The National Archive

Who were the real plunderers of the 18th and 19th centuries? Present-day historians say the vilification of the Qawasim expedited imperial dominance and subjugation. We look at the role of piracy in the formation of the Gulf states.

Mosab Abu Toha, who has never left Gaza, is passionate about books and believes they can help to connect the Palestinian territory’s isolated residents with the outside world. In the latest episode of Global Talk, Laura Mackenzie talks to the 25-year-old about the highs and lows of his journey to establish Gaza’s first English-language library. #Gaza #books #language #languages #library #liter...

Sports editor Graham Caygill and online editor Jon Turner discuss what to expect from the upcoming 2017 Formula One season.

The eight-weight champion announced he will defend his WBO Welterweight belt against British challenger and former training partner Amir Khan. Reporter John McAuley has spoken to people in both camps. He talks to senior sports editor Steve Luckings about the likelihood of the fight being staged in the UAE and possible venues.

To mark UN Arabic Language Day, John Dennehy finds out how Anna Zacharias, a former journalist at The National, has been getting on at Arabic language school in Oman and what expatriates can do to improve their language skills.

It has been sixteen years since the battle for Grozny in Chechnya ended. In this episode, John Dennehy speaks to Brian Glyn Williams, a professor of Islamic history at the University of Massachusetts, about the lessons from that brutal conflict and what we can expect in Syria today

The polls didn't predict it but perhaps the United States – and the world – shouldn't have been so shocked. We talk to The National's former US corespondent, Taimur Khan, about the key questions surrounding Donald Trump’s victory: Why did the outsider candidate prove so popular with US voters? What does it say about American society? Were the signs of a Trump win always there? And could Hillary...

Since the 2014 war with Israel, civilians have borne the burnt of the failed efforts to rebuild Gaza. Why is reconstruction so slow and who is gaining from the process? In this episode John Dennehy speaks to Antony Loewenstein, an independent journalist based in Jerusalem, about his recent trip to the enclave.

In the latest episode of Global Talk we talk to Florian Neuhof – who has been covering the Mosul offensive for The National – about how the campaign is progressing. Florian is based in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, but has been making regular trips to the front line since the offensive was launched on October 17. #Iraq #Mosul #ISIL #ISIS #IS #IslamicState #Daesh #Battl...

Donald Trump is infamous for his anti-Muslim rhetoric. But despite this, some American Muslims are still backing him in next month's US presidential election. The National's Laura Mackenzie talks to Saba Ahmed and Sajid Tarar about why they're supporting the Republican candidate. #DonaldTrump #Trump #US #UnitedStates #election #election #presidentialelection #USelection #USpresidentialelection...

The motorway that ties the country together is now the subject of a book and film project from a Dubai think tank. In this week’s episode, John Dennehy speaks to Nick Leech, a feature writer at The National, about the road’s significance.

In the latest episode of the Global Talk podcast, we talk to our Middle East correspondent, Josh Wood, about the situation in the divided Syrian city of Aleppo. Opposition fighters recently broke through a weeks-long government siege of rebel-held parts of the city and both sides are now preparing for a showdown, as Josh puts it. But can either side really make that great an advance in the city...

Auditions via Skype; instruments concealed in bags to avoid attack; and the shadow of war – the brave members of an Iraqi youth orchestra had much to overcome. In this episode, we chat to Paul MacAlindin, who became musical director of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq and has written a book about the fraught but uplifting experience. #Iraq #classicalmusic #orchestra

The female stars of the Turkish music scene in the 1960s and 1970s offer a unique insight into the political and social challenges women faced. In this episode, John Dennehy speaks to Istanbul-based musicologist Kornelia Binicewicz about her Ladies on Records project which seeks to bring back to light these forgotten musicians. Featured songs: 00:00: Yaz Gazeteci Yaz - Selda01:24: Hakali Seke...

Kevin Jeffers and Jonathan Raymond try to collectively wrap their heads around Kevin Durant's NBA earth-shaking move from Oklahoma City to Golden State.

