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
Iraqi government officials, clerics unite against COVID-19 Iraq's religious establishment is supporting and working closely with the government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic's spread, though a minority of clerics are disregarding precautions and spreading disinformation among the public. Iraq
Palestinians jailed in Israel fear coronavirus outbreak The Palestinian authorities are calling on Israel to release Palestinian inmates amid concerns of a potential coronavirus surge. Palestine
Why some Iranians are opposed to closing religious shrines to fight coronavirus The Iranian government's decision to close religious shrines in Qom, Mashhad and Greater Tehran to combat the spread of COVID-19 has caused an outcry among some who oppose the move for reasons of tradition or religion. Iraq
Iran releases jailed US Navy vet Michael White on medical furlough Iran has released US Navy veteran Michael R. White on medical furlough, the State Department announced today. US President Donald Trump asked Syria for the release of US journalist Austin Tice. United States
Coronavirus spurs regional humanitarian outreach to Iran The UAE, Kuwait and Qatar provide help to Coronavirus-stricken Iran, while there is talk that the United States could ease the way for aid to Iran while Iran released American prisoners who could be prime COVID-19 targets. United Arab Emirates
From cannabis to cologne, Turks flaunt their ‘cures’ to coronavirus As the number of coronavirus cases quadruples in Turkey, columnists and health gurus return to tradition: soup and cologne. Turkey
Iran asks people to stay home for Nowruz holidays As the coronavirus continues to spread, Iranian officials are asking Iranians to remain in their homes. Iran
Israel turns to anti-terror technology to counter coronavirus Awaiting Cabinet approval, the Shin Bet plans to implement digital counterterrorism technology to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. Israel
Bahrain pardons hundreds of prisoners as coronavirus fears spread While authorities have attributed the release to humanitarian reasons, human rights groups link the decision to efforts to contain the outbreak. Bahrain
Lebanon struggles to cope with COVID-19 amid financial crisis As Lebanon reels under the brunt of the worst financial crisis in its recent history, the government struggles to provide the necessary equipment to be able to cater for a potential increase in novel coronavirus cases. Lebanon
Palestinian COVID-19 state of emergency raises other fears The Palestinian Authority declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19, but critics believe it's a cover for the body to make political arrests. Palestine
Israel's embattled Netanyahu calls for unity government amid coronavirus outbreak Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called for the formation of an emergency unity government as the country works to contain the spread of COVID-19. Israel
