC Alba dives into the history of Gaelic proverbs. Produced by Alice Gioia and Caroline Ferguson.(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich)

BBC Russian reporter Olga Ivshina talks to Victoria and Vitaly about her investigation into Russian military deaths since the start of the war. And Professor Michael Clarke, defence and security analyst, answers your questions about the latest from the frontline, foreign aid for Ukraine, the use of AI in combat and much more.Today's episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Keiligh Baker, Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming, Ivana Davidovic and Elliot Ryder. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast's Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Russia's most significant opposition leader for the past decade, Alexei Navalny, has died in an Arctic Circle jail, the prison service has said. What does that mean for the future of Russia, its opposition movement and its leader, Vladimir Putin? In this special episode of The Global Story, Gabriel Gatehouse speaks to the BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, Olga Ivshina from the BBC's Russian Service, and Francis Scarr, who covers Russian media for BBC Monitoring. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world. We're keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. #TheGlobalStory We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Today's podcast was made by Peter Goffin and Miriam Quayyum. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Official information on the numbers of dead and injured in the Ukraine war has been in short supply. Little has come from either the Ukrainian or Russian sides, with estimates from western governments and intelligence agencies filling the information void. But some Russian journalists have been documenting war deaths and have come up with a new way of estimating fatalities using probate records. With contributions from David Frenkel, reporter at Mediazona and the BBC's Russian Service correspondent Olga Ivshina.

Russia has a history of extraordinary secrecy over its wartime losses. When it invaded Ukraine, senior correspondent Olga Ivshina of the BBC, with the help of partners and volunteers, began meticulously verifying and counting Russian losses. Olga and her team's work has so far identified more than 25,000 named individuals – setting a bare minimum of Russian casualties. Their work provides hard evidence of the war's impact on Russian forces and has brought answers to many grieving families. Olga's reporting sheds light on the changing face of the Russian army and the human cost of this conflict.   In this episode, Head of EBU Moscow Kate de Pury speaks with BBC Senior Correspondent Olga Ivshina about her remarkable investigation.

The Wagner mutiny in Russia; and other stories from Russia, Peru, Bangladesh and Denmark. The mutiny by Russia's Wagner mercenaries ended as quickly as it started. The fighters had taken the southern Russian city and military hub Rostov-on-Don, and were heading for Moscow, when their leader called it all off. How do the capital's residents view these events? Russia says it has lost 6000 soldiers in Ukraine, but the true figure is thought to be 40,000 to 60,000. Olga Ivshina has been tracking her country's military fatalities with other volunteers, and has so far counted 25,000. Sometimes their relatives didn't even know they had died. Peru is suffering its worst outbreak of dengue fever on record, following unusually hot and wet weather conditions. The viral disease is carried by mosquitoes and can cause severe joint and muscle pain, even death. Dan Collyns travelled to the centre of Peru's epidemic in Piura in northern Peru. Bangladesh used to have high rates of pregnancy or childbirth-related deaths, and of children dying in infancy due to low rates of vaccination. But now illness and deaths have been drastically reduced, thanks to the "disease detectives" scheme - women offering healthcare to millions. Peter Young went to see how it works. Denmark's small prison population has been growing due to harsher sentencing, but the number of prison officers is falling, leading to concerns about overcrowding, and the quality of the prison regime. Polina Bachlakova found the impact is even felt in a prison's choir. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius Production Coordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross Editor: Richard Vadon Photo: Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin leaving Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Copyright: REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

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 the rest of us. We also speak to Olga Ivshina, BBC News Russian correspondent, to find out how many Russian soldiers have really died so far in the war - a figure that's a lot higher than the Kremlin will admit - and we find out why the Saudis are so keen to get their hands on major sports tournaments with sports editor Dan Roan. Plus, the seas around the UK and Ireland are hotter than ever before. We ask environment correspondent Matt McGrath how worried we should be.Produced by Pandita Lorenz and Benedick Watt

The leaking of US intelligence documents and the arrest of a 21 year old airman who authorities believe to be responsible has caused a media and diplomatic storm. We look at how the leaks were reported by primetime Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who said seven Ukrainian troops are dying for every one Russian, contrary to most estimates. And we examine an advert Fox News took out claiming to be the American TV network most trusted for news. With guests Aric Toler from investigative journalism site Bellingcat, data journalist and author G. Elliott Morris and BBC correspondent Olga Ivshina.

