Opec and its allies will meet on Sunday as Saudi Arabia comes under pressure to finalise the biggest oil supply deal in history, with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the global energy ... ( read original story ...)
Saudi Arabia’s Deportations of Ethiopians Could Fuel Covid-19 Spread: UN
A humanitarian worker familiar with the deportations, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, put the total at "about 3,000" and said most had arrived from Saudi Arabia in the past 10 days. ( read original story ...)
Saudi Arabia Extends Coronavirus Curfew, UAE Warns on Worker Repatriation
Since placing the capital Riyadh and other big cities under 24-hour curfew on Monday, Saudi Arabia has reported more than 300 new cases per day. The nationwide curfew, initially set for three weeks, ... ( read original story ...)
Covid-19 cases in Afghanistan surge to 714, IMF gives debt relief
At least 40 people have recovered from the virus in the country while 23 have succumbed to the highly contagious infection, the Health Ministry spokesman said. ( read original story ...)
Air Force evacuates 3 government contractors with coronavirus from Afghanistan
Three Defense Department contractors who tested positive for the novel coronavirus were evacuated out of Afghanistan on Saturday, according to the Air Force. ( read original story ...)
Air Force C-17 evacuates three Americans with coronavirus out of Afghanistan
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Devin Nothstine) For the first time ever, the Air Force evacuated three U.S. government contractors who had tested positive for COVID-19 out of Afghanistan — using ... ( read original story ...)
Taliban to release 20 prisoners in Afghanistan
The Taliban said it will release its first group of 20 prisoners in a bid to start intra-Afghan peace talks between the militant group and the government in Kabul. ( read original story ...)
Afghanistan in a ‘very dire situation’ as violence sweeps the country
Middle East expert Amin Saikal says the agreement between the United States and the Taliban “comes at a time when Afghanistan is sinking into major political turmoil” and US attempts to mediate ... ( read original story ...)
Iraq suspends Reuters for three months over report on coronavirus cases
Iraq has suspended the licence of the Reuters news agency after it published a story saying the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country was higher than officially reported. Iraq’s media ... ( read original story ...)
US installs new missile defense systems in Iraq following Iranian strikes
New air defense systems are now protecting American and allied forces at military bases in Iraq where troops have been attacked by Iranian-backed insurgents in recent months, according to U.S. ( read original story ...)