Greece calls on Turkey to stop renewed gas exploration activities in East Med As Turkish vessels are dispatched near Greek territorial waters, analysts say tensions in the eastern Mediterranean Sea could quickly escalate if leaders on both sides do not reengage in diplomatic talks. By Diego Cupolo
International donors pledge nearly $300M in Beirut relief The virtual conference on Sunday was co-hosted by France and the United Nations. By Al-Monitor Staff
Gulf states ask UN to extend arms embargo on Iran The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) sent a letter to the UN Security Council amid US efforts to extend the weapons ban. By Al-Monitor Staff
Rouhani says Iranians must change lifestyles due to coronavirus President Hassan Rouhani urged Iranians to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously and think of it as a long-term issue. By Al-Monitor Staff
Islamic State's ‘Beatles’ could finally face justice for alleged role in beheading Americans Following a phone call with Attorney General William Barr, the parents of Americans killed by the Islamic State (IS) are hopeful two IS detainees will face justice. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Gantz calls Hezbollah chief Nasrallah 'Lebanon’s biggest problem' On the backdrop of the explosion in Beirut, Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned that Hezbollah has the habit of stocking ammunition in homes of civilians. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Gulf migrant workers face crisis of unpaid wages amid pandemic Unscrupulous employers have exploited chaotic coronavirus mass repatriations to avoid paying migrant workers. By Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
Lebanese government resigns amid fallout from Beirut explosion Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he and his cabinet were stepping down in response to popular demands, saying "the system of corruption is bigger than the state." By Al-Monitor Staff
Turkey doubles down in eastern Mediterranean after Egypt-Greece deal The flashpoint of the power struggle in the eastern Mediterranean could shift from Libya to the seas in the coming weeks as Turkey begins new seismic research in response to an Egyptian-Greek maritime demarcation deal. By Metin Gurcan
Egyptian tech startups offer hope for economy in post-COVID world While Egypt's economy faces pressure from several factors, such as coronavirus preventative measures, a sudden stop in tourism and record-high debt levels, one bright spot in the economy is a tech boom that has continued even throughout the global pandemic. By Reem Abdellatif
Tribal assassinations spark Iraqi-Syrian border concern The assassination of a prominent tribal figure and reports of continuing smuggling of individuals from Syria into Iraq have raised concerns on both sides of the border. By Shelly Kittleson
Egyptians bewitched by new gold investment trend Egyptians are buying gold coins and bars as global prices shoot up amid the coronavirus pandemic. By Ahmed Elleithy
Lebanese government resigns amid ongoing protests in wake of Beirut blast Protests that started in mid-October have intensified significantly due to the Beirut port blast, with Prime Minister Hassan Diab announcing the government's resignation Monday evening. By Hanan Hamdan
Trump Pentagon nominee questioned about firm's link to killing of Saudi journalist The Senate Armed Services Committee is holding up the nomination of Louis Bremer over questions whether his firm trained those implicated in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
UN condemns Yemen strike that killed as many as 9 children Initial reports suggest Thursday's airstrike in Houthi-held northern Yemen killed up to nine children and injured seven others. By Al-Monitor Staff