Middle East
Turkey shuts cafes to halt coronavirus spread as cases jump to 47
March 17, 2020
Turkey shuts cafes to halt coronavirus spread as cases jump to 47
ISTANBUL (Reuters) — Turkey will temporarily close cafes, sports and entertainment venues and is suspending mass prayers in mosques in…
Turkey reports 12 new coronavirus cases in largest daily rise, brings total to 18
March 16, 2020
Turkey reports 12 new coronavirus cases in largest daily rise, brings total to 18
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey identified 12 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing its total to 18, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca…
Israel to swear in new parliament under coronavirus shadow
March 16, 2020
Israel to swear in new parliament under coronavirus shadow
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel was to swear in its newly elected parliament on Monday under stringent restrictions because of the…
Lebanon goes on virus lockdown as Iraqis prepare for curfew
March 16, 2020
Lebanon goes on virus lockdown as Iraqis prepare for curfew
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon went into lockdown and Iraqis prepared for a curfew Monday as part of regional efforts to…
Saudi Arabia detains 298 public officials in new corruption probes
March 16, 2020
Saudi Arabia detains 298 public officials in new corruption probes
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced the detention of hundreds of government officials, including military and security officers,…
Saudi Arabia restricts movement, other Gulf states limit entry as coronavirus spreads
March 16, 2020
Saudi Arabia restricts movement, other Gulf states limit entry as coronavirus spreads
RIYADH/DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia closed public spaces on Sunday and announced a pause in most government operations while Qatar…
Israel takes step toward monitoring phones of virus patients
March 16, 2020
Israel takes step toward monitoring phones of virus patients
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has long been known for its use of technology to track the movements of Palestinian militants.…
Member of Iranian clerical assembly dies from virus: reports
March 16, 2020
Member of Iranian clerical assembly dies from virus: reports
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A 78-year-old member of the Iranian clerical body that chooses the country’s supreme leader has died…
‘There is nothing now’: Syrians in Idlib fear end nearing
March 16, 2020
‘There is nothing now’: Syrians in Idlib fear end nearing
IDLIB, Syria (AP) — “There’s nothing now. Nothing at all,” said Yasser Aboud, as he looked away from his family’s…
Turkey quarantines thousands of pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia
March 15, 2020
Turkey quarantines thousands of pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Thousands of Muslims returning to Turkey from a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia were being taken into quarantine…