Rappler's latest stories on Middle East
IMF predicts worst Middle East downturn in half century
The International Monetary Fund sees the Middle East and North Africa regional economy shrinking by 5.7% in 2020
Quarantines hurting Middle East aviation recovery – IATA
(UPDATED) The International Air Transport Association urges governments to 'implement alternatives to quarantine on arrival,' warning of the policy's impact on the aviation industry
IMF sharply cuts Saudi forecast as oil, virus hit economy
The International Monetary Fund predicts Saudi Arabia's economy will contract by 6.8% in 2020
Palestinians rally against Trump Middle East plan
It is the largest rally of its kind since Trump in January unveiled his controversial plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Chinese, Russian, European Union, and Japanese diplomats also take part in the protest.
Coronavirus impact could kill over 50,000 children in MENA – U.N.
Overstretched health facilities, economic hardships, and parents' fears of contracting COVID-19 may cause a huge rise of coronavirus child deaths in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the WHO and Unicef
Middle East air traffic to plunge by half on virus impact – IATA
The International Air Transport Association expects airlines in the Middle East and North Africa to see their revenues slashed by $24.5 billion in 2020
Middle East braces for bleak Ramadan as virus threat lingers
'Our hearts are crying,' says Ali Mulla, the muezzin at the Grand Mosque in Mecca
WHO spurs Mideast to use its advantage in pandemic fight
Middle East and North African governments must prepare 'for the possibility of things going wrong,' says Yvan Hutin, director of the communicable diseases department at WHO's Eastern Mediterranean office
Middle East debt, unemployment to spike in virus recession – IMF
Countries in the Middle East and North Africa will lose hundreds of billions of dollars in revenues in 2020, says the International Monetary Fund
Middle East economy set for worst slump in decades – IMF
For 2020, the International Monetary Fund sees the Middle East and North Africa region suffering its worst economic performance since 1978
Gulf's massive migrant workforce fears virus limbo
Some laborers in Saudi Arabia, home to 10 million expat workers, complain that they are required by bosses to work while Saudis are permitted paid quarantine leave
Mideast airlines must tap handouts to survive virus crisis
The International Air Transport Association says 2020 revenues of Middle Eastern carriers are expected to drop by $19 billion or 39%
IMF urges action to face 'big drop' in Mideast growth
The International Monetary Fund says governments across the Middle East must swiftly draw up rescue packages to counter the effects of the coronavirus pandemic
4 more Middle East nations report coronavirus cases
Bahrain shuts 3 schools after a man who had transported children to the institutions tested positive after returning from Iran
U.N. calls for '2 state' solution to be respected in Middle East
The UN reiterates its support for a solution 'where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders'
Pompeo says settlement report shows U.N.'s 'unrelenting anti-Israel bias'
This is in response to the UN's list of 112 companies with activities in Israeli settlements, including major US firms Airbnb, Expedia, and TripAdvisor
U.S. announces partial Taliban truce, Trump says peace deal 'close'
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani reports 'notable progress' in negotiations with the Islamist extremists
U.S. Senate votes to restrain Trump on Iran
One Republican who voted yes is Mike Lee, who says a classified session by the Trump administration after the Soleimani killing was the 'worst' defense briefing he ever received
Palestinian leader warns U.N. on Trump's 'Swiss cheese' peace
'Who among you would accept such a state?' Abbas asks, as he warns that Israel would create an 'apartheid' situation if it moves ahead with annexation
Lacking support, Palestinians pull request for U.N. vote against Trump plan
The Trump administration has put heavy pressure on critics of the Israel-friendly Middle East plan, diplomats say
Israel troops wounded in Jerusalem car-ramming as violence flares
A manhunt is underway for the driver in the car-ramming, who fled the scene in the heart of west Jerusalem after the attack
Philippines eases deployment ban to Kuwait
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III says a total lifting of the ban will 'not be happening any time soon'
Pan-Islamic body O.I.C. rejects Trump's Middle East plan
The pan-Islamic body represents more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide
No Palestinian recognition if peace plan goals unmet – Kushner
Trump's son-in-law says that if Palestinians are unable to meet the conditions of the plan he crafted, Israel should not take 'the risk to recognize them as a state'
Arab League rejects Trump's Mideast plan
The pan-Arab bloc convenes in Cairo days after the US unveils its plan which is seen as favoring Israel
Filipinos in UAE urged to comply with gov't measures vs virus
