Beyond the Headlines

Syrian President Bashar Al Assad has always held a tight grip on media in his country. After seven years of a vicious war, the strongman maintains strict control over all news coming out of his side of the country. The National was given a glimpse into what President Bashar wants the world to interpret about his regime. Our correspondent, Gareth Browne saw right through it. We spoke to Gareth as he returned from a week-long government-monitored trip into Assad's Syria. He told us about how the country's secret service hounded the group of journalists from the UK and what it means for the Syria's outlook.

The US launched airstrikes on Syria this week, sparking a wide range of reactions from the international community. The US-led airstrikes targeted a factory believed to be the source of a Syrian-regime chemical weapons attack last week, which killed dozens. Chemical weapons experts have been blocked from the Syrian attack site by regime forces, reinforcing claims that longstanding President Bashar Al Assad was responsible. But, with so many powers involved in the country, the question of who was involved remains. But it's just one of many questions swirling around the conflict. In this week's Beyond the Headlines, we assess the situation in Syria. Our guest is Lina Sinjab, the BBC’s Middle East Correspondent. She has spent several years covering the region and provided numerous insights into the Syrian war since it began in 2011.

Extremist groups in Syria are planting landmines and booby traps all over the country with the intention of killing civilians. Even children aren't safe from bombs that are often disguised as toys. In this week's Beyond the Headlines, we look at the situation in Syria and the growing civilian deaths from the perspective of humanitarian efforts aimed at helping those affected by these attacks. Imad Aoun is a field communications adviser for Doctors Without Borders. We talk to him about a report he helped publish out of the organisation that presented their findings on the mine and booby-trap situation in Syria. Beyond the Headlines, produced by Kevin Jeffers, is The National's weekly podcast for analysis and insight from the Middle East. Follow, subscribe and rate us at Apple Podcasts, Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

In 2002, a 12-metre statue of Saddam Hussein was erected in Baghdad's Firdos Square, right in the middle of one of the Iraqi capital’s many roundabouts. It depicted the Iraqi dictator standing heels together with his right arm outstretched in an open palm. It was a symbol of Saddam’s confidence and his ruthless grip on the country. A year later, Operation Iraqi Freedom was just a few weeks underway when the statue was torn down by US coalition forces, as some Iraqi citizens cheered. That was 15 years ago this week. On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, we look at where Iraq is now from those who remember the statue's symbolic fall. Rasha Al Aqeedi was in Mosul at the time. Today, she works as a researcher in Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre in Dubai. She talks about the fall of Saddam as both a moment of joy and great concern for the country. Mina Al Droubi, a reporter on the National’s foreign desk, was in London when she saw the news in April 2003. Although only 14, she remembers the event as sparking a reaction that still marks the politics of Iraq today. Beyond the Headlines, produced by Kevin Jeffers, is The National's weekly podcast for analysis and insight from the Middle East. Follow, subscribe and rate us at Apple Podcasts, Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

This week, Saudi Arabia witnessed the most aggressive attack on its own soil since their intervention in the Yemen civil war three years ago. The Houthis launched seven missiles at Riyadh. Saudi’s ministry of interior claimed to intercept all of them, but debris from one fell on a man’s house, killing him and injuring two others. This comes as all parties were engaged, indirectly, in talks that were believed to be considering a political settlement. The war has claimed thousands of lives, and displaced millions. In this week's Beyond the Headlines podcast, host Naser Al Wasmi is joined by analyst Baraa Shibanto explain the political fallout that might transpire as a result of the attacks. We also look at the humanitarian crisis in the country, as more than a million cases of cholera have been reported. As the rainy season in the Arab world’s poorest country approaches, the World Health Organisation is warning that an epidemic that has killed 2,000 people, could flare up again. Jessica El Zarif, from the International Committee of the Red Cross, tells us what can be done to prevent the disease from spreading.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in the United States on an official visit this week. The already strong relationship between the two countries is being reinforced during meetings with President Donald Trump and senior officials. He will then look to engage other aspects of his Vision 2030 in trips to Silicon Valley and other parts of he US. We talked to Joyce Karam, our Washington correspondent, who was present during Saudi embassy briefings and has been talking to insiders in the capital on what the trip means for bilateral relations. We were also joined by Thanassis Cambanis, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, who gave us a wider perspective on Saudis role in the region and the world.

