May 21 Iran says 10,000 medics infected as virus fears rise in Mideast By Nasser Karimi, Noha Elhennawy, Associated Press Iranian news outlets say the coronavirus has infected more than 10,000 health care workers in the country, which is battling the deadliest outbreak in the Middle East. Continue reading
Apr 17 Poorer nations face bigger risk in easing virus restrictions By Zeina Karam, Associated Press Countries are considering how to ease coronavirus restrictions and start taking gradual steps toward reviving businesses and daily life. For developing nations in the Middle East and Africa, there is little room for any miscalculation. Continue reading
Apr 11 Iran begins lifting restrictions after brief virus lockdown By Amir Vahdat, Associated Press Iran began reopening government offices Saturday after a brief nationwide lockdown to help contain the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, which has killed more than 4,300 people in the country. Continue reading
Apr 09 Coronavirus may stop Ramadan events, says Iran’s leader By Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Iran’s supreme leader is suggesting that mass gatherings in the Islamic Republic may be barred through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan amid the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Apr 06 Watch 6:54 How the fragile health care systems of the Middle East are bracing for COVID-19 By Jane Ferguson The number of coronavirus cases in the Middle East has risen to nearly 60,000, doubling in a single week. Governments in the region are scrambling to try to prevent the virus' spread, knowing that their fragile health care systems stand… Continue watching
Apr 03 Across parts of the Middle East, coronavirus compounds strain after years of war By Jane Ferguson While some countries were grappling with how to enforce social distancing while people were still out in public spaces, the citizens of many Middle East nations watched these images on the news from their homes. Continue reading
Mar 24 Watch 2:46 News Wrap: Afghan leaders trade blame for possible cut in U.S. aid In our news wrap Tuesday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and rival Abdullah Abdullah traded blame for a possible $1 billion reduction of U.S. aid. Sec. of State Mike Pompeo made the threat after meeting with them in Kabul. Also, The… Continue watching
Mar 18 Ravaged by war, Middle Eastern countries face a new scourge By Isabel Debre, Associated Press Long-running wars and conflicts across the Middle East have wrecked potential defenses against coronavirus outbreaks, leaving millions vulnerable in Yemen, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip and elsewhere. Continue reading
Mar 08 Saudis’ arrest of 2 princes called a warning to royal family By Aya Batrawy, Associated Press Saudi Arabia's King Salman was shown in state media Sunday in apparent good health and working, just days after the arrest of two senior princes triggered speculation about a possible coup attempt or a sudden deterioration in the king's health. Continue reading
Mar 04 Virus halts pilgrimages to Mecca, Friday prayers in Iran By Amir Vahdat, Jon Gambrell, Associated Press The coronavirus outbreak is disrupting Islamic worship in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia banned its citizens and other residents of the kingdom from performing the pilgrimage in Mecca and Iran canceled Friday prayers in major cities. The decisions affected both… Continue reading