Middle East : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1009 Middle East news, arts, culture, and politics. Updates on Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Iran, OPEC, and the Persian Gulf states NPR streaming audio. Subscribe to the Middle East RSS feed. en Copyright 2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:16:00 -0500 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Middle East https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1009 Israel takes action to control the spread of the omicron variant Israel is banning its citizens from traveling to the U.S. and dozens of other countries, hoping to control the newest coronavirus variant, and allow Israel to avoid shutting down the economy. Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:16:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066169836/israel-takes-action-to-control-the-spread-of-the-omicron-variant https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066169836/israel-takes-action-to-control-the-spread-of-the-omicron-variant Israel is banning its citizens from traveling to the U.S. and dozens of other countries, hoping to control the newest coronavirus variant, and allow Israel to avoid shutting down the economy.

]]> Daniel Estrin Family of Emad Shargi, American held in Iran, will spend the holidays without him NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Bahareh Shargi, wife of American businessman Emad Shargi, who's been held in an Iranian prison for more than three years. Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:16:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066169770/family-of-emad-shargi-american-held-in-iran-will-spend-the-holidays-without-him https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066169770/family-of-emad-shargi-american-held-in-iran-will-spend-the-holidays-without-him NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Bahareh Shargi, wife of American businessman Emad Shargi, who's been held in an Iranian prison for more than three years.

]]> New waves of Syrian migrants are fleeing postwar misery While the numbers are far below the levels during the height of the civil war, the number of Syrians applying for asylum in the EU increased 70% over last year. Tue, 21 Dec 2021 03:06:27 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066166281/new-wave-of-syrian-migrants-fleeing-post-war-misery https://www.npr.org/2021/12/21/1066166281/new-wave-of-syrian-migrants-fleeing-post-war-misery

While the numbers are far below the levels during the height of the civil war, the number of Syrians applying for asylum in the EU increased 70% over last year.

(Image credit: AP file photo)

]]> The Associated Press As omicron surges, nations announce rules on gatherings and travel ahead of holidays European nations have implemented a wave of new restrictions as case numbers rise. And Israel has added the U.S. and Canada to its "red list" of countries that citizens are barred from traveling to. Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:18:36 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/20/1065865472/omicron-holiday-travel-gatherings-restrictions-world https://www.npr.org/2021/12/20/1065865472/omicron-holiday-travel-gatherings-restrictions-world

European nations have implemented a wave of new restrictions as case numbers rise. And Israel has added the U.S. and Canada to its "red list" of countries that citizens are barred from traveling to.

(Image credit: Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Laurel Wamsley U.N. watchdog says Iran will replace cameras at nuclear site. Access remains limited The International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran reached a deal to reinstall cameras damaged at centrifuge plant, after the IAEA said restrictions gave a "blurred image" of Iran's nuclear program. Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:47:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/15/1064461516/u-n-watchdog-iran-nuclear-program-cameras https://www.npr.org/2021/12/15/1064461516/u-n-watchdog-iran-nuclear-program-cameras

The International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran reached a deal to reinstall cameras damaged at centrifuge plant, after the IAEA said restrictions gave a "blurred image" of Iran's nuclear program.

(Image credit: Kamran Jebreili/AP)

]]> The Associated Press Authoritarians are using migrants as weapons. The White House frets it's on the rise The White House is concerned migrants will be increasingly used as a geopolitical tool as migration increases because of instability and climate change. Mon, 13 Dec 2021 05:26:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/13/1062794948/authoritarians-migrants-weapons-white-house-worries https://www.npr.org/2021/12/13/1062794948/authoritarians-migrants-weapons-white-house-worries

The White House is concerned migrants will be increasingly used as a geopolitical tool as migration increases because of instability and climate change.

(Image credit: Leonid Shcheglov/BELTA/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Franco Ordoñez NPR sues the Pentagon for info on possible civilian deaths during the Baghdadi raid NPR has sued the Defense Department to get it to release files regarding possible civilian casualties during the 2019 raid in Syria that resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:01:02 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/11/1063034858/npr-sues-pentagon-syria-isis-baghdadi-raid-civilian-casualties https://www.npr.org/2021/12/11/1063034858/npr-sues-pentagon-syria-isis-baghdadi-raid-civilian-casualties

NPR has sued the Defense Department to get it to release files regarding possible civilian casualties during the 2019 raid in Syria that resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

]]> Daniel Estrin D.C. council renames the street in front of the Saudi embassy after Jamal Khashoggi The decision marks a rebuke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who according to U.S. intelligence approved the killing of the former <em>Washington Post</em> journalist and critic of Saudi policy. Wed, 08 Dec 2021 18:11:53 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/1062469781/dc-council-renames-street-saudi-embassy-jamal-khashoggi https://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/1062469781/dc-council-renames-street-saudi-embassy-jamal-khashoggi

The decision marks a rebuke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who according to U.S. intelligence approved the killing of the former Washington Post journalist and critic of Saudi policy.

