Bassem Youssef is back in his element thanks to his new programme.
After deftly skewering regional and international politics on his satirical TV show Al Bernameg and the 2018 semi-biographical documentary Tickling Giants, the Egyptian comedian and physician brings both career strands together with Ask Bassem.
Screening Thursdays at 6.30pm on the fledgling Saudi news channel Asharq News, the Arabic programme melds current affairs with humour as Youssef discusses various ways to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Speaking to The National from Dubai, where he will present a live version of the show on Saturday, January 16, Youssef admits the concept didn't initially scream funny. However, it is all delivered with a light touch to keep you chuckling but, perhaps more importantly, thinking.
"There is a little bit of a misconception where people look at what I'm trying to do now with Ask Bassem and they think I have given up on comedy and politics," he says.
“This programme talks about things I am passionate about. With my medical background and experience, we will be looking at different topics in the show and hopefully a lot of people can benefit from that.”
Back on the streets
To make the knowledge palatable to viewers, the show employs a lot of the techniques Youssef is known for. There are zany comedy sketches, sardonic commentary and off-the-cuff interviews with the public.
The latter is an aspect of the show Youssef relishes the most.
For the Dubai episode, Youssef will venture around the emirate and chat with cosmopolitan residents about their health journeys.
“We have already filmed these amazing success stories here,” he says. “And the reason why we shot in Dubai is [because of] how international it is. We had people from the UAE, Argentina, Holland and Lebanon speaking about their own experiences. This all makes the show more universal.”
A bigger perspective
While their inspiring stories can prove particularly stirring at this time, Youssef says the programme does not exclusively deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
When it does touch upon the unfolding situation, it will be viewed from a wider perspective.
For example, Youssef cites a coming episode that explores the links between global pandemics and the controversial treatment of animals.
“I try to make this an evergreen show. However, the pandemic has accentuated some of the topics that we talk about,” he says.
“I do talk about things like the pandemic in relationship to the animal farming industry and how we are going to see more pandemics if we continue with how the industry treats animals. And this is not from an ethical point of view, but a medical and economic one.”
Youssef says the show intends to discuss these issues with regional government officials in the future.
No laughing matter
Similar to his previous success with Al Bernameg, Youssef hopes Ask Bassem has the right mix of fact and funny to reach a wide global audience. Considering what is discussed and the state of the world today, the stakes couldn't be higher.
“People have been searching for solutions to maintain a healthy lifestyle more than ever. But the downside now is that the internet is a place for misinformation and conspiracy theories,” he says. “And it just breaks my heart that we can be dismissing decades of scientific research and advancement because someone did a YouTube video where they edited together stupid ideas and conspiracy theories in a totally ignorant way.”
This is a particular aspect Youssef is keenly aware of.
He's been living in Los Angeles for the past five years, as well as touring the US as a stand-up comedian, and he has seen first-hand the societal damage false information can wreak.
With Donald Trump's US presidency nearing its end, Youssef says the last four years underscored the importance of responsible speech – even when it comes to comedians.
“Comics couldn’t even catch up with how stupid things have become,” he says. “Comedy now cannot be about people saying stupid things. That is lazy and we need go to beyond that. You have to show people not only the ridiculousness of what you're saying but make them aware how dangerous it is. It can’t be just for laughs. That’s the challenge.”
Ask Bassem screens every Thursday at 6.30pm (UAE time) on Asharq News. To register for the special live Dubai episode on Saturday, January 16, visit asharqwithbassem.com
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