This week, we discuss Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's international outreach. The 32-year-old heir to the Kingdom made stops in Cairo and London and is next heading to Washington for a two-week tour of the US. This will be more than a political trip. After Washington, the Crown Prince is set to visit New York, Boston, Houston, San Francisco and Seattle to discuss economic co-operation, investments and his Vision 2030. We talked to Michael Stephens, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. He tells us what he thinks the Crown Prince hopes to accomplish on this historic tour. Also, we look at the resurgence of ISIL in Iraq. Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi claimed the defeat of ISIL in 2017, but this week there have been dozens of deaths claimed by the terrorists. Reporter Campbell MacDiarmid is in Iraq covering the resurgence of ISIL around the country. He told us what he perceives as the new phase in the battle.

The Syrian conflict is now entering its eighth year. Hundreds of thousands have been killed, clashes are fierce in rebel-held areas and the regime of President Bashar Al Assad has again been accused in recent weeks of using chemical weapons in his push to reclaim territory. Eastern Ghouta's 400,000 residents have lived under government siege since 2013, facing severe shortages of food and medicines even before the latest offensive began. Host Mina Aldroubi talks to the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Panos Moumtzis, about the challenges that civilians and aid works are facing in Ghouta. We also spoke to Damien McElroy, The National's London bureau chief who is closely following developments of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's high-profile visit to the UK.

It has been six months since Myanmar military operations sparked a mass exodus of the country's Rohingya Muslim minority to neighbouring Bangladesh. But although the crisis has now fallen out of the headlines, on the ground it is only growing by the day. Rohingya refugees are continuing to arrive at the already overcrowded camps in the Bangladeshi district of Cox's Bazar and, as the rainy season approaches, aid workers are preparing for high winds and flooding — which could exacerbate the spread of disease and illness and destroy shelters. Host Laura Mackenzie talks to Médecins Sans Frontières' Kate Nolan who is working to co-ordinate the organisation's response to the refugee crisis in Cox's Bazar. Next up, we hear from Ammar Khamees, the director of an Erbil-based NGO who answered a call to help rescue a bear and lion from Mosul zoo amid the military campaign to retake the city from ISIL.

On this special edition of Beyond the Headlines, host Naser Al Wasmi is joined by the Emirati Ambassadors to three very important countries in the UAE’s global diplomatic network: Ali Al Ahmed, UAE Ambassador to Germany; Dr Ahmed Al Banna, Ambassador to India; and Dr Ali Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to China. The diplomats are in Abu Dhabi this week for the Annual Ambassador’s Forum held at the UAE Foreign Ministry. They discussed issues ranging from the effectiveness of soft power diplomacy and EXPO 2020, to trade as a pillar of diplomacy and the importance of security cooperation in the battle against extremism. The UAE has excelled at developing foreign policies and forged a diplomacy that is both unique to itself and effective at streamlining ties for such a young country. This episode brings a unique view into how it conducts itself abroad. Follow Beyond the Headlines and the rest of our shows on Apple Podcasts.

Iran and Israel were on the brink of war. Tensions arose when Israel shot down an Iranian drone on February 10, after it entered the country from Syria. Then one of the Israel’s F-16 fighters was shot down, the first Israeli plane downed in decades and a huge blow to their air force’s aura of invincibility. Damien McElroy, The National’s London bureau chief, covered a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing Iran over their intrusion. He joins host Naser Al Wasmi in discussing how war could break out in the region over the two countries’ interests. Regardless of the credibility behind the Israelis' claims, it is no secret Iran is trying to push its interests in the region through limited direct military engagement. Nazenin Ansari, the managing editor of Kayhan-London, sheds light on how Iran, Israel and the wider region is conducting operations in a precarious situation in Syria.

