Middle East

World News

How Syrian Conflict May Have Strengthened The Influence Of The Country's First Lady

8:19am March 13, 2021

NPR's Scott Simons asks Economist correspondent Nicolas Pelham about Syria's first lady, Asma al-Assad, and how she has profited during the decade-long conflict in her country.

Biden Administration May Have To Fight To Repair Iran's Nuclear Program Deal

4:15pm March 11, 2021

by Peter Kenyon

The longer it takes, the tougher it may be to revive the deal putting limits on Iran's nuclear program. Iranians already feel burned from former president Trump backing out of their 2015 agreement.

World News

Israel's Prime Minister May Benefit From A Rift Over LGBTQ Rights

6:14am March 11, 2021

by Daniel Estrin

With elections later this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is courting votes among Israel's Palestinian citizens after a controversy over LGBTQ rights.

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Countries Face A Variety Of Obstacles In Getting Vaccines In Their Citizens' Arms

4:23pm March 10, 2021

Mistrust towards China-produced vaccines, general vaccine hesitancy and distribution complications have all been obstacles in getting the vaccine out in some countries.

Syrian President Bashar Assad gestures while speaking to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during talks in Damascus in September. Assad and his wife, Asma, have been diagnosed with coronavirus infection, according to an official statement.

Syria's Bashar Assad And His Wife Test Positive For Coronavirus

10:20am March 08, 2021

by Scott Neuman

The couple received PCR tests after experiencing minor symptoms consistent with the virus, according to an official statement. Both are in "good health and in a stable condition," it said.

Pope Francis Concludes Iraq Trip With More Visits To Christian Towns

5:26pm March 07, 2021

by Alice Fordham

Pope Francis continues his trip to Iraq with a mass in a stadium in Erbil, home to many Christians displaced from other areas in the wake of ISIS.

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Pope Francis Holds Historic Meeting With Grand Ayatollah On Second Day Of Iraq Trip

3:28pm March 06, 2021

by Sylvia Poggioli

On the second of a three-day trip to Iraq, Pope Francis is focusing on interfaith relations as he meets with Muslim leaders and visits a church in Baghdad.

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Pope Francis Welcomed With Red Carpet And Military Band On First Ever Trip To Iraq

4:56pm March 05, 2021

by Sylvia Poggioli

The Vatican has sought to make a papal trip to Iraq, the traditional home of Abraham and now a shrinking Christian minority, since 2000. Pope Francis ended his first day there with religious leaders.

Pope Francis arrives at Baghdad International Airport on Friday for the first-ever papal visit to Iraq.

'I Come As A Pilgrim': Pope Francis Begins Historic Visit To Iraq

3:03pm March 05, 2021

by Alice Fordham

The pontiff arrived at Baghdad International Airport where he was greeted by the prime minister. During his four-day visit, Francis will focus on Iraq's ancient but dwindling Christian community.

Trump's Deal To End War In Afghanistan Leaves Biden With 'A Terrible Situation'

8:27pm March 04, 2021

by Terry Gross

The Trump White House agreed to a May 1 troop withdrawal. New Yorker writer Dexter Filkins says Biden must now decide whether to honor a deal that included the Taliban but not the Afghan government.

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