Kuwait blacklists eight Lebanon hospitals over alleged Hezbollah ties: What to know The affected hospitals, located in areas where Hezbollah has a heavy presence, are believed to be run by Hezbollah-affiliated institutions. Lebanon
Culture Why Lebanon now leads the world in rising cancer rates A recent study found that Lebanon has the world’s fastest-rising cases of cancer and cancer-related deaths. Ali Mokdad, co-author of the study, says tobacco is the main culprit. Lebanon
Interview International Red Cross chief says Gaza conflict goes beyond anything he has ever seen Speaking to a select group of reporters in Manama, the ICRC chief detailed the dire conditions in Gaza and the enclave's urgent humanitarian needs. Pierre Krahenbuhl Director-General of the International Committee
RSF hits Darfur hospital as cholera, dengue fever spread in war-torn Sudan A Sudanese medical organization said a dozen people were killed after the RSF shelled one of the last operating hospitals in El Fasher, as Sudan’s collapsing health system battles cholera and dengue fever. Sudan
Feature Trump's aid freeze forces war-battered Syrian hospitals to halt services By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Children no longer need to leave Gaza for cancer treatment Cancer patients welcome a new cancer ward in Gaza and hope it will ease the travel pains of hundreds of Palestinian child patients and their families. Palestine
Tunisian documentary smashes taboos with gay love story Nasreddine Shili’s hyperreal documentary takes a tender look at homosexuality, poverty and drug use in Tunis slums. Tunisia
Humor helps Egyptians let off steam during potato crisis Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's comments about youth obesity and a potato shortage at a recent youth conference have unleashed a wave of sarcasm on social media, giving disaffected Egyptians an opportunity to vent their frustration with the rising cost of living. Egypt
IDF commander seeks help for traumatized soldiers A veteran Israeli commander is helping raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and raise money to allow some of his former soldiers to obtain treatment for the PTSD they suffer as a result of the 2014 war in Gaza. Palestine
US warns Lebanon that Hezbollah Cabinet pick would cross ‘red line’ The Trump administration might take limited measures that are not likely to alter the fundamentals of US policy in Lebanon should Hezbollah get the Health Ministry in the new Cabinet formation. Lebanon
Medicine shortages leaving Turks desperate for help Patients who depend on pharmaceutical imports for the treatment of cancer and other chronic illnesses suffer as the government fails to reach a price agreement with suppliers. Turkey
Israeli and Palestinian civil defense teams join hands to save lives The Israeli and Palestinian civil defense agencies have more regularly been conducting joint first-responder exercises for handling traffic accidents after a horrendous collision on the West Bank last October, and they also cooperate in exercises to develop regional responses to natural disasters. Palestine
Will Egyptians change their minds about organ donation? A debate has been triggered about the legitimacy of postmortem organ donation after claims that corneas were removed from a dead patient for transplant without the family’s consent. Egypt
Is Egypt doing enough to fight drug addiction? Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity recently launched a drug abuse-awareness initiative in Port Said in an attempt to reach families and youths on summer holidays at the beach. Egypt
New Egyptian health care initiative: Help or hoax? Egyptians are asking whether the ministry charged with law enforcement and security can be a credible health care provider to the public. Egypt
Knesset hears data on Israel’s Arab-Jewish health gap A first-of-its-kind debate in the Knesset finally addressed long years of neglect of the Arab population's health by the Israeli authorities, but there's no reason to believe much will change. Israel
Trial of Turkish hospital staff begins as sex abuse crisis deepens Two health workers are on trial for failing to notify police about 115 pregnant teenagers, many of them underage, in what feels to many Turks like a child abuse epidemic. Turkey