An international donor conference opened in Kuwait on Monday with hopes of rebuilding Iraq following its devastating war against ISIL. We discuss Iraq's reconstruction efforts in this week's edition of Beyond the Headlines. The conference brings together 70 countries, aid groups, UN agencies and corporations aimed at investing in Iraq's crippled economy, infrastructure and humanitarian crisis. Host Mina Aldroubi is joined by Dr Renad Mansour, senior research fellow at London’s Chatham House, to discuss the challenge of rebuilding and its implication for Iraq’s ability to seal the peace and prevent ISIL from reemerging. Decades of violence have left 4 million Iraqi children in desperate need of immediate humanitarian help. Juliette Touma, UNICEF’s regional chief of communications in the Middle East and North Africa, discusses how vital it is for Iraq to get the necessary funds to invest in children in order to break the cycle of violence. Also, Dr Fanar Haddad explains how western powers are suffering from scepticism and donor fatigue and after years of turmoil in the region. Hopes are now resting on Gulf Arab states to step forward for Iraq. Follow Beyond the Headlines and the rest of our shows on Apple Podcasts.

All six Arabian Gulf countries import between 80 to 97 per cent of their food. Due to water scarcity and poor soil, it typically costs less to import food than to grow it here. According to the ministry of climate change and environment, the demand for food will increase by 300 per cent, putting a huge strain on our economies. We tackle the food-scarcity issue on this week's Beyond the Headlines. Host Naser Al Wasmi is joined by Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Director General at International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, to discuss how governments are working to better ensure the growth of local food. We also get into the scientific side with Abdul Rahman Al Fraih, a researcher at the public authority of agriculture in Kuwait. Science is key in developing the methods and capacity to grow food locally. The Arabian Gulf, with its arid environment and desert soil, is not ideal — nor are cold, northern hemisphere environments. The greenhouse has gone through centuries of development to get to the point where growing food in minus-20 degrees (C) was possible. Follow Beyond the Headlines and the rest of our shows on Apple Podcasts.

Clashes broke out in Aden over the weekend when the Southern Transitional Council called to its constituents to demonstrate. The Yemen government banned protests on the streets and prompted the semi-autonomous group to confront the presidential guard. Dozens were killed and hundreds injured. Both are blaming the violence on the other side, but are now adhering to a ceasefire organized by the Arab coalition. Host Naser Al Wasmi is joined by Professor Elisabeth Kendall, an Oxford academic, who was supposed to be in Yemen at the time the protests broke out. She explained the history of the conflict and provided context to the war. Later in the show, The National correspondent Ali Mahmood reports from the streets of Yemen. Mr Mahmood covered the three days of violence and sheds light on where this clash might go from here. Beyond the Headlines is The National's weekly analysis and insight from the Middle East. Follow, subscribe and rate us at Apple Podcasts, Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

Turkey launched this week a military offensive into Afrin, a heavily Kurdish enclave of Syria. Ankara is calling it an 'anti-terror campaign,' targeting the US-backed Kurdish group, the People’s Protection Units. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is justifying the offensive as a pre-emptive strike, or Turkey’s right to self-defence. The war is likely an attempt for the country to hide behind anti-terrorist rhetoric to settle old scores against the Kurds. Kareem Shaheen, a journalist based in Turkey, joins the show to break down why this move shifts Turkey’s political alliances. The Kurdish people have long been a part of the region and believe they have been severely marginalised. Sofia Barbarani, an editor on the foreign desk, has spent several years reporting out of Kurdish-heavy areas of both Syria and Iraq. She joins the show to discuss Kurdish history in the region, their ultimate goals and the political differences among the several factions spread across the region. This is an acronym-heavy show so we’ve provided a guide to the initials below: • Kurdistan Worker's Party, or PKK: the Kurdish organization that have been involved in an armed conflict with Turkey since 1984 with the aim of creating an independent state. They have more recently demanded equal rights in Turkey. • Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units, or the YPG: Syrian rebels fighting president Bashar Al Assad. Accused of displacing local Arabs ot expand the areas of northern Syria under Kurdish control. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK. • Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF: a militia alliance dominated by the Kurdish YPG and backed by the US. Beyond the Headlines is The National's weekly analysis and insight from the Middle East. Follow, subscribe and rate us at Apple Podcasts, Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