The BBC has been calculating the number of Russians who have died in the war and civilian recruits make up a third of their frontline losses. Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian and Mark Urban, diplomatic editor at Newsnight, explain what this means for Russian families and the course of the conflict. And we hear from the director of the Kherson regional art museum, Alina Dotsenko, about the moment its treasures were taken away in unmarked vehicles. Today's episode is presented by Lyse Doucet and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliff. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and the editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

Russian police have arrested a 26-year-old woman in connection with an explosion which took place at a cafe in St Petersburg. A well-known military blogger, Vladlen Tatarsky, was killed in the explosion, and injured at least thirty two others. The woman, named Darya Trepova has previously been detained for taking part in protests against the war in Ukraine.  BBC World correspondent Olga Ivshina spoke to Guyon Espiner.  

Moscow has blamed Russian soldiers' for a deadly attack that killed at least 89 of them in eastern Ukraine. It said their mobile phone use enabled Ukrainian forces to work out their location. Olga Ivshina from the BBC's Russian service brings us up to date on the deadliest attack from a single Ukrainian strike since the war began. Documentary maker Olly Lambert spent two months embedded with Ukrainian volunteer special forces as they pushed to retake Kherson. They shared what motivated them and what it was like to swap a normal life for the front line. And author and historian Olesya Khromeychuk talks about her brother's death and the role of culture in the war. Today's episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliff. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is Fiona Leach. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and the editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

In a year packed with big news stories, who are the interviewees whose stories have stayed with our language service colleagues? BBC Ukrainian's Zhanna Bezpiatchuk tells the story of the teenager forced to flee his home in Borodianka, who now dreams of becoming a journalist. BBC Pashto's Shazia Haya shares the story of a mother of daughters now denied their secondary school education. Parham Ghobadi from BBC Persian led the coverage of the death in mysterious circumstances of 16-year-old Nika Shakarami during the Iranian protests. Olga Ivshina takes us on a trawl of the BBC Russian inbox where she discovered a plea for help, which she immediatley responded to. BBC Africa's Bella Sheegow explains why reporting on the assassination of female Somali politician Amina Mohamed Abdi had such an impact on her. BBC Indian languages' Nitin Srivastava tells us about a tea picker in Assam whose livelihood is dwindling because of climate change. And BBC Brasil's Nathalia Passarinho remembers her interviews at COP27 in Egypt, where Brazil announced a huge shift in environmental policy. (Photo: Damage of Russian bombing of Borodiansk. Credit: Nicola Marfisi/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The Ukrainecast team looks back at 2022 and assesses what 2023 might bring. The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, security correspondent Frank Gardner, Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse and Olga Ivshina from the BBC Russian Service reflect on the invasion, nuclear threats, war crimes investigations and the situation in Russia. We also look ahead to 2023 to discuss how long the war could continue, what it would take for Russia and Ukraine to negotiate and the role other countries are playing. This episode of Ukrainecast was made by Ivana Davidovic. Alison Gee is the assistant editor. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 0330 1239480.

Tim Harford discusses the numbers that help explain some of the biggest stories of the year, including the war in Ukraine, soaring inflation and a breakthrough for women's football, with the help of Olga Ivshina, correspondent for the BBC Russian service; Chris Giles, economics editor of the Financial Times; Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh and Georgina Sturge, author and House of Commons statistician.

A baby boy has died after a missile hit a hospital maternity ward just two days after he was born. Before the attack, Victoria interviewed the Russian ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin and asked him about the killing of civilians and war crimes committed in Ukraine. Also, BBC correspondent James Waterhouse has been meeting the people rebuilding the country's bombed-out infrastructure. And friend of the pod, Olga Ivshina from the BBC Russian service, tells us how Russian men have been resisting mobilisation. Today's episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The producers were Fiona Leach, Arsenii Sokolov, Clare Williamson and Luke Radcliff. The technical coordinator was Emma Crowe. The series producer is Estelle Doyle. The assistant editor is Alison Gee and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

