Hope for Yemen? Plus, three quick takes on the IMF’s outlook for Iran, Lebanon and Egypt

The UN-Saudi peace initiative may be the best hope in an otherwise gloomy regional forecast during "The Great Lockdown."

Saudi Arabia

Lebanon’s waste crisis worsens amid COVID-19 outbreak

A local NGO is taking care of medical waste produced by health institutions amid the coronavirus crisis in Lebanon, which is already grappling with an acute trash crisis.

Lebanon

Lebanon’s coronavirus response is working, yet faces challenges

Critics say the Lebanese government's figures are unreliable amid the coronavirus crisis, fearing severe strains on the health care system in case of a major outbreak of the novel virus.

Lebanon

‘All hands on deck:’ Middle East embassies inundated with citizens stranded in US

Middle East embassies are overwhelmed with calls from citizens trying to return home as COVID-19 spreads in the United States.

Oman

How is Lebanon dealing with refugee camps amid coronavirus outbreak?

Since the coronavirus reached Lebanon, there have been growing concerns about the spread of the epidemic inside the country’s overcrowded Palestinian and Syrian refugee camps.

Lebanon

Lebanon calls on international donors to provide coronavirus relief funds

Lebanon's president said he welcomed any financial assistance from "the friends of Lebanon.”

Lebanon

How the pandemic, plummeting oil prices could reshape Middle East

COVID-19 will weaken fragile states, raising risk of failure but creating openings for diplomacy.

Saudi Arabia

Families of Americans detained abroad want more US government attention, study finds

An analysis of US hostage policy found that efforts to free Americans wrongfully detained abroad are hampered by unclear policies and confusion.

Lebanon

Coronavirus forces Lebanese protesters into new posture

Anti-government protests have largely subsided in Lebanon due to government measures aimed at containing the spread of the novel coronavirus, but some activists continue to spread the message and are optimistic about the movement's future.

Lebanon

Is Syria unable, or unwilling, to fend off Iran coronavirus contagion?

While close links between Damascus and Tehran put the former at great risk of an influx of COVID-19 cases, Syria's reliance on Iran for political and military support may make stemming the spread more difficult.

Lebanon

Defaulted Lebanon hopes to pay off debts with cannabis

As soon as parliament returns from its closure over the novel coronavirus outbreak, a bill legalizing cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes is expected to pass as lawmakers address the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.

Lebanon

Beirut in the time of coronavirus outbreak

Beirut has turned into a ghost city as shops and restaurants that remained open during the civil war closed their doors in implementation of a general mobilization decision issued by the government to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Lebanon