Reporting from The World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, taking place during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, host Naser Al Wasmi talks to two Paraguayan girls who have been honoured for their conservation efforts in their rainforest home. If not for young students Pamela Armoa and Analia Velazquez, the distinct, bell-like sound of the Bare-throated Bellbird risks fading away. We also spoke to H Harish Hande, the founder of the Selco Foundation and winner of the Zayed Future Energy for Prize best non-profit organisation. His group looks to empower residents of India’s slums. And we sat down with the recipient of the lifetime achievement award, Shuji Nakamura. The Japanese scientist is responsible for developing the LED. The technology is found in everything from the iPhone to lightbulbs that are ten times more efficient that traditional lighting. Beyond the Headlines is The National's weekly analysis and insight from the Middle East. Follow, subscribe and rate us at Apple Podcasts, Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

This week, Israel banned twenty activist organisations over their support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement against Israel or BDS for short. The movement, whose co-founder we speak to in the show, is built upon three founding ideas: To put an end to Israeli occupation of all Arab lands and dismantling the wall as per international law; second, to recognize the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and finally, to respect and protect the right of Palestinians refugees to return to their homes as stipulated by the United Nations. These three causes reflect what are widely recognized as the basic human rights Palestinians deserve. For supporting the cause, twenty international groups were banned from entering Israel. Host Naser Al Wasmi is also joined by an activist from one of the organisations that were banned, Ariel Gold. The American is an activist at Code Pink: Women for Peace, an NGO aimed at providing a peace and social justice movement. The organisation identifies as women-initiated and has done a lot of work within Gaza. However, with the boycott, the international organisation will be unable to reach those Palestinian beneficiaries who benefit from their work. Another one of the twenty organisations that were banned earlier this week was the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Fatin Al Tamimi speaks to us on how this move will interfere with her work promoting Palestinian statehood. BDS: bdsmovement.net; @bdsmovement Code Pink: codepink.org; @ArielElyseGold IPSC: ipsc.ie; @ipsc48

From our friends on the 85% podcast, we consider the changes unfolding in Saudi Arabia from a regional perspective. In conversation with emerge85 Lab editor-in-chief Joseph Dana, emerge85 co-director Mishaal Al Gergawi (@algergawi) and Mina Al-Oraibi (@AlOraibi), editor of the UAE's leading English-language newspaper The National, discuss the challenges facing Saudi Arabia, what western media are missing, and the future of the regional order.

In Iran, this week a small demonstration that started in Mashhad turned into nationwide protests, with some calling for regime change. Iran has a long history of coups, protests and demonstrations. Of all the countries in the Middle East, historically, none other than Iran has been more defined by the spark within a person or group that drives them to take to the streets and fight for change. Host Naser Al Wasmi is joined by Golnaz Esfandiari, political analyst for Freedom House and a journalist, to shed light into why the demonstrations are happening in the first place across the country. Later in the show, Nazenin Ansari, a journalist and managing editor of Kayhan London draws comparisons from this protest to demonstrations past. The Green Revolution, or the Persian Awakening as it was being called during its height in 2009, was calling for the removal of then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The grievances were clear then and the Iranian government’s reaction was equally clear: widespread arrests and a clampdown on the protests. This time, however, the main takeaway of the protests is not clear, and neither is the outcome.

The Middle East in 2017 could look like relatively tame year in a region that has become so characteristic of extreme often dramatic changes. The Arab world has become a stage for an ever shifting political reality, with coups, civil wars and millions of people displaced from conflict in the last ten years. Despite all of this, the Arabian Gulf typically remains quite peaceful as the leaders have a policy of prioritizing stability. However, this year was different. The three of the biggest stories of 2017 came out of the Arabian Peninsula with the reform policies of Saudi Arabia, the GCC crisis and the change within Iraq. Naser Al Wasmi is joined by his colleagues on The National's foreign desk, Dana Moukhallati and Mina Al Droubi, to look into what might be in stock for the region in 2018.

Jerusalem serves as one of the holiest sites in the world, and as the scene of some of the most dramatic political events. Donald Trump last week recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which sent waves of protest around the world. We spoke to Joseph Dana, a writer for the National, to explain what it means on the ground. The move is likely to create unrest, but we look to understand how it will change regional dynamics. Also, as part of World Arabic Language Day, assistant foreign editor Laura Mackenzie interviews an Arabic language teacher in the UAE on the importance of learning the language, and how Arabic serves as an identity, religious signifier and a cultural unifier for the more than 420 million people that speak it.