Music journalism: is it in crisis? John Dennehy talks to staff writers Adam Workman and Saeed Saeed about the trend towards listicles in music writing, along with the highs and lows of covering local gigs and reviewing albums here.

Recorded live in Abu Dhabi's Cinema at the Space, John Dennehy speaks to film curator Mohammad Khawaja, about the demise of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and arthouse film in the UAE.

Following the death of Muhammad Ali, Steve Luckings and Jon Turner pay tribute to the legendary boxer. #Boxing #Ali

Jonathan Raymond and Kevin Jeffers give their observations ahead of the NBA Finals, which will re-match Stephen Curry and the champion Golden State Warriors with LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.

The UAE National Pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale focuses on low-cost housing that transformed the lives of Emiratis - John Dennehy talks to Nick Leech, a feature writer at the National, about the sha'bi house.

A new type of psychedelic rock emerged out of the turmoil of the Nigerian Civil War. John Dennehy talks to Uchenna Ikonne, about how this music helped to heal the country. Songs in order of playback: Ballad of a Sad Young Woman - Wrinkar ExperienceIn the Jungle (Instrumental) - The HygradesMother - Waves

Jonathan Raymond and Kevin Jeffers talk about whether anyone can pose a challenge to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Kevin Durant should go in free-agency, and other goings-on in the NBA Playoffs.

Kevin Jeffers and Jonathan Raymond talk LeBron James' coming film project and their impressions from the second round of the NBA post-season.

Long before planners imagined its luxury hotels and quality museums, Saadiyat was a place to call home until the early 1990s. John Dennehy talks to Nick Leech, a feature writer at The National about this secret history.

In this week’s Global Talk podcast we talk to Zaid Khalid Mahmood, a 26-year-old from the Iraqi city of Mosul who was recently featured on the controversial Hot Migrants Instagram account.The account, which has since been deleted from Instagram, posted photos of young, male refugees it deemed handsome, taken as they made their way from war-zones to western Europe.But these photos revealed littl...

With top WWE stars Dean Ambrose, The Big Show, Dolph Ziggler and more coming to Dubai, resident wrestling nerds Graham Caygill and Kevin Jeffers discuss what fans can look forward to and touch on the current state of the product.

Jonathan Raymond and Jon Turner discuss the legacy Manny Pacquiao has earned in boxing before looking ahead to his final fight against Timothy Bradley.

Kumar Shyam breaks down the IPL landscape with Jonathan Raymond ahead of the start to the ninth season of the T20 tournament on Saturday.

Senior sports editor Kevin Jeffers and deputy sports editor Graham Caygill look forward to the WWE's biggest show of the year on Sunday in Texas, assess the card and make their predictions on who will be standing tall come the end of the night.

In this week's episode of Global Talk we discuss the eight-month-long war between the Turkish government and Kurdish militants that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and killed hundreds of civilians. Laura Mackenzie talks to The National’s Middle East correspondent, Josh Wood, about the current situation on the ground and increasing radicalisation amongst the civilians living there...

Geoffrey Riddle and Jonathan Raymond discuss the storylines surrounding the world's richest night in horse racing as California Chrome goes for redemption at Meydan Racecourse.

Les Petits Chats were a cover band who rocked Cairo in the 1960s and 1970s. In this week’s episode, we speak to Sherif Nakhla, the director of a new rockumentary about the recently reformed group and why they symbolised a golden age in Egypt.

In this week’s episode we discuss what people can expect from the Pakistani showcase at the SXSW music festival in Texas with Adam Workman, a production journalist at The National, and the grave situation in Turkey following the raid on the Zaman newspaper with Joseph Dana, an opinion writer at The National. To read Adam's piece on the festival, visit: http://www.thenational.ae/arts-life/the-r...

