The Blast from Beyond the Headlines
On August 4, 2020 the heart of Beirut was ripped apart by a huge explosion caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate detonating at the city’s port. The National’s Finbar Anderson was one of the thous...
1 Aug 202129s
Is France's anti-separatism law anti-Muslim?
An IT technician facing the sack for discussing voting habits at work or parents barred from home schooling their children. It sounds pretty dystopian, but activists say a new French law may bring t...
29 Juli 202123min
Why some Saudis stop everything to volunteer at Hajj
Every year in Saudi Arabia, as the time of the pilgrimage to Makkah nears, thousands of people from the city and around the country gather to volunteer for Hajj. Often these people will give up their ...
20 Juli 202113min
Will Iraq's power problem ever end?
Iraq’s summer is crippling the country. People are having to seek refuge indoors to escape scorching temperatures that regularly reach 50°C. But indoors isn’t much better with regular power blackouts ...
15 Juli 202123min
South Sudan faced war and famine, but what's next for the world's youngest country?
On July 9, 2011, when South Sudan finally became independent after a 56-year struggle and a bitter secession from Sudan, it was a dream come true for many. Roughly the size of the United Kingdom and...
8 Juli 202117min
Will there be lasting peace in Tigray?
On June 28, Ethiopia’s federal government declared a ceasefire in Tigray. Mekelle, the capital of the restive region, sprang to life as thousands flooded the streets chanting and dancing, many drape...
1 Juli 202119min
Behind the scenes ahead of Expo 2020 Dubai
With one hundred days to go before Expo 2020 opens its gates, the grounds are buzzing. The site is bigger than 600 football fields. And there are twenty thousand workers busy building, welding and add...
23 Juni 202122min
Is the Turkish President meddling in football?
Like millions in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a football fan. Before he became the country’s leader, he was a semi-professional player. He publicly backs a small Istanbul team - which w...
17 Juni 202121min