As dozens of Arabic-speaking nations celebrate their language this week, The National's Mina Aldroubi, Naser Alwasmi and Saeed Saeed discuss whether the language is being lost, the importance of preservation and education among Arab youths, and more on this special edition of Beyond the Headlines.

The United States is now the only country in the world that recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Since president Donald Trump announced the move in a speech last week, protests have continued to rumble across the West Bank and Gaza and Washington has been condemned by both regional leaders and politicians across the world. But although demonstrations by Palestinians against the decision have been relatively muted so far, the ramifications of the US announcement are sure to be felt for years to come. Ben Lynfield, who has been covering the Palestinian and Israeli response from Jerusalem for The National, talks to us about what the atmosphere has been like on the ground and where this leaves the two sides. In the Swiss city of Geneva, meanwhile, UN-brokered peace talks on Syria are ongoing. But so far no progress has been made and there is little hope that any agreements between the opposition and regime delegations will be reached before discussions wrap up on December 15. The National's Mina Al Droubi, who was in Geneva for the start of the talks, updates us on where the two sides currently stand and where things are likely to go from here. Lastly, we hear from Salem Al Marri, assistant director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. Mr Al Marri, who is managing the UAE’s astronaut programme, speaks to our reporter James Langton about the recruitment process for the country’s first ever astronauts and what the Emirates’ space ambitions look like.

This week's GCC summit may have closed a day early but there were some signs that progress had been made on the row between members states the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and Qatar. Though there was by no means a real resolution to the six-month-long dispute reached, the fact that the annual gathering took place at all was seen as a positive step. And, as our reporter Naser Al Wasmi explains from Kuwait City, body language between the officials gathered suggested that tensions may be easing. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti emir's call for a committee to be formed to look at changing the GCC's statute was a sign that officials are keen to ensure the body's continuing relevance. Elsewhere in the Middle East, leaders are concerned about Washington's expected recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. James Langton talks to Stephen Hadley, who served as national security adviser to former US president George W Bush, about this, as well as other major issues currently affecting the United States and the Middle East.

Peace talks sometimes fail before they even begin. A complete political breakdown has been the case with Syria the last 7 times Bashar Al Assad's government and the opposition have gathered to talk. However, with Russia, regional powerhouses and others getting involved, the peace talks in Geneva taking place this week might have a chance of ending this brutal war. Mina Al Droubi comes to us with the story as she reports from the UN headquarters in the Swiss city. Mount Agung in Bali is threatening the lives of tens of thousands as it could be on the brink of eruption. Theodora Sutcliffe, a reporter based in Bali explains the likelihood of a natural disaster and what it means for the tens of thousands stranded on the Indonesian Island. Paul Peachey, a reporter from the National's London bureau, produced and reported on how the Muslim community in Manchester, UK is dealing with the 500 per cent increase in hate crime six months after the suicide attacks at the Ariana Grande concert.

Talks in Sochi, Riyadh and in Geneva could finally spell an end to the Syrian civil war, where millions have been displaced and hundreds of thousands killed. The country has been spinning out of control Syrians demanded the resignation of their heavy-handed ruler, Bashar Al Assad, during the Arab Spring in 2011. Mina Al Droubi, a reporter on the foreign desk, tells us how the meetings could be another chance at a peace. In Lebanon, the resignation of Saad Al Hariri has sparked rumours to run rampant in the media, but Dana Moukhlallati, an editor on the foreign desk, explains the regional implications of the move that shocked Beirut last week. Finally, after 47 years in operation, the iconic El Dorado Cinema shuttered its doors in downtown Abu Dhabi. We have the origin story of the theatre told by one of the people who helped build the cinema older than the country itself.

