Middle East

Forty comedians came together for 2 hours of stand-up to celebrate a socially distant Eid-al-Fitr. They cracked wise about everything from smelly burps to parents who share misinformation on WhatsApp.

Turkey's next presidential elections are three years away. But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party might call them next year to catch the opposition parties flat-footed.

The pandemic has affected people of various occupations across the world. One of them is a Bedouin tour guide in Jordan's ancient ruins of Petra. He has lost his home and is back in a tent.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in court to face charges of bribery and fraud, just as he started a new term in office.

The Israeli prime minister is due in court Sunday for corruption charges, including that he allegedly offered a media company regulatory favors for positive coverage.

The writer's eldest son, Saleh, tweeted Thursday, "If a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah."

U.S. federal prosecutors are seeking the return of the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, purchased by Hobby Lobby for display in the Museum of the Bible, which authorities say cooperated with the investigation.

Jews and Israel are a sensitive subject in the Middle East. But a Ramadan drama about Jews in an Arab country on a Saudi Arabian TV channel has sparked a debate about Arab-Israeli relationships.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Dexter Filkins of the New Yorker about his reporting from Iran, where the coronavirus outbreak is the latest crisis to shake the Khamenei regime.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pushing forward with the project of digging the waterway parallel to the Bosporus, despite warnings that it is not viable and could do ecological damage.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins a record fifth consecutive term, but in 18 months he'll switch places with rival Benny Gantz per their coalition agreement. Gantz for now is defense minister.

Israel quarantines COVID-19 patients in hotels. In one nicknamed Hotel Corona, groups that don't normally mix, were getting along and having fun. NPR's podcast Rough Translation brings us the story.