Independent filmmakers dramatize COVID-19 in videos posted online With art and culture temporarily confined to the internet, Egyptian artists are documenting the pandemic in short films, graffiti and creative photography. Egypt
Virtual tours bring Egypt's museums, archaeological sites online Cairo had hoped that 2020 would be a golden year for Egyptian tourism, but the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the industry. Egypt
Calls for release of prisoners grow in Egypt despite arrest campaign Egyptian security forces launched a campaign of arrests against human rights activists, politicians and left-wing activists who had been calling for the release of prisoners in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Egypt
As foreign reserves dip, Egypt’s economy slows down Analysts study the sharp decline of Egypt’s foreign reserves due to the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with fears that the Egyptian pound would further weaken against the dollar. Egypt
Mothers versus minister as Egyptian students go online because of COVID-19 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has done much to secure women's support, but angry mothers may be a major crack in the relationship. Egypt
Israeli Labor to unite with Blue and White? If the Israeli Labor party would indeed unite with Blue and White, the party could be perhaps saved and even rejuvenated. Israel
Can fight against COVID-19 unite Palestinians? Despite a slight warming in relations between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas earlier this year, the two parties initially appeared to be pursuing separate paths in combatting COVID-19 outbreaks in the West Bank and Gaza. Palestine
Battles rage in Syria despite coronavirus cease-fires Clashes are raging between Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and Syrian Kurdish groups east of the Euphrates River in what Syrian Kurds claim that is a Turkish effort to prevent displaced civilians from returning to their homes. Syria
Baghdad's monuments fall apart or destroyed despite laws Laws cannot protect Baghdad's monumental buildings, particularly when owners prefer that they fall down so they can replace them with modern buildings. Iraq
Egyptians fear coronavirus count falls far short of reality Officials deny Egypt has been holding back information on the number of COVID-19 cases in the country. Egypt
Morocco, Algeria face off at UN over Western Sahara The Polisario Front is disappointed over the lack of interest from the international community in the group's four-decade-long battle for self-determination and an independent state. Algeria
Iraqi PM-designate meets with officials in push to form ‘government that serves the public’ Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi hopes to announce his proposed Cabinet soon. Iraq
Is the new OPEC+ deal a win for Russia? The new OPEC+ deal has some advantages for Russia but some of the potential long-term implications may be dire for Moscow. Saudi Arabia
Gaza Strip to get laboratory for coronavirus testing Israeli and Chinese genomics companies plan to provide a COVID-19 testing lab for the Gaza Strip, but in the meantime, there are no test kits to be had there. Palestine
Will Iran back UN-Saudi initiative for cease-fire in Yemen? For Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, Yemen is too big to fail; for Iran, it’s a penny stock investment to keep the kingdom bogged down in a quagmire. Yemen
War-ravaged Yemen reports first case of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has officially struck Yemen, which war and poverty have left with a health care system in shambles. Yemen