Dolph Ziggler has been around WWE for a long time, and has no plans of leaving anytime soon. He talks with The National's Kevin Jeffers about his career, his Wrestlemania ambitions, his post-ring career and the WWE's upcoming tour of Dubai.#WWE#Wrestlemania#Dubai#DolphZiggler

Rumours are swirling that Mahmoud Abbas, the fading president of the Palestinian Authority, is to step down. With Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip and many viewing the PA as a tool of Israel, we talk to Opinion writer at The National Joseph Dana about who is really in charge in Palestine.

From pearls to rupees, the shared history between these two countries is a colourful – albeit little talked about – one. The National’s India correspondent, Samanth Subramanian, takes us back to the beginning... #UAE #India #history #bilateral #TheNational #rupee #currency #trade #politics #podcast #Asia #MiddleEast

Paul Radley also tells Chitrabhanu Kadalayil how the Masters Champions League can be made sustainable. Produced by Deepthi Unnikrishnan.#cricket#pakistanSuperLeague#MastersChampionsLeague

In this week's episode we discuss Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces)'s recent trip to India. On the line from New Delhi to provide analysis is our India correspondent, Samanth Subramanian. #India #AbuDhabi #UAE #diplomacy #Modi #MohammedbinZayed #analysis #politics

From Afghanistan to Haiti, companies are making money from misery. We talk to Antony Loewenstein about his book that investigates this dirty business. You can read Antony's story about Disaster Capitalism for the National here http://www.thenational.ae/arts-life/the-review/the-long-read-how-america-failed-afghanistan

Ahead of the first grand slam of the year in Melbourne, Jon Turner and Graham Caygill discuss who they think will shine and who will flop at the event. Produced by Deepthi Unnikrishnan.

Shatila is known by most people around the world for one thing only: the horrific massacre that took place there in 1982. But in this week's episode we talk to Abu Moujahed, a longtime resident of the camp, to find out what life is like in Shatila today. #Lebanon #Shatila #Palestine #Palestinians #Beirut #refugees #Syria

Zohaib Kazi's Ismail Ka Urdu Sheher is a graphic novel and album about a scientist who is trying to resolve problems caused by experiments that have threatened the fabric of the universe. It is an ambitious musical project without precedent in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Super League Twenty20 competition will rejuvenate cricket in the country, boost the PCB's coffers and help innovate the game as a whole, Osman Samiuddin tells Chitrabhanu Kadalayil. Produced by Deepthi Unnikrishnan.

in the 1960s and 1970s, a young generation of Indians took up their guitars and grew their hair long. The country would never be the same again.

Paul Radley and Jonathan Raymond discuss the upcoming 2015 edition of the Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament and the 2016 Olympics' impact on the new Sevens World Series season.

In the first episode of Crossroads, a podcast from The National’s Review section that offers a new perspective from the Middle East on books, music, politics and ideas: Central Asia finds itself hemmed in by languishing neighbours and cheap oil – while vital remittances are drying up as workers return home from Russia. Hosted by Jonathan Dennehy and produced by Deepthi Unnikrishnan

Ahead of the first leg of the AFC Champions League final between Al Ahli and Guangzhou Evergrande in Dubai, John McAuley and Jon Turner discuss the UAE club's chances. #Football #Dubai #RodrigoLima #Evergrande #AlAhli

Paul Freelend discusses results from Week 6 of the Arabian Gulf League, then previews Week 7 and Al Ahli's Asian Champions League final against Guangzhou Evergrande. (Produced by Deepthi Unnikrishnan) #AGLeague #GuangzhouEvergrande #AlAhli #ACL2015

As the Test series between Pakistan and England reaches its conclusion, Paul Radley and Jon Turner preview the match in Sharjah and hear Shane Warne's thoughts on Yasir Shah and Adil Rashid. #cricket #ShaneWarne #YasirShah #pakistan #England #Sharjah

Jonathan Raymond and RJ Mickelson discuss glamour clubs New York and Brooklyn, why it's been so hard for them to achieve respectability and what lies ahead in the 2015/16 NBA season.