The people of Gaza face a challenging Ramadan amid a five-month-long air and ground assault by Israel, with the threat of famine due to limited food supplies and disrupted aid. Traditional Ramadan customs are overshadowed by survival struggles, with many observing the month in makeshift tents. Nada AlTaher, host of Beyond The Headlines, speaks to Gazans and Steve Sosebee, founder of HEAL Palestine, about the humanitarian crisis.

YEA Networks, a High 5 Media company, has partnered with Frequency to utilize its workflow automation tools for podcast ad management. This collaboration aims to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and boost revenue by standardizing workflows and eliminating redundant tasks. Shawn Nunn, president of YEA Networks, highlights the necessity of Frequency's tools for scaling their business, while Pete Jimison, CEO of Frequency, emphasizes the importance of operational efficiencies for sustainable growth.

The fourth annual International Women’s Podcast Awards will be held on June 19 at the IET London: Savoy Place. The awards aim to honor outstanding contributions in podcasting, with a panel of judges evaluating entries across multiple categories. Founder Naomi Mellor highlights the importance of podcasting as a platform for storytelling and showcasing work. Entry consideration opens on February 29.

The National is launching 'Abtal,' a podcast series hosted by sports journalist Reem Abulleil, featuring conversations with Arab athletes on their journeys to the Paris 2024 Olympics. The series aims to provide a deeper understanding of the athletes' lives, pressures, and mentalities. Notable athletes featured include Ons Jabeur, Mayar Sherif, Farida Osman, Abdullah Al Marri, and Hana Goda. The podcast will be available weekly from January 29 to February 19, with more episodes to follow later in the year.

Doaa Farid, podcast lead and executive producer at The National News, shares her journey in audio journalism, starting from a childhood experience with radio to her current role producing podcasts. She discusses the challenges of podcast discoverability in an oversaturated market and the lack of social media support for audio content. Farid advises podcasters to focus on unique stories and take advantage of the creative freedom in podcasting. She has produced award-winning content and has been a finalist at the New York Radio Festival. Her podcasts include 'Beyond the Headlines,' 'Books of My Life,' and others, available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The UAE's initiative to involve youth in climate advocacy at Cop28 in Dubai has brought together 100 youth climate delegates from the Middle East and North Africa. Delegates like Hoor Ahli from the UAE, Mahmoud Saad Radaideh from Jordan, Sara Badran from Lebanon, Houyame Hakmi from Morocco, and Oumar Cisse from Mauritania shared their journeys and efforts in environmental activism. They discussed their motivations, the challenges their countries face due to climate change, and their ongoing projects, such as reforestation and renewable energy advocacy. The article highlights the positive impact of youth involvement in climate policy and advocacy.

The Business Extra podcast, hosted by The National's Future Editor Cody Combs, is returning with a new season focused on the intersection of business, technology, and environment. The season will feature interviews with decision-makers, experts, and innovators, covering topics such as cutting-edge tech, eco-friendly innovations, and sustainability. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast platforms.

Organizers of The Podcast Show 2024 in Islington, London, are offering a 30% discount on registration during a 48-hour pre-sale window from February 6 to February 8. Group bookings of eight or more people can save an additional 10%. The first wave of shows will be announced later this month, with Delegate Pass holders getting exclusive early access to book seats for live podcast stage shows in major London venues from May 20 to 26.

The Culture Bites podcast discusses Abu Dhabi's hosting of the NBA preseason games, the launch of the new Assassin's Creed game set in historical Baghdad, and Wes Anderson's Netflix series of short films based on Roald Dahl's works. The episode also features a personal story from Maan Jalal about using AI to find a lost book and highlights upcoming cultural events in Dubai.

Hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss activities for the long weekend in the UAE, coinciding with the Prophet Mohammed's birthday and the reopening of outdoor activities like Hatta Wadi Hub. They also cover the end of the Hollywood writers strike, anticipated changes, and upcoming shows. Enas shares her passion for hip-hop, celebrating its 50th anniversary, and highlights favorite Arab hip-hop artists. Arts and Culture reporter Maan Jalal lists creative events, including Alserkal Lates and Fernando Botero's exhibition at Atlantis The Royal.

The National is launching a new podcast titled Culture Bites, hosted by Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews, focusing on arts, culture, and entertainment. The podcast will feature weekly conversations on a variety of cultural topics, including the arts scene in the UAE, cultural roles in society, and global entertainment, providing context, analysis, and personal insights.

Hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss their passion for arts and culture in the UAE, focusing on the new Letters of Light exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi. They also comment on the Taylor Swift and Beyonce reporter vacancies at a major US newspaper and the implications of the writers’ and actors’ strikes in Hollywood on movies, TV, and reality shows.

