Beyond the Headlines

Riad Salameh, Lebanon's former central bank governor, was once celebrated as a “financial wizard” who kept the country’s economy prospering for years. He is now an international fugitive wanted by France and Germany, and sanctioned by the US and the UK. He is wanted for the alleged embezzlement of hundreds of millions of dollars in Lebanese public funds, which were funnelled into real estate properties across Europe and the US. The Salameh saga shows how a man was able to appropriate an institution for his personal gain and that of his inner circle for decades, without raising alarms among auditors, international banks or even central bank employees, until the entire system finally crumbled. This week on Beyond the Headlines, Nada Maucourant Atallah delves into the story behind Riad Salameh's fall from grace.

Two years ago, Afghanistan as the world knew it collapsed. After the withdrawal of US and other forces backing the government, in scenes that shocked the world, the Taliban marched into the Afghan capital Kabul pretty much unopposed. On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Sulaiman Hakemy looks at the dire consequences for ordinary Afghans.

Gaza is often referred to as the world’s largest open air prison. Under siege by Israel, half of the 2.3 million people living in the territory are unemployed. Leaders from the ruling Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, meet in Egypt in talks that they say seek to end the divide that has been making life all the harder for people in Gaza ever since Hamas seized power there in 2007. While these meetings do take place every now and then, the internal turmoil being seen in the occupied territories coupled with the rarity of the protests in Gaza has made us stop and think. This week on Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher talks Gaza, the West Bank, reconciliation and everything in between.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Fatima Al Mahmoud reflects on how August 4, which witnessed the largest non-nuclear explosion in history in Beirut, changed the lives of many, including her own.  She speaks to Lebanese who decided to leave the country - and others who decided to stay.

Since the fighting broke out on April 15, more than 3.1 million people have fled their homes – looking for safety abroad in Egypt, Chad and the Central African Republic. There is still no end in sight for this continuing war of generals between Mohamed Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who heads Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and army chief Abdel Fattah Al Burhan. Massive efforts are under way by the UN, US, African Union, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and many others to bring the warring sides to a table where they could agree to end the bloodshed. About 3,000 people have been killed so far, although these figures might be massively understated as doctors continue to struggle to reach patients and victims in need, while war crimes are being widely documented. On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada Al Taher looks into what has become of Sudan after 100 days of war and how this conflict has impacted the region.

Millions of people across Europe are feeling the intensity of extreme weather as a relentless heatwave sweeps across the continent. Pavements have radiated heat, forcing people to retreat indoors to escape the punishing rays. The sound of air conditioners has become deafening. Europe’s latest heatwave could see it recording its hottest-ever temperatures this week. And this emergency situation could last for weeks more, according to the UN weather agency. On this episode of Beyond The Headlines, host Victoria Pertusa looks into why summers keep getting hotter and hotter. She speaks to locals and experts to explore the factors and patterns that make heatwaves increasingly prevalent in recent years, and finds out how different communities are coping with this challenge.

Every year on July 11, the world observes World Population Day, designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about global population issues. It serves as a reminder of the significant challenges and opportunities presented by the ever-increasing number of people on our planet.   Longevity, or the length and quality of human life, has become a subject of great interest and importance in recent years. Advances in healthcare, improved living conditions and technological innovations have contributed to a remarkable increase in life expectancy worldwide. However, as the global population continues to rise, what is the future of ageing and longevity. The average lifespan has been shorter in the past because of the risk of dying at birth, in childhood, in the middle of a raging battle or being mauled to death by wild animals. However, taking out those threats, an average human has long been capable of reaching a 70th birthday. And now, with breakthroughs in our understanding of genetics and billions of dollars being poured into life sciences research, we may find ways to extend our lives even further, maybe to even double that number, in the next few decades. This episode of Beyond The Headlines was previously aired on June 23, 2022.

France has entered a second week of unrest, after riots triggered by the police killing of a teenager of North African descent spread across the country. Seventeen-year-old Nahel M, from the Parisian suburb of Nanterre, was shot dead in his car at point blank range by a policeman on June 27 - and France is reeling from his death. Cars have been set on fire and shops looted by rioters. Tens of thousands of police officers have had to be mobilised to restore order. The killing has prompted a furious debate about police reform, race and equality – with some blaming migration, others institutionalised racism. President Emmanuel Macron has been meeting with mayors and officials to explore "deeper reasons" for the riots. On this episode of Beyond The Headlines, host Lemma Shehadi investigates how one death has exposed such division.

Hajj falls during Dhu Al Hijja, the 12th month in the Islamic calendar. The annual pilgrimage itself is fard, meaning mandatory, for every able-bodied and financially capable Muslim, at least once in their lifetime. It is no wonder then, that this event is so important. This week on Beyond The Headlines, host Nada AlTaher talks to a woman about her experiences at Hajj, her first time seeing the Kaaba and what lessons she took from her pilgrimage.

110 million: that is the number of people who have been forcibly displaced around the world due to persecution, conflict, violence and human rights abuse. This record level has been reached amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan which have forced millions of people to flee their homes. Out of that number, 35.3 million are classed as refugees, or people who crossed an international border to find safety under the mandate of UN agencies. This week on Beyond The Headlines, we are commemorating World Refugee Day. We feature three people from three conflict-torn countries who have survived the pain and harsh reality of displacement to tell their story.