Less than two years into the Paris Agreement, where 196 countries agreed to curb climate change to less than two degrees this century, the goal is beginning to slip out of reach. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the accord has been a shock to the rest of the world as it comes to grips with how to fill the gap. We record live from COP 23 in Bonn, Germany where the other 195 countries have gathered to figure out how to save the world. Lou Leonard from the World Wildlife Fund explains that not all hope is lost. A campaign launched by over 2,500 American entities, ranging from state governments to individual universities, have signed the “We are still in” declaration to make sure that their organizations still represent US commitments to the Paris Agreement independently from the federal government’s decision. Niranjali Amerasinghe from the World Resources Institute tells us how the burden-sharing and finance, a hotly debated and intricate aspect of the Paris Agreement, will be influenced by Washington's decision to pull out.

In this episode, we look back at a night that will have deep implications for the future of Saudi Arabia. The foreign press dubbed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's anti-corruption drive as "The night of the long knives" but many Saudis may look at his manoeuvring as a long awaited move to root out corruption. This will not only come to define the news of this week, but the news of the young Prince’s reign as he looks to push the Kingdom towards his vision. Jane Kinninmont, the senior fellow at the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, tells us how the round-up indicates a very different tone from what has transpired in Saudi Arabia in the past. Moving on to the event that kicked this week off, Dana Moukhallati, an editor on the National’s foreign desk, explains how the resignation of Lebanon’s prime minister, Saad Hariri, might signal the end of tolerance for foreign Iranian intervention in Arab affairs. Finally, we have analysis on what might be a ramping up on the devastating war in Yemen and how military escalation could lead to a more direct clash between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Cholera, as it looked to threaten and plunge Yemen into the worst pandemic since Ebola, is on the decline. The drop coincides with the end of the rainy season but could be back for another bout if medical facilities in the Middle East’s poorest country fail to improve. As a result, Doctor’s Without Borders has decided to scale down its cholera treatment centres, and Dr Caroline Seguin, the Yemen cell manager, spoke to us on how cholera, a failure in the medical system, and rampant mental trauma has gripped the country. Meanwhile, its been a century since the Balfour Declaration saw the UK give Palestinian land to Jewish settlers. Ben Lynfield spoke to both sides to see how they viewed the decree, which resulted in the creation of a Zionist state, and is viewed by some as the legacy of the British Empire looking to remedy a shifting power dynamic in the Middle East post-WWI. And in Kuwait, the government has submitted its resignation following a dramatic session in parliament last week. Courtney Freer, researcher at the London School of Economics Kuwait programme, explains why this matters for the country.

One of the most heinous humanitarian disasters is taking place today, and the world has never been so slow to react. The Rohingya refugee crisis has seen more than 600,000 members of the Muslim minority flee what has been referred to as “hell on earth” by the UNHCR. We have Fiona MacGregor reporting on the topic and Queen Rania of Jordan’s visit to Bangladeshi camps. Oman, one of the oldest countries in the region, has a very young problem. Youth delinquency in the Sultanate is on the rise, and Saleh Al Shaibany reports on how Oman looks to deal with the countries’ concern. Finally we are joined by John Everington on how Apple is looking to change the world, again.

The most deadly attack in Somalia’s war-torn history has rocked the country and claimed hundreds of lives. We look to find out why the two bombs have gone unclaimed by any terrorist organization. We talk to Colin Freeman whose on-the-ground reporting has led him to some interesting conclusions. Iraqi troops have been mobilized again, but this time it is to reclaim Kirkuk, the oil-rich Iraqi state that the Kurdish referendum attempted to claim as their own. The National reporter, Mina Al Droubi, joins us to discuss how the attack can easily take a turn for the worse. Finally we are joined by James Langton, who witnessed an unidentified object burning through the UAE’s sky from his home in Abu Dhabi. Speculation on what the object was has led some to say it was a meteor yet others claiming it came from a Russian ship.

The Philippines are experiencing an ISIL-influenced insurgency from 8,000 KM away. We analyse what might happen if hard-line President Rodrigo Duterte decides to crack down on the Islamist surge on several of the country’s islands. We talk to Florian Neuhof who has reported from the scene of an intense battle between the two sides. Benjamin Netanyahu has been one of the most pro-Zionist leaders at the expense of Palestinians. However, as his reign is now threatened with corruption charges, his politics might be replaced by his son, Yair. Analysts say the 26-year-old is bolder and more aggressive. Ben Lynfield explains to us why. Finally we are joined by Anna Zakarias, who covered one of the more business-oriented date festivals. The prices at these events can go up to several dozen dollars per piece. Want more insights from Beyond the Headlines? Follow the series on iTunes.