World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, highlights global population issues. Advances in health care, living conditions, and technology have significantly increased life expectancy. Despite historical threats to longevity, humans have long been capable of reaching 70 years. With ongoing genetic research and substantial investments in life sciences, future breakthroughs may further extend human lifespan, potentially doubling it in the coming decades.

Over 12 million people have been displaced and military casualties have surpassed 200,000 in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with civilian casualties in Ukraine nearing 7,000. A year into the conflict, normality in Ukraine remains elusive. The podcast 'Beyond the Headlines' with host Enas Refaei explores the human impact of the war and shares stories of individuals finding ways to endure amidst the chaos.

BBC Arabic Radio, a historic broadcasting service that has been a significant source of news and cultural content for the Arab world for 85 years, aired its final broadcast on January 27, 2023. The closure marks the end of an era for millions of Arabic speakers and comes as the BBC shifts focus towards digital transformation and savings. The service is remembered for its role in documenting historic events and providing a connection for Arab expatriates worldwide. Despite the end of the radio service, the legacy of BBC Arabic Radio will persist in the memories of its listeners.

A retrospective cohort study using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging examined the association of language with loss to follow-up and its effect modification by immigrant status and depressive symptoms among participants from Quebec and those from outside Quebec. The study found that recent immigrants, those who arrived at an older age, and individuals with depressive symptoms had higher risks of loss to follow-up. Bilingual individuals had a lower risk, while French-speakers outside Quebec had a higher risk compared to English-speakers. Factors such as being female, having higher income, higher education, and low nutritional risk were associated with lower loss to follow-up risks.

A retrospective cohort study examined the association of language with loss to follow-up (LFU) and its effect modification by immigrant status and depressive symptoms using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The study included 49,179 individuals, with findings indicating that recent immigrants and those with depressive symptoms had higher LFU risks. Bilingual individuals had a lower LFU risk both inside and outside Quebec, while French-speakers had a higher risk outside Quebec but not inside. Factors such as being female, having higher income, higher education, and low nutritional risk were associated with lower LFU risks.

The second session of the Africa 2017 Forum focused on financing methods for start-ups and acquiring venture capital, highlighting entrepreneurship as a key driver for economic growth in Africa.

The article discusses the impact of the US dollar's value on the Egyptian economy, highlighting the challenges faced by both foreign companies and local banking customers due to the dollar shortage. It mentions the Central Bank of Egypt's (CBE) recent policy changes, including lifting the cap on dollar deposits and withdrawals, and the introduction of new measures to control the dollar market. The article also covers the reactions of multinational companies like Italcementi, Air France, British Airways, and General Motors to the dollar liquidity crisis, with some considering moving operations out of Egypt. The CBE's efforts to strengthen the Egyptian pound and the expert opinions on the devaluation of the pound and its effects on the economy are also discussed. The article suggests that the government needs to focus on improving tourism and the industrial sector to attract foreign currency into the banking system.

The Orascom Telecom Company’s solar energy project faces challenges in coordinating with the Ministries of Finance and Electricity and the Central Bank of Egypt. The company awaits the Power Purchase Agreement to proceed with the feed-in tariff electricity project. The project, announced during the Economic Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, requires a guarantee from the Central Bank for dollar supply to repay foreign loans. Funding from the IFC, World Bank, and EBRD is contingent on this guarantee.

Egypt's annual inflation rate decreased to 9.7% in January from 10.13% in December, as reported by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) cut interest rates by 50 basis points in January, attributing the decision to a decline in the consumer price index. The CBE noted that lower oil prices and revised international food price forecasts helped contain imported inflation risks. Real GDP growth reached 6.8% in Q1 FY 2014/15, driven by the manufacturing sector and a recovery in tourism. Inflation rates had previously surged in July due to reduced energy subsidies and increased fuel prices.

The recent tragedy at an Egyptian football match, where over thirty fans died, has sparked outrage and placed responsibility on the Minister of Interior, Mohamed Ibrahim. The event is seen as a political failure for President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's regime, potentially causing irreversible damage. The article suggests that the police's actions were intentional to suppress dissent, particularly against the Ultras of Al-Ahly and Zamalek football clubs. Human rights reports indicate systemic violence by the state, and the public's anger is palpable. The author argues that for Al-Sisi to maintain his position, Ibrahim must be dismissed, viewing this as a critical juncture for the regime.

The 1950s are considered the Golden Age of Egypt for several reasons: people exuded class in their demeanor and conversations, literacy and information consumption were high due to the reliance on radio, newspapers, and books, Egypt maintained cleanliness with fewer cars and a smaller population, individuals had more time for personal activities and attending concerts, and the cost of living was affordable, allowing middle-class employees to support large families.

Journalists are portrayed as adventurous, knowledgeable, dependable, honest, principled, appreciative of moments, accepting of differences, and valuing freedom. These qualities make them attractive partners who can offer unique experiences, deep conversations, and a balanced relationship.