BBC Russian journalist Olga Ivshina shares the findings of her investigation into the reality of life for soldiers serving in Russia's armies, from crowd-sourcing to buy their own equipment, to why it's so hard to leave. Iran protest: 'For...' The lyrics to 'Baraye', which translates as ‘for' or ‘because', by Shervin Hajipour were taken from ordinary Iranians posting on social media to explain why they are protesting, each line beginning "for...". BBC Persian's Saba Zavarei explains how the protest song has evolved. Venezuelan migrants in Martha's Vineyard The Republican governor of Florida staged a political stunt to confront politicians far away from the southern border with the reality of uncontrolled migration. They flew 48 undocumented Latin Americans from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, close to Boston, where many liberal and democrat politicians have summer houses. Luis Fajardo has been following the story for BBC Monitoring in Miami. Afghan women chasing their Olympic dreams in Italy BBC Uzbek's Firuz Rahimi, and producer Ivana Scatola, joined five women from Afghanistan's cycling team who fled the country and are now training in Italy, pursuing their dream to represent their home country in the Olympics. Pakistan floods and the karahi commute Pakistan's catastrophic floods in the past month, have been challenging to report for BBC Urdu. When Rubab Batool saw an intriguing video of locals using karahis - essentially huge cooking vessels - as transport on the floodwaters, she has to use her own creativity to work out how to film it. Presenter: Feranak Amidi Producer: Caroline Ferguson

President Putin warns the West he's not bluffing and that he is prepared to use "all the means at our disposal" if Russian territory is threatened. The nuclear threat came as he announced a “partial” mobilisation of reserve troops to Ukraine. Vitaly, Victoria and the BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner unpick how real the possibility of a nuclear war actually is. Ukrainecast's Ivana Davidovic talks to a recent graduate from St Petersburg, who says he wants to leave Russia to avoid being drafted into the military. And he's not alone - Olga Ivshina from the BBC's Russian Service says flights out of the country to visa-free destinations sold out in a day. Also, Vladimir Osechkin, the founder of the prisoners' rights organisation Gulagu.Net, tells us that someone recently tried to assassinate him while he was at home with his family. The series producer is Estelle Doyle. The producers are Ivana Davidovic and Arsenii Sokolov. The planning producer is Louise Hidalgo. The technical producer is Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Alison Gee. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480.

Stories from the front line. The BBC's Fergal Keane and Olga Ivshina hear from Russian soldiers who have risked their lives on the front line of the war. Why have some of them refused to return? The BBC's Jeremy Bowen speaks to us from a Donbas town which is within artillery range of Russian troops. And Rustik, Fergal's fixer in Bucha, discusses his first experience of conflict and how his country is changing. Today's Ukrainecast was made by Osman Iqbal and Natalie Ktena. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham. Both Sergey and Marina are voiced by actors. You can email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments or send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 1234 220.

The BBC Russian Service's Svyatoslav Khomenko tells us what's he observed at the court of the first war crimes trial of the Ukraine conflict. Also, Victoria and Vitaly speak with Olga Ivshina from the BBC Russian Service, who has been investigating forced mobilisation in the Eastern Ukraine region of Donbas. People living there told her men had been grabbed in the streets, whilst out shopping or on public transport. Many haven't been seen since. And leading international lawyer Philippe Sands weighs in on whether Biden and Zelensky are right to describe what is happening in Ukraine as a genocide. Today's Ukrainecast was made by Estelle Doyle with Osman Iqbal and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 0330 1234 220.

Tom Service is joined by Russian music and history expert, Marina Frolova-Walker and BBC journalist, Olga Ivshina to discuss the effect the war in Ukraine is having on Russian music and culture. Clarinettist and conductor, Martin Fröst talks to Tom about reshaping the classical musical arena through multi-media spectacular as he prepares to launch his newest project, Xodus. Singers, Jess Dandy and Joanna Harries take Tom on a musical walk through a woodland in south east London ahead of their "SongPath" at RSPB St Aidan's nature reserve near Leeds this week. They immerse themselves in the sounds of birds, rain and song as they talk about the benefits connections through nature and music have on mental health. And Tom visits the Coronet Theatre in London where the theatre company, Gare St Lazare Ireland begins rehearsals for a production of Samuel Beckett's novel, "How It Is." One of Beckett's most experimental and beautiful works, "How it is" is an extraordinary exploration of language and this production explores the beauty, sound, rhythm and meaning of the words while the strains of the Irish Gamelan Orchestra enhance the dystopian atmosphere of Beckett's writing. Tom is joined by director, Judy Hegarty Lovett; composer and sound designer, Mel Mercier, and performers, Stephen Dillane, and Conor Lovett.

