Headlines
Since the Turkish Health Ministry recently confirmed the country’s first coronavirus case, people have been flocking to pharmacies, grocery stores, and other outlets to prepare for a potential nationwide pandemic
A play at a theater in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, has been performed without a live audience after indoor cultural events were temporarily banned because of the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands watched Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya via a Facebook livestream
The coronavirus outbreak is dealing a severe hit to the airline industry, as governments impose travel restrictions and would-be passengers stay away from flights for fear of catching the virus. Many analysts say the impact on airlines may be as bad as 9/11
At least 9 people were killed in Turkey due to an earthquake in neighboring Iran this week. The country sits on an active fault line so disaster readiness and assistance is always a prime concern. The Search and Rescue Foundation, also known as AKUT, is on the front line of any disaster
Like many countries, Iraq is taking measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. While several medical screening check points have been deployed throughout major cities, officials in Mosul are also asking people to stay home as much as possible
The United Nations International Organization for Migration reports that over 83,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Iran since January 1st of this year; a significant rise primarily caused by the fear of the quickly spreading coronavirus in Iran
Fears are growing that disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic will strangle U.S. economic growth and send the country into a recession – a period of economic contraction. VOA’s Brian Padden reports that the White House is considering a range of short term measures to ease the financial strain on affected businesses and workers, but economists warn – the more the virus spreads
Ugandan poet Stella Nyanzi was released in February after spending over a year in prison for a post she made on Facebook that insulted President Yoweri Museveni. Defiant, Nyanzi used her time behind bars to write a book and is inspiring others to use poetry to express their political opinions. But as Halima Athumani reports from Kampala, Uganda’s public prosecutor plans to appeal her acquittal
The U.N. estimates there are about 1.6 million orphans in Afghanistan. While some children are orphaned due to drugs, the majority are orphans because they lost their parents in the ongoing war
As the coronavirus rattles global markets, some analysts are now warning of a possible global recession. The damage is already starting to show in some countries hit hardest by the outbreak