Beyond the Headlines

Iraq's parliament starts off on wrong foot; the US-Palestine relationship

The first day of Iraq's new parliament was a chaotic one. Where does the new government go from here? Also, the US administration is proposing a solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, but it's one that has been out of favour for a long time. Why has the US-Palestine relationship become so fraught?

We discuss both Iraq's new parliament and the US-Palestine situation with The National's foreign desk in this episode of Beyond the Headlines.

How does Caspian Sea demarcation affect Iran?

The Caspian Sea is the biggest enclosed body of water on earth, but depending who you ask, it’s either the largest lake in the world or a small inland sea.

Either way, it has been a source of conflict among the five countries it borders — Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan — for the last 20 years. A recent gathering of the five countries might have resolved some of the legal matters.

And as Robin Mills wrote for The National this week, a weakened Iran might have been left out on the ensuing oil rush in the resource-rich Caspian in this resolution. He and host Naser Al Wasmi discuss how long-sought demarcation of the Caspian Sea affects Iran and the Middle East in this week's Beyond the Headlines podcast.

We also discuss how recent sanctions against Iran have perhaps hurt their position in negotiations, and how Dubai-based Dragon Oil could benefit from demarcation talks.

The view from Hajj; Rohingya refugee update

This week Beyond the Headlines hosts two interviews from two different corners of the Muslim world — celebration at Hajj, and an update on the ongoing Rohingya crisis. 

In Makkah, where over two million Muslims are fulfilling their Islamic duties for Hajj, The National's Naser Al Wasmi gives a firsthand account from Saudi Arabia. How are pilgrims adjusting to the high temperatures, and what tips can we give to others who look to descend on Makkah?

Also, Campbell MacDiarmid returns from a week-long trip to Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh to provide an update on how over 700,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar are surviving in increasingly desperate conditions.

Why the Strait of Hormuz is so important

Maritime oil trade from the Arabian Peninsula relies exclusively on two strategic chokepoints: The Strait of Hormuz, to the UAE’s north, and Bab Al Mandeb to the south.

Despite efforts to diversify the GCC countries’ economy, oil trade remains a lifeline. More than a third of the world’s petroleum trade by sea passes through the Strait of Hormuz. At its most narrow, The Strait of Hormuz is just 54 KM wide. It connects the Arabian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, separating the shores of Oman and Iran.

It’s one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. But with tensions between Iran and some of the GCC countries rising, the Strait of Hormuz might also be the GCC’s biggest strategic vulnerability.

This week, we spoke to Clement Therme, who is a research fellow for Iran at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He’s based in Bahrain where he helps analyse Iran’s political trajectory.

The importance of the Bab Al Mandeb strait

The Bab-el-Mandeb strait is just 18 miles wide, but a large slice of global trade passes through its vital waters every day. To its north is a war zone in Yemen, and to its south sits Djibouti, a tiny but strategically crucial East African nation.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, we dissect the importance of Bab Al Mandeb, both economically and geopolitcally.

Host Charlie Mitchell talks with Jennifer Gnana, who covers energy and business for The National, about the importance of Bab Al Mandeb for global shipping and markets.

And Ahmed Soliman, a researcher on the Horn of Africa with the Africa Programme at Chatham House in London, offers insight into the geopolitical realities in the Horn, which have sparked a scramble to secure the strait.

Fake news in the Middle East with the BBC's Jamie Angus

Today we’re bringing you an interview with Jamie Angus, director of the BBC World Service Group. He spoke to The National’s Nick Webster in our Abu Dhabi studio about the BBC’s efforts to curb the proliferation of fake news.

The Middle East is regarded as prime territory to cause further division and increase tension for online fraudsters. So what can established news organisations do to help consumers tell the difference between what is real and what is not?

Mr Angus tells us how the BBC is taking a proactive approach to curb the spread of fake news.

Who is Imran Khan?

The newly elected prime minister in Pakistan is not a new name in the country. Imran Khan has led he country to cricket glory and been a longtime politician and philanthropist, and last week won a contentious election to become the country's new prime minister.

Now, as Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party attempts to build a coalition, we ask how this man-of-the-people will achieve his many promises, and if the country can finally find some political stability under his stead.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Naser Al Wasmi talks with Ben Farmer, who covered the election for The National, and ESPN cricinfo's Osman Samiuddin about how Khan's lofty status as a sportsman can equate to the political arena.

Iraq protests threaten long-sought stability

It was looking like Iraq was turning the corner last year, after defeating ISIS and garnering more confidence from its Arab neighbors. But recent protests that have left more than 800 wounded and 11 dead are dampening the optimism.

These latest demonstrations started over three weeks ago with residents of Basra upset over high unemployment, and a lack of electricity or fresh water. 

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, we talk to journalist Patrick Osgood about the protests in Iraq and the regional implications of unrest in the country.

The China-UAE bond strengthens

In a week-long series of events, the UAE will host Chinese President Xi Jinping for his first trip to the country. The tour will look to further develop bilateral relations between the two countries. China is already the UAE's top trade partner, and now both countries are looking further strengthen their bond through diplomacy and a sharing of cultures.

We look at the Chinese-UAE relationship in this week's Beyond the Headlines. 

Host Naser Al Wasmi speaks to Ali Al Dhaheri, the UAE Ambassador to China. He is in the UAE this week to help welcome the Chinese President. The ambassador says the deepening ties between the two countries will provide for unparalleled cultural, diplomatic and trade growth. 

We also speak with The National's Haneen Al Dajani following her return from a trip to China. She tells us what both countries are doing to break down the language barrier and how Chinese television may be the next big thing in the Middle East.

If ISIS returns, is Iraq ready?

In Fallujah, where four years ago ISIS first gained significant ground in Iraq, life tentatively goes on. But though the territorial rule of ISIS has for now been erased in Iraq, the group still shows signs of life. And Baghdad seems to be doing little to address this concern.

In this week's Beyond the Headlines, we look at how safe a country in political flux actually is from a potential ISIS resurgence.

Sofia Barbarani reports from Fallujah and talks to those affected by four years of ISIS occupation, including date farmers whose lands and livelihood were ravaged by the terrorist group.

Also, host Mina Al Droubi talks to Dr Renad Mansour, a research fellow for Middle East and North Africa at Chatham House, who is not convinced by Iraq's politically-motivated claims of victory.