Reasons for cheer from an often dour year

Reasons for cheer from an often dour year

The Middle East is not known for its good news, and 2018 was no exception. But in between the usual stories of war and political turmoil, The National's journalists found reasons for hope. We shine a light on the reasons for optimism in this week's episode of Beyond the Headlines.

In Iraq, date farmers work toward a future where their country is a business hub. In the West Bank, Palestinians find inspiration in art and culture. In the UAE, cultures merge to celebrate music and heritage. These stories helped remind us that plenty of reason to celebrate, however dour the headlines might seem.

Episoder(476)

The war of words between Iran and Israel

The war of words between Iran and Israel

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...

21 Feb 201822min

Iraq's reconstruction and the challenges ahead

Iraq's reconstruction and the challenges ahead

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 o...

14 Feb 201824min

Tackling food scarcity in the Middle East

Tackling food scarcity in the Middle East

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 minist...

7 Feb 201821min

In Yemen, a violent week complicates a nuanced war

In Yemen, a violent week complicates a nuanced war

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-a...

31 Jan 201823min

Turkey's military offensive against Kurdish Syria, explained

Turkey's military offensive against Kurdish Syria, explained

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 Prote...

24 Jan 201823min

World Future Energy Summit rewards world's most energy conscious

World Future Energy Summit rewards world's most energy conscious

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 conser...

17 Jan 201825min

Palestine-activist groups respond to being banned from Israel

Palestine-activist groups respond to being banned from Israel

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 t...

10 Jan 201823min

Saudi Arabia and the Future of the Regional Order from emerge85

Saudi Arabia and the Future of the Regional Order from emerge85

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 ...

5 Jan 201834min

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