Intel: Jordan’s King Abdullah pushes Congress to oppose West Bank annexation Jordan’s King Abdullah virtually met with several key lawmakers today, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to reiterate his opposition to “any unilateral measure to annex lands in the West Bank” as laid out under President Donald Trump’s peace plan. Jordan
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen intercepts ballistic missile blamed on Houthis A spokesperson for the coalition said the missile was among more than 300 launched by the rebels since 2015. Saudi Arabia
Egypt arrests prominent journalist after Al Jazeera interview Mohamed Monir, 65, is charged with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news. Egypt
Israel kicks party business off beaches An Israeli court has ruled in favor of protecting Israel’s beaches from commercial use such as keeping tents and other equipment on them. Israel
French statue considered offensive by Egyptians back in spotlight Egyptian archaeologists are taking advantage of the global anti-racism movement to renew their calls on the French government to remove a statue of Jean Francois Champollion, who deciphered hieroglyphics, kneeling on the head of a Pharaonic king. Egypt
Intel: European countries set to rebuke Iran at UN nuclear agency Iran is facing a formal rebuke by the United Kingdom, France and Germany at the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency for refusing to cooperate with the agency’s inspection of two sites believed to have housed nuclear research in the past. Iraq
Amnesty blasts Bahrain, Kuwait for 'highly invasive' COVID-19 tracing apps Amnesty International has warned apps used to trace the movements of possible COVID-19 cases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway put the privacy of citizens at risk. Bahrain
Turkish courts reopen to backlog of press freedom cases The resumption of court hearings in Turkey has press freedom advocates anxious, amid fears of a second COVID-19 wave and ongoing pressure on the media covering the pandemic. Turkey
Intel: Trump administration threatens to withhold aid over Jordan’s refusal to extradite convicted terrorist The Donald Trump administration is considering withholding military and economic assistance to aid-dependent Jordan over its continued refusal to extradite a convicted terrorist who helped kill 15 people in a 2001 bomb attack in Israel. Originals
Iran’s Zarif seeks Russian support as US pressure builds The Iranian foreign minister went to Moscow for help against US efforts to extend an arms embargo against Iran. Russia
Iran’s wildfires leave trail of destruction, lingering questions Wildfires that raged for two weeks turned significant swaths of Iran’s western forests into ash as state bureaucracy dramatically slowed down an efficient response. Iran
Three Katyusha rockets land near Baghdad’s airport The Iraqi military said no one was injured or killed in the attack near Baghdad's airport late Monday. Iraq
Israel, Greek prime ministers showcase bilateral alliance The visit in Israel of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reflects a growing convergence of interests between the two countries. Israel
Netanyahu edges back to reality as support for annexation wanes After warnings by the US administration that he needs to have Blue and White on board with his plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may settle for a limited, symbolic annexation. Israel
Netanyahu's associates escalate campaign against legal system Supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu increase their campaign against the legal system, Attorney General Avichai Mandeblit and the courts. Israel
Egypt's lucrative blood plasma black market Selling the plasma of COVID-19 survivors has become a profitable illegal business, after the minister of health announced that using survivor plasma to treat coronavirus patients has proven effective. Egypt