(Image credit: Yasin Akgul/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Jonathan Franklin An American Citizen and a British doctor, held in a Syrian prison, make a pact A U.S. citizen, described as a misfit adventurer, spent years in a Syrian prison and is now suing. At the same time, he's fulfilling the pact he made with his fellow prisoner. Wed, 08 Dec 2021 05:10:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/1062319970/held-in-a-syrian-prison-a-u-s-citizen-and-a-british-doctor-made-a-pact https://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/1062319970/held-in-a-syrian-prison-a-u-s-citizen-and-a-british-doctor-made-a-pact A U.S. citizen, described as a misfit adventurer, spent years in a Syrian prison and is now suing. At the same time, he's fulfilling the pact he made with his fellow prisoner.

]]> Deborah Amos As Turkey's currency drops, some worry the government can't turn things around Turkey's currency has recently hit record lows in value, driving up prices in the country. But the president's recipe for fixing the problem is the opposite of what economists generally recommend. Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:32:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/07/1062178480/as-turkeys-currency-drops-some-worry-the-government-cant-turn-things-around https://www.npr.org/2021/12/07/1062178480/as-turkeys-currency-drops-some-worry-the-government-cant-turn-things-around Turkey's currency has recently hit record lows in value, driving up prices in the country. But the president's recipe for fixing the problem is the opposite of what economists generally recommend.

]]> Peter Kenyon Formula 1 race in Saudi Arabia draws accusations of 'sportswashing' NPR's David Folkenflik speaks with scholar Helen Lenskyj about this weekend's Formula 1 Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia and the role of "sportswashing" in countries with human rights abuses. Sat, 04 Dec 2021 17:13:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/12/04/1061539864/formula-1-race-in-saudi-arabia-draws-accusations-of-sportswashing https://www.npr.org/2021/12/04/1061539864/formula-1-race-in-saudi-arabia-draws-accusations-of-sportswashing NPR's David Folkenflik speaks with scholar Helen Lenskyj about this weekend's Formula 1 Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia and the role of "sportswashing" in countries with human rights abuses.

]]> A former member of the Islamic State is convicted in the death of a Yazidi girl A German court on Tuesday convicted the man of genocide and committing a war crime over the death of a 5-year-old Yazidi girl he had purchased as a slave and then chained up in the hot sun to die. Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:46:43 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/11/30/1059501906/islamic-state-member-convicted-death-yazidi-girl-genocide https://www.npr.org/2021/11/30/1059501906/islamic-state-member-convicted-death-yazidi-girl-genocide

A German court on Tuesday convicted the man of genocide and committing a war crime over the death of a 5-year-old Yazidi girl he had purchased as a slave and then chained up in the hot sun to die.

(Image credit: Frank Rumpenhorst/AP)

]]> The Associated Press Negotiators are working behind the scenes for a new truce between Israel and Hamas Six months after an 11-day war between Hamas and Israel, some limited reconstruction is going on in the Gaza Strip, and a prisoner swap could lead to more agreements. Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/11/30/1059990196/negotiators-are-working-behind-the-scenes-for-a-new-truce-between-israel-and-ham https://www.npr.org/2021/11/30/1059990196/negotiators-are-working-behind-the-scenes-for-a-new-truce-between-israel-and-ham Six months after an 11-day war between Hamas and Israel, some limited reconstruction is going on in the Gaza Strip, and a prisoner swap could lead to more agreements.

]]> Daniel Estrin Saudi Arabia and China are accused of using sports to cover up human rights abuse Saudi Arabia is putting on the Formula One Grand Prix this weekend. And China is hosting the Winter Olympics. Both countries face major accusations of rights abuses — and sportswashing. Mon, 29 Nov 2021 05:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/11/29/1058048696/saudi-arabia-formula-1-china-olympics-human-rights-sports https://www.npr.org/2021/11/29/1058048696/saudi-arabia-formula-1-china-olympics-human-rights-sports

Saudi Arabia is putting on the Formula One Grand Prix this weekend. And China is hosting the Winter Olympics. Both countries face major accusations of rights abuses — and sportswashing.

(Image credit: Chen Xiaodong/Costfoto/Barcroft Media/Getty Images)

]]> H.J. Mai Iran expected to drive hard bargain in nuclear talks There's new leadership in Iran and it's putting a harder edge on the country's position heading into nuclear talks starting Monday, with Europe, China and the U.S. Sun, 28 Nov 2021 16:50:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/11/28/1059649445/iran-expected-to-drive-hard-bargain-in-nuclear-talks https://www.npr.org/2021/11/28/1059649445/iran-expected-to-drive-hard-bargain-in-nuclear-talks There's new leadership in Iran and it's putting a harder edge on the country's position heading into nuclear talks starting Monday, with Europe, China and the U.S.

]]> Peter Kenyon