A group of women in central Myanmar have formed their own anti-junta militia, and are fighting alongside other armed groups. Armed resistance to the military regime has been increasing since the coup nine months ago. BBC Burmese editor Soe Win Than tells us more about the Myaung Women Warriors. My Home Town: Damascus A new episode of our series 'My Home Town', in which our language service journalists share stories about the place where they grew up. Today, Dima Babilie of BBC Arabic takes us to the vine-covered alleyways of the Syrian capital Damascus to sit in cafés, drink coffee and play cards. Why are so many Brazilians emigrating to Italy? There's been a big increase in the number of Brazilians moving to Italy and applying for citizenship. Rafael Barifouse of BBC Brasil has been investigating the reasons and talking to some of those who've made the move. On Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan Known for its beautiful mountains, Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan is at the centre of a fraught political situation, with the Tajik government maintaining a hardline stance towards the Taliban regime. Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian recently went to this remote area and shares her impressions. Reporting COP26 Rubbing shoulders with world leaders, being inspired by young activists and getting to grips with haggis - just some of the experiences of our language service journalists reporting from COP26. We hear from Peter Okwoche of BBC Africa, Shakeel Anwar of BBC Bengali and Pierre-Antoine Denis of BBC Afrique. Image: Myanmar's women-only army Credit: CJ

The president of Ecuador has declared a state of emergency for the prison system after the country's worst prison riot, in which 118 inmates died. It's part of a wave of violence that has swept Ecuador's jails, as rival drug gangs fight for dominance. BBC Mundo's Ana Maria Roura has been looking into the story. Squid Game: kids' games and killings ‘Squid Game' has been topping streaming charts around the world. The South Korean drama sees contestants playing popular children's games to win millions of dollars, but the cost of losing is death. BBC Korean's William Lee explains the appeal of its mix of nostalgia and horror. Morocco's cannabis farmers Despite the huge profits for international dealers, Morocco's cannabis farmers are poor. Recently the government legalised the growth and sale of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, so will farmers benefit? BBC Arabic's Mohamed Ibrahim visited northern Morocco to find out. Russia's Romanov wedding A descendant of the Russian royal family was recently married in a lavish ceremony in St Petersburg. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Romanov is a great-grandnephew of the last tsar, Nicholas II. Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian tells us about reactions among ordinary Russians. Afghan fruit in Pakistani markets Pakistan imports plenty of fruit from Afghanistan, but this year there's been more, and it's cheaper. Since the Taliban took over, trade between the two countries has become one-sided, with Afghan farmers keen to get their produce out, as BBC Urdu's Azizullah Khan reports. Image: Relatives wait with caskets for inmates who died in the Litoral Penitentiary Credit: Gerardo Menoscal/Agencia Press South/Getty Images

Three journalists share stories of travels undertaken in the year of the pandemic. BBC Delhi's Neha Sharma went to Indian-administered Kashmir, a year after it was stripped of autonomy; Victoria Uwonkunda of BBC Africa covered the US election, finding voters from the African diaspora; and Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian went to Azerbaijan to meet families affected by the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Image: Olga Ivshina in Azerbaijan Credit: BBC

A teenage Afghan girl was recently celebrated as a hero, and photos of her holding an AK47 widely circulated, after she killed two Taliban fighters who attacked her home. But Firuz Rahimi of BBC Uzbek – himself from Afghanistan – shares the story behind the story, revealing the complexity of Afghan life and loyalties. Unmasking the masks Nasobuco, barbijo, tapabocas and mascarilla – the proliferation of words for facemasks in Latin America, with BBC Monitoring journalist Rafael Rojas in Miami. When monuments say more than ministries Olga Ivshina was part of the BBC Russian team investigating what the new names being added to war memorials can reveal about military operations in the absence of government information. Image: Qamar Gul, Afghan girl holding AK47 Credit: Social media

Skripal, Khashoggi, and North Korea talks: Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian, Öykü Altuntaş of BBC Turkish and Hwang Su Min, editor of BBC Korean, share their experiences of covering big news stories, as well as the smaller ones that simply raised a smile. Social media and the news Social media plays an ever greater role in journalism, so how do you manage it? Hanan Razek of BBC Arabic, Bidhaan Dahir of BBC Somali, and Nathalia Passarinho of BBC Brasil share stories of inspiration and insight, as well as threats and confusion. Image: presenter David Amanor Credit: BBC

BBC Russian has been at the heart of this week's reporting on the mysterious poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury. Olga Ivshina tells us that a complex investigation in a quiet English city is just as difficult in its own way as frontline reporting from eastern Ukraine. Image: Salisbury Cathedral in the mist Credit: Matt Cardy/Getty Images