Turkey enjoys PR win with coronavirus aid shipment to US Turkey ships face masks and other personal protective equipment to the United States and evacuates a Turkish COVID-19 patient from Sweden. Turkey
Egypt extends its state of emergency for three more months amid coronavirus In his announcement, Egypt's president cited “dangerous” conditions in the health and security sectors. Egypt
Jordan allows daytime driving as it relaxes coronavirus lockdown Jordan is allowing people to drive their vehicles and many businesses to reopen for the first time in more than a month. Jordan
Intel: US watchdog calls on State Department to add Syria to list of religious freedom violators Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should designate Syria as one of the world’s worst religious freedom offenders and put Iraq, Turkey and Egypt on a special watch list, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended in its annual report. Egypt
Netanyahu's annexation plan can't be stopped Annexation of the Jordan Valley is a long-standing Israeli objective, going back to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Palestine
200,000 watch Israeli-Palestinian memorial service online This year's joint Israeli-Palestinian memorial ceremony was streamed online because of the pandemic, but the controversy it raised was nothing new. Palestine
Islamic State conducts attacks near Iraq’s Syrian and Iranian borders A number of attacks in Iraq’s bordering province, especially Diyala along the Iranian border, have raised concern. Islamic State fighters have filmed themselves with weapons that appear to be of Iranian origin, while security gaps remain due to tension between the KRG and Baghdad. Iraq
Palestinian PM's COVID-19 response gets high marks, but will it be enough? Palestinians are generally very happy with the performance of their prime minister in confronting the coronavirus and can easily see him as president; the harder question is whether there will be a Palestine to be president of. Palestine
Idlib jihadist group uses Syria cease-fire to restructure, expand Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has announced the formation of three new brigades in what seems to be preparations for an upcoming battle in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib. Syria
Can anyone stop Netanyahu’s annexation plans? A formidable array of figures is working in public and behind the scenes to block Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to annex West Bank lands. Saudi Arabia
Egypt tightens sanctions for those who refuse to wear protective masks Egypt’s parliament approved a new bill that punishes citizens with imprisonment or a fine if they refuse to bury coronavirus victims or wear protective masks. Egypt
Egypt kicks off more Sinai development projects Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has inaugurated a series of major development projects in the Sinai Peninsula, long a hotbed for terrorism. Egypt
Coronavirus imposes different reality for Palestinians during Ramadan Authorities in Gaza and the West Bank face big challenges trying to stanch the spread of the novel coronavirus during Ramadan, which usually involves social visits and group prayers. Palestine
Syrian Kurdish parties resume talks, in secret Rival Kurdish parties in northeastern Syria have began US-sponsored reconciliation talks after repeated delays in the past and in the hope of joining the UN-sponsored peace process to resolve the Syrian conflict. Syria
Iran pushes back against US plan for snapback sanctions Iran’s foreign minister said United States is dreaming if it thinks it can claim it is still a participant in the nuclear deal in order to trigger snapback sanctions. United States
Iraq receives another short waiver to US sanctions on Iranian gas The United States granted Iraq 30 more days to continue importing Iranian gas in contrast with longer sanctions waivers in the past. Iraq