The right to self-determination is not only the core upon which we gauge human rights but it’s considered one of the fundamental freedoms the United Nations outlines as necessary to all mankind. So why is that when people look to exercise that freedom, it’s almost universally met with resistance? We spoke to Mina Al Droubi, reporter at The National, about what is happening in Iraqi #Kurdistan and what the referendum might mean in terms of the region actually gaining independence. In #Spain, another unrelated push for independence is coming from the Catalans as they look to achieve a long-desired autonomous state. We spoke to Richard Ferraris, who is reporting on the events in Barcelona. At home in the UAE, a new law will see for the first time in the region an excise tax hike aimed directly at urging consumers to make more health conscious decisions. The tax includes a 100 per cent hike on both cigarettes and energy drinks and a 50 per cent tax on cola. This could be a precursor for more moves of its kind in the future, Roberta Penington told us. Want more insights from Beyond the Headlines? Follow the series on iTunes #currentaffairs #news #politics #iraq #uae #middleeast #foreign #world

Another session of the United Nations General Assembly has come and gone. Fiery speeches, discussions of nuclear war and celebrity appearances made the headlines. But beyond the headlines, there were developments that are poised to impact lives all over the world, including millions in the Middle East. In this podcast, Editor in Chief Mina Al-Oraibi, London Bureau Chief Damien McElroy and Washington DC correspondent Joyce Karam take an in-depth look at Libya, Syria and Yemen -- three countries that received considerable attention at the 72nd General Assembly and currently have peace processes being mediated by the UN. Finishing things off, they also look at the prospects of reform at the global body and the initiatives championed by Secretary-General António Guterres.

President Trump has addressed world leaders at the United Nations headquarters in New York City for the first time since taking office, and he didn’t mince words. He took direct aim at the regimes in Pyongyang and Tehran, while highlighting key policy approaches including military engagements 'without arbitrary timetables' and promoting the 'sovereignty' of nations. In this podcast, Editor in Chief Mina Al-Oraibi is joined by London Bureau Chief Damien McElroy and correspondent Joyce Karam to digest the President's words, and their potential impact on the global order.

The United Nations general assembly kicks off in earnest next week. We analyse what might happen in some of the highlights expected from the meeting, including American President Donald Trump’s first real address to the international community and UN Secretary General António Guterres presiding over his first General Assembly debate since assuming his new role. Mina Al Oraibi, Editor in Chief of The National and a journalist with more than 10 years experience covering the event in New York, gives insight into just how much happens on the side-lines and whether the intergovernmental body still holds its weight in global politics. Toby Harward, head of the UNHCR office in the UAE, describes how refugees are not only one of the biggest issues on the agenda this year but could become increasingly more prevalent as global warming is likely to cause even more human displacement as the earth warms. Carla Mirza, a writer for The National, explains that more could be done in the UN if people begin to understand leadership dynamics and how personalities play a part on this, the global stage.

Despite two potential wars on the horizon, people are still finding it in them to get angry at cartoons. This week, nuclear war might break out between the US and North Korea in an unpredictable game of attrition and reporter Rob Crilly explains to us how tensions are rising between the two. With nuclear weapons involved a war between the two would involve the entire region, if not the entire world. How likely is that to happen? In the Middle East, Israel and Lebanon might be going at it again. With the US sounding the alarm and Israel making complaints at the UN, war in Lebanon might be closer than we think. We spoke to Luna Safwan, a Beirut-based journalist, who told us that war this time would be even worse than the conflict between the two in 2006. Despite all this war of talk, possibly the most controversial message to come out of any periodical or newspaper this week was surprisingly, a cartoon. Unsurprisingly, it came from Charlie Hebdo. Cartoonist Armand Homsi shed some light on the ethics of cartooning and how drawing the line in satire is difficult to understand internationally.

