Arab News

Frankly Speaking | S12 E10 | Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Palestine Foreign Affairs Minister

As Gaza plunges deeper into catastrophe, Israel’s blockade has stopped aid for over a month, 60,000 children face malnutrition, hospitals lie in ruins, and the United Nations has called it a “killing field.”

On this episode, we’re joined by Palestinian Authority State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Varsen Aghabekian. We ask why the peace talks collapsed. Will Israel be held accountable for strikes on hospitals and the deaths of aid workers? And is the Palestinian Authority truly prepared to govern both Gaza and the West Bank after such devastation?

Frankly Speaking | S12 E9 | Ghassan Ibrahim, London-based Syria analyst

Several months after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad, Syria remains battered by more than a decade of war and is now facing the uphill task of rebuilding from within and claiming legitimacy on the global stage. On this episode of Frankly Speaking we hear from London-based Syrian analyst Ghassan Ibrahim.

Is the worst truly behind Syria, or could renewed sectarian violence and growing tensions with Israel and Turkey cause further chaos? Will the new government win over Arab and Western leaders and finally see crippling sanctions lifted? And ultimately, can President Al-Sharaa deliver the peace and unity Syrians so desperately need?

Frankly Speaking | S12 E8 | Nadim Shehadi, Lebanese economist and political analyst

On this episode, we speak with Lebanese economist and political analyst Nadim Shehadi. Can the new president deliver on his promises of reform and economic revival? Or will the persistent influence of Hezbollah, permanently hinder his chances of success?

Plus, we examine America's evolving role in the country and explore whether normalization with Israel could be on the cards.

Frankly Speaking | S12 E7 | Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy Permanent Rep. of Russia to the UN

As tensions simmer over, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Riyadh has become a pivotal stage this week, with separate high-stakes meetings by Ukraine and Russia underscoring its growing importance in global diplomacy.

Today, we speak with one of Russia's top diplomats, the first deputy permanent representative to the UN, Dmitry Polanski. Can a Black Sea ceasefire tied to sanctions relief truly de-escalate the conflict, even as both sides ramp up attacks on the ground? Are either parties willing to make the hard concessions needed to end the three-year war? Plus, how is Riyadh shaping the long-awaited shift towards peace?

Frankly Speaking | S12 E6 | Norman T. Roule, Former senior U.S. intelligence official

Two months after returning to the White House, President Trump has shocked the world with a series of major announcements, from aggressive DOGE initiatives to high tariffs, plans to relocate thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, and secret talks with Hamas.

Today we hear from Norman T. Roule, the former senior US intelligence official and Middle East expert, to ask what President Trump’s actions mean for US foreign policy, how they will impact the changes underway in the Middle East, can Washington be convinced to back the Arab world’s plan to rebuild Gaza, and is a Trump-Putin summit in Saudi Arabia on the horizon?

Frankly Speaking | S12 E5 | Faisal Sultan, Vice President and Managing Director of Lucid Middle East

On this episode we speak with Faisal Sultan, the Vice President and Managing Director of Lucid Middle East. We talk to him about EV adoption in the Kingdom, Lucid’s new challenges following its CEO’s sudden exit, all as rival Tesla reportedly prepares to launch operations in Saudi Arabia.

And as Lucid ramps up production in the Kingdom, will Saudi be the decisive force that propels Lucid back to profitability?

Frankly Speaking | S12 E4 | Abdulrahman Al Rashed, Saudi columnist and political analyst

The Arab League has unveiled an ambitious plan to rebuild Gaza following an extraordinary summit last week.

On this episode of Frankly Speaking we hear from renowned Saudi columnist and political analyst Abdulrahman Al Rashed to ask if the Cairo plan can ever materialize in reality.

Can the secret talks between Hamas and the White House be successful? Plus, his views on the reforms happen in Saudi Arabia and its transition to becoming a global power broker.

Frankly Speaking | S12 E3 | HRH Turki Al-Faisal, Former Saudi Ambassador and Intelligence Chief

Just days before the extraordinary and highly anticipated Arab League Summit, we sit down with His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Faisal, former Saudi Ambassador and Intelligence Chief, to explore how Saudi Arabia views Trump’s controversial Gaza plan, what saudi and regional leaders are discussing behind closed doors and whether the international community is truly committed to achieving peace in Palestine.

Frankly Speaking | S12 E2 | Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman and founder of the Gulf Research Center

Saudi Arabia has taken centre stage in global diplomacy this week, brokering high-level talks between Russia and the US - an unprecedented move that has left the world watching closely.
 
Today we speak with Dr Abdulaziz Sager, the Chairman of the Gulf Research Centre, to examine the significance of these pivotal talks, Saudi Arabia’s growing influence on the global stage and whether the Arab League’s next move could change the future of Gaza forever.

Frankly Speaking | S12 E1 | Dr. Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN

On this episode of Frankly Speaking we hear from Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s Permanent Observer to the UN, to discuss whether Palestinian statehood is slipping further away, how the leadership is responding to mounting pressure from key Arab states and whether Palestinians themselves still see a future in Gaza.