Israeli court rejects Islamic leader’s appeal against conviction, imprisonment Five months after his sentencing, the Haifa District Court rejected an appeal submitted by Sheikh Raed Salah, chief of the outlawed Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, against his imminent imprisonment. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
UN Yemen envoy calls for investigation after strikes kill civilians The United Nations said 11 civilians were killed in airstrikes Wednesday in al-Jawf province in northern Yemen. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: Pompeo thanks Qatar for facilitating Afghanistan peace talks Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for agreeing to host peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Iran claims Israeli ‘propaganda’ on nuclear facility attack In today's Iran media review, Tehran claims that speculation regarding Israeli attacks are "propaganda." By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: White House sympathizes with France in Libya row with Turkey White House National Security adviser Robert O’Brien on Wednesday expressed sympathy for France’s account of events in a Mediterranean naval standoff with Turkey last month over a Libyan arms smuggling allegation. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Jordanian court dissolves Muslim Brotherhood branch The organization said it would appeal the decision by Jordan's highest court. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iraq to reopen airports this month The country is still registering around 2,000 COVID-19 cases per day, close to its highest-ever daily toll. By Al-Monitor Staff
Seven security forces dead after plane crash in eastern Turkey The plane was conducting a surveillance mission in the Van province, but its exact mission is unclear. By Al-Monitor Staff
Jordan plans to open schools in September amid successes limiting coronavirus spread Thanks in large part to the March closures of schools and universities and the rapid response by the Jordanian government to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Jordan is now cautiously reopening education in the kingdom. By Al-Monitor Staff
Turkish defense minister vows to 'avenge' Azerbaijanis killed in Armenian attacks As clashes fare between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ankara has warned Yerevan that Turkey will not let aggression against its ethnic Turkic kin go unpunished. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Islamic State recruit Shamima Begum can return to UK to appeal citizenship removal, court rules The Court of Appeal said Begum, who is currently detained in Syria, should be allowed to return to her home country to fight the UK’s decision to revoke her British citizenship. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Israel compiles list of officials who could be targeted by ICC Israel has compiled a list of 200 to 300 names of officials who might be targeted in the future by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Jordan's international airport to reopen in August Jordan has had relatively few COVID-19 cases, but some citizens are upset at the damage to the economy during the pandemic and accompanying restrictions. By Al-Monitor Staff
Egypt accuses Ethiopia of stonewalling on Nile dam Egypt has accused Ethiopia of resisting making any of the concessions needed to reach an agreement on Addis Ababa's controversial dam on the Blue Nile. By Rasha Mahmoud
Anger flares as Ethiopia announces, denies Nile dam filling has started Ethiopia has denied reports that the filling of its controversial Nile mega dam has begun. By Ayah Aman In Cairo, reporting on politics and culture
Return of journalists to Egyptian screens raise hope of easing restrictions on media Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has reshuffled the three media bodies in charge of monitoring the performance of media outlets in Egypt, coinciding with reports about the return of prominent media figures that had been shunned in past years. By A correspondent in Egypt