This week, more than 2 million people will go to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Islam’s holiest event on the calendar. What draws so many to go through what is not an easy journey, one that is often marred in media coverage that seldom highlights the significance the pilgrimage has with every practicing Muslim. We speak to Islamic scholar who works for Awqaf in the UAE, Yusuf Jha, who explains the spirituality of Hajj, often overlooked in Western media. Our reporter Haneen Al Dajani, who performed Hajj in 2012, provides a unique insight into what it means for to have performed Hajj. Finally, we talk to one of our former writers, Ayesha Al Mazroui, who is now in Hajj performing the pilgrimage for the first time. Beyond the Headlines is The National's weekly current-affairs podcast. #news #islam #mecca #hajj #foreign #world

This week, Yemen might be approaching the first step towards a peace agreement in the three-year war. We use poetry to understand what that means. Oxford University academic Elisabeth Kendall gives us an idea of how Yemen could be understood through tribal lines. Host Naser Alwasmi speaks to Mina Al Droubi to get an understanding of how ISIL exists in Iraq and how the battle against the caliphate is being used as a political tool for Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi to guarantee success in the upcoming elections. Finally, in the event of Emirati Women’s Day, we interview Etihad Airways' first female pilot Salma Al Baloushi, a UAE pioneer. Beyond the Headlines is the current affairs podcast for The National. #yemen #foreign #world #iraq #isil #isis #uae

This week, half a million kilograms of rocket fuel launch an Emirati high school student’s experiment into space, as part of the Genes in Space competition. The show features a clip from Alia Al Mansoori during the launch of the shuttle from the Kennedy Space Centre. Also, Joyce Karam tells host, Naser Al Wasmi, how the alt-right and neo-nazis in the United States have found a champion in Syrian dictator Bashaar Al Assad. Finally, Taimur Khan, our Gulf Correspondent, draws from both history and his family’s personal legacy as Pakistan turns 70 and tells us what the future holds for the dynamic country. Beyond the Headlines is The National's weekly look at current affairs affection the Middle East and abroad. #News #Politics #MiddleEast #Space #NASA #Pakistan #Foreign #World #Trump #Syria #USA #rasicm #bigotry

For International Youth Day, Editor in chief Mina Al Oraibi is joined by a few of The National's resident youngsters -- Mina Al Droubi, Juman Jarallah and Naser Alwasmi -- to discuss what it means to be young and Arab in the UAE. What are the unique challenges? How can the region do more to create opportunity and harnessing potential. They also discuss their hopes for the future and what International Youth Day means to them. A special edition of Beyond the Headlines.

Episode 6: The Torch tower in Dubai erupted in flames this week, the second time one of the world's tallest residential buildings has done so in little over a year. The National's Ramola Talwar tells Naser Al Wasmi how new UAE building standards might help avoid fires like the one that happened in one of the world’s largest residential buildings last week. On Qatar, Mishaal Al Gergawi, the founder of Delma Institute, talks about the irreparable damage the crisis might be causing to the idea and the identity of an Arabian Gulf national. And finally, Jo Tan, an editor at The National, interviews a former Singaporean diplomat on how Golf and a tropical beach shaped ASEAN.

Beyond the Headlines Episode 5: This week, Naser Al Wasmi, is joined by Florian Neuhof to discuss the other side of what life is like in Mosul since its liberation. London Bureau Chief Damien MCelroy visits the Abu Dhabi newsroom and talks about where he thinks the UK is going. And John Dennehy joins the show to shed light on one of the last places to play the rare sport, Sand Golf.

The National's current affairs podcast, where this week host Naser Alwasmi is joined by experts on Turkey and Kuwait as the Middle East nations each had their share of headlines. In Abu Dhabi, Eman Abd el Aty - once known as the world's heaviest woman - is on the road to recovery. Nick Webster has the story.

Actions speak louder than words sometimes. So what can be gleaned from the actions at this week's G20 summit? In Qatar, the Riyadh leaks have enforced the GCC region's diplomatic boycott. And how does the hot weather affect local fishermen in the UAE? Naser Alwasmi, Anna Pukas, Joyca Karam and Anna Zacharias discuss. #g20 #news #politics #germany #trump #putin #merkel #environment #qatar #uae

Welcome to Beyond the Headlines, a new weekly podcast from The National. This week join Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi as she talks through some of the big stories of the week with Assistant Editor-in-Chief Mustafa Alrawi and Naser Al Wasmi from our Foreign Desk.