There are approximately 750,000 Filipinos living and working in the UAE
Palestinians protest against Trump's Middle East peace plan
The terms of the plan are roundly rejected by Palestinian leaders, with president Mahmud Abbas vowing the proposal would end up in the dustbin of history
Trump peace plan embraced in Israel, rejected by Palestinians
US President Donald Trump's proposals reportedly include no Palestinian input and grants Israel much of what it has sought in decades of international diplomacy
UAE reports Middle East's 1st cases of new coronavirus
(UPDATED) The disease spreads to more than 15 countries since it emerged out of Wuhan late last year
How the world is reacting to Trump's Middle East plan
The plan ignites a furious rebuke from key Muslim countries who denounce it as betrayal of the Palestinians
Trump backs Israel, offers limited Palestinian state, in plan
Here are some of the major points of Trump's plan, which he presented alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and which the Palestinian leadership quickly criticized
3 rockets hit U.S. embassy in protest-hit Iraqi capital
One rocket hit an embassy cafeteria at dinner time while two others landed nearby, a security source says
Trump to present long-delayed Middle East peace plan
Trump repeatedly boasts that he is the most pro-Israeli US president in history
Repatriated OFWs from Middle East may be redeployed to other countries – DOLE
The Department of Foreign Affairs also admits its difficulty in convincing OFWs in the Middle East to come home, as their top concern remains to be job security
Malacañang: Kuwait OFW deployment ban stays until labor agreement implemented
The Philippine government says terms in a 2018 labor agreement with Kuwait must be incorporated in every contract with overseas Filipino workers in the Gulf State
1st batch of Filipinos from Iraq to arrive in Manila on January 15
The Department of Foreign Affairs says the 13 Filipinos are coming from Baghdad and Erbil
Malacañang says 'standby fund' for Middle East evacuation not needed
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says President Duterte did not follow through with his request for Congress to hold a special session on the Middle East as tension in the region has so far de-escalted
1st batch of Filipinos from Iraq to be flown to Qatar Monday night
The Department of National Defense says at least 12 Filipinos may return to the Philippines on January 14, though this will depend on the availability of flights
PH will no longer send military 'battalions' to accompany Iraq evacuees
Officials in charge of the repatriation effort realize 'it may not be wise to send uniformed servicemen to the Middle East due to the sensitivities of the countries there'
1st batch of Filipinos from Iraq to be flown to Manila on Sunday
Filipinos in and near Tripoli, Libya, must be mandatorily evacuated, too, says the defense department, as tensions escalate in the North African country
Iloilo sets up 24/7 help desk for OFWs, families amid tension in Middle East
The Operation Bulig Ilonggo help desk will attend to queries and emergency needs of distressed Ilonggo OFWs and their families in crisis areas in the Middle East
3 airlines to help in repatriation of OFWs in Middle East
Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia have committed to help in government repatriation efforts in the Middle East, says the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
DSWD to assist repatriated OFWs from Middle East
Repatriation desks will be set up in airports around the country to receive and assist overseas Filipino workers who will go home
DFA raises Alert Level 2 in Lebanon, urges Filipinos to remain vigilant
The Department of Foreign Affairs says overseas Filipino workers with existing employment contracts and those who are registered under the Balik Manggagawa Program may still return to Lebanon
DFA downgrades alert levels in Iran, Lebanon
Though Filipinos in Iran and Lebanon are no longer covered by the Philippine government's mandatory repatriation order, the deployment ban to those countries remains in place
Cimatu to fly to Middle East to start evacuating Filipinos from Iraq
'We will do everything to bring out Filipinos there,' says the environment chief who's been appointed special envoy to oversee repatriations from the Middle East
Military to send ships, planes to evacuate Filipinos from Iraq 'ASAP'
Army and Marine troops will be deployed to secure and assist Filipinos to be repatriated from Iraq, says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
DOLE to send response teams to Middle East to aid in evacuation
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III says teams will be deployed to assist in repatriation of Filipino workers in case it is needed
[OPINION] Iran takes on the world's leading superpower, the United States
What is driving Iran to stand up to the world's most formidable military and economic powerhouse?
DBM: Philippines has P1.82 billion for OFW evacuation from Middle East
The Philippine government can also tap the P13-billion contingent fund for the evacuation of Filipinos from the Middle East, should the budget be insufficient
