Between heat and war, Saudi Arabia seeks incident-free Hajj Mecca's temperature reached a high of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius) on Tuesday and is expected to hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius) on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia
Interview As Sudan war drags on, US-Iran conflict compounds humanitarian crisis in Darfur Save the Children US President and CEO Janti Soeripto said delivering aid in Sudan remains extremely difficult, with supply trucks often delayed for weeks or months even after entering the country. Janti Soeripto President and CEO of Save the Children US
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 Pierre Krahenbuhl Director-General of the International Committee
Rise in Iraqi cancer cases may be linked to wars, environment The causes of the spike may be linked to Iraq's wars or environmental pollution, but the evidence is sketchy. Iraq
Turkish health experts, workers call for social support ahead of 17-day Covid lockdown As Turkey prepares for a 17-day lockdown to stem a surge in COVID-19 cases, health experts and workers’ unions urge more financial support for citizens most impacted by pandemic restrictions. Turkey
Egypt steps up coronavirus vaccine campaign amid surge in cases Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Egyptian government has stepped up its vaccination push, increasing the number of vaccination centers and the rollout to include workers in labor-intensive sectors. Egypt
More Lebanese doctors leave for Iraq As Lebanon is sinking deeper into an unprecedented financial and political crisis, many medical doctors are increasingly packing their bags and leaving for the Gulf or Europe, and more recently for Iraq. Iraq
Egypt opens mega pharmaceutical city Egypt inaugurated the first of its kind and one of the largest pharmaceutical cities in the Middle East, as the country seeks to become a regional center for the manufacture of medicines. Egypt
First pharmaceutical factory opens in Syrian opposition area The first pharmaceutical factory in the opposition-controlled areas in northwestern Syria was inaugurated, in a bid to address the lack of medicines and high prices. Syria
Egyptian parliament approves tougher penalties for female genital mutilation Egypt's parliament has given preliminary approval to a bill stipulating tougher penalties for female genital mutilation, which remains widespread despite an official ban on the practice. The move coincided with the death of feminist author Nawal El Saadawi, who fought long and hard for an end to the procedure from which she herself suffered as a child. Egypt
Hamas calls for dismantling American field hospital for failing to provide needed services Hamas refused to deal with the newly established American field hospital in the Gaza Strip and prohibited its citizens from visiting it, saying that the medical center is not providing services for difficult cases, such as cancer, as agreed upon in the truce understandings with Israel. Palestine
Abbas' rival Dahlan coordinates UAE aid to Gaza as Palestinian elections near The United Arab Emirates has sent a new medical aid shipment to the Gaza Strip, the second in a month, to help cope with the coronavirus crisis, raising questions about the role of Fatah’s dismissed leader and President Mahmoud Abbas’ archrival Mohammed Dahlan. Palestine
Turkey’s political divide spills over to treatment of critically ill infants Children suffering from a deadly neuromuscular disorder have found themselves at the heart of political polarization in Turkey after the opposition called for extra funds for their ultra-expensive treatment. Turkey
Egypt launches first monitoring tobacco center in region as smoking on the rise In cooperation with the World Health Organization, Egypt launched the first observatory to monitor tobacco companies in the Middle East, as the country faces a growing number of tobacco users. Egypt
No relief in sight for Mideast hotspots after catastrophic 2020 Conflict, disease, famine compound crises in Gaza, Yemen, Syria. Regional
