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We bring you the top news stories, field reports and in-depth insights from the Middle East and beyond
Episodes
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world.
On today's episode, four prisoners die and 61 others are injured after a fire breaks out and gunshots are heard at Iran's notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Iranian social media posts have challenged state media claims over the cause of the fire and apparent explosions at the prison.
Lebanon's Army says Israeli gunboats entered Lebanese waters four times near Naqoura, in the southern part of the country, but Israel denies the claims. The disagreement comes a few days after both nations, technically at war, approved a US-mediated maritime border deal.
In Tunisia, the International Monetary Fund reaches a staff-level agreement for a new 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) worth about $1.9 billion, which will support the country's economic reform programme.
The length of e-scooter and bike tracks in Dubai will double to about 400 kilometres from 2023 while speed limits will be slashed to 30km an hour on some roads to improve rider safety. Eleven new routes will be opened up to e-scooters and bicycles from next year.
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Friday Oct 14, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world. On today's episode, the world’s first production-ready solar car, the Lightyear 0, will arrive in the UAE early next year, not long after it goes on sale in Europe at the end of 2022.
Iraq’s Parliament elects former water resources minister Abdul Lateef Rasheed as the country’s new president, in a crucial step towards ending a political deadlock that has lasted more than a year.
Lebanon approves a US-mediated maritime border deal with Israel. Both countries claim about 860 square kilometres of the Mediterranean Sea that contain offshore gasfields.
The US House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol voted unanimously to subpoena former president Donald Trump in the most aggressive action the panel has taken since it began its investigation last year.
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world. On today's episode, the UAE’s Rashid Moon rover will soon be shipped to its launch site in Florida for lift-off in early November. Meanwhile, Etihad Rail, the UAE's national railway project, took a significant step forward when Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah were connected to the network.
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs has said Opec+ members acted "responsibly" in their decision to cut oil production by two million barrels per day after the move provoked criticism from the White House. Meanwhile, preparations for oil and gas exploration in Lebanon will take a number of months, officials in Beirut have said. Officials are reported to be satisfied with a draft maritime border deal with Israel, although they have yet to formally approve it.
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world. On today's episode, Lebanon and Israel reach a “historic deal” to demarcate their maritime boundary, with both sides saying they are satisfied with the deal.
In the UAE, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence is getting a new supercomputer capable of carrying out the most complex calculations. Hewlett Packard Enterprise will build the supercomputer, which is typically used to address the world's most demanding problems.
Workers at refineries critical to Iran's oil and natural gas production protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, in police custody while the International Monetary Fund cuts its growth forecast for 2023 and warns of a cost of living crisis as the global economy continues to be affected by the war in Ukraine, broadening inflation pressures and a slowdown in China.
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world.
On today's episode, non-World Cup ticket holders will now be able to enter Qatar during the tournament, so long as they have an invite from someone with a match ticket, as part of updated measures.
Lebanon receives the final draft of a US-backed maritime agreement with Israel and expresses hope about getting an agreement done based on the final text.
The UAE Cabinet approves the country’s federal budget for 2023 to 2026, with a total expenditure of about $69 billion, while the five-day Gitex 2022 technology event trends after opening in Dubai, with 5,000 companies exhibiting their latest innovations and giving a glimpse of what the future will look like.
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the Middle East and around the world. On today's episode, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot has been hired at Dubai's Museum of the Future. Named Ameca, the robot is capable of making facial expressions and reportedly even has a sense of humour.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. The theme for this year is “make mental health and well-being for all a global priority”, and 'The National' has put together a comprehensive guide to seeking mental health support in the UAE. You can view it by visiting our website.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed Ukraine for an explosion that damaged a bridge linking Russia and Crimea. Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and the bridge linking the region to its transport network was opened four years later by Mr Putin.
A 10-year-old Egyptian schoolgirl who fell into a coma after her teacher hit her on the head with a stick has died, according to the authorities. The pupil was struck on the head by her Arabic teacher on the first day of school. Although banned by law, physical punishment is not uncommon at state schools in Egypt.
Friday Oct 07, 2022
Friday Oct 07, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world.
On today's episode, the US has imposed sanctions on top Iranian officials, with the move coming days after President Joe Biden said Washington would impose “further costs” on Iranian officials tied to violence against protesters following the death of Mahsa Amini.
In northern Thailand, a former police officer goes on a rampage and kills at least 24 children and 11 adults in a mass shooting and stabbing attack that began at a day care centre, before driving home, killing his wife and child and then turning the gun on himself.
Jada Pinkett-Smith will release a new memoir in the fall of 2023, which will look at her journey from childhood to adulthood, reflect on her career and personal life, and also cover her relationship with her husband Will Smith.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, pays a heartfelt tribute to his father a day before the anniversary of his death, sharing a video on Twitter to honour Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, who died on October 7, 1990.
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the region and around the world.
On today's episode, Opec+ agrees to slash oil production by 2 million barrels a day in “light of the uncertainty that surrounds the global economic and oil market outlooks, and the need to enhance the long-term guidance for the oil market, and in line with the successful approach of being proactive and pre-emptive”.
North Korea launches two short-range ballistic missiles in the direction of Japan, with the tests coming after joint South Korean and US missile drills and the return of an American aircraft carrier to the region in response to Pyongyang's earlier missile tests.
South Korean cartoonist and visual artist Kim Jung Gi dies of a “sudden” heart attack in Paris aged 47. He held the Guinness World Record for the “longest drawing by an individual”.
And in internet searches, UAE residents look up Prophet Mohammed's birthday, with Saturday, October 8, announced as a holiday for private sector workers in the Emirates to celebrate the occasion.
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the Middle East and around the world. On today's episode, Tesla founder Elon Musk is going ahead with his offer to buy Twitter for $54.20 a share. The proposed deal matches the price Mr Musk made to the social platform in April.
South Korea and the US have fired missiles into the sea in response to North Korea's launch of a missile over Japan for the first time in five years. The missiles were fired into the East Sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
US actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie detailed abuse claims against Brad Pitt in a court filing. The descriptions were contained in a cross-complaint Jolie filed in their dispute over a French home and winery they co-owned.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck near Khowy in Iran's West Azerbaijan, with no initial reports of damage. The quake was about 11.6 kilometres from the village of Khowy and at a depth of 10 kilometres.
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Trending Middle East brings you the latest social media and search trends from the Middle East and around the world. On today's episode, North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years, prompting a warning for residents to take cover. The Japanese government called the action “barbaric”.
Tesla founder Elon Musk angered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his Twitter posts urged the country to negotiate peace with Russia.
US President Joe Biden condemned Iran's handling of widespread protests over the death of Mahsa Amini. In his first remarks addressing the protests, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the US and Israel.
In Indonesia, a candlelight vigil has been held in Malang to remember those who died in a football stadium crush. In the tragedy, at least 125 people were killed, with 32 children among them.