Flooding in Turkey kills at least eight in bitter reminder of climate chaos The government has pledged to rebuild areas hard hit by a weekend flood, but activists warn the construction of roads, dams and buildings in flood zones means more disasters are likely to follow. Turkey
Syria constitutional talks 'on hold' after three test positive for coronavirus Three of the 45 delegates participating in the so-called Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva tested positive for the virus. Syria
Intel: Saudi Arabia Energy Ministry all in on $500 billion megacity An agreement between the futuristic megacity and Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry underscores the Kingdom's push for renewable energy and economic diversification. Originals
US-led coalition hands Camp Taji to Iraq's security forces Taji is the eighth and most expensive facility to be turned over fully to Baghdad's forces Iraq
Hifter’s forces rebuff Tripoli’s call for cease-fire in Libya war LNA spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Mismari said Tripoli's call for a cease-fire is not serious. Libya
US envoy says Islamic State likely behind Syria pipeline blast James Jeffrey said the explosion at a major gas pipeline on the outskirts of Damascus was "almost certainly a strike" by the Islamic State. Syria
Turkey starves Syria’s northeast of water as virus death toll mounts Turkey has once again cut water supplies to the Hasakeh region of northeast Syria, and the autonomous administration says Ankara is risking hundreds of thousands of lives in the midst of the pandemic and soaring temperatures to placate Syrians living under Turkish occupation. Syria
Iran's Khamenei calls for making economy independent Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke about the need for an economy that is not dependent on other countries. Iran
Turkey says it is institution-building through military training in Libya A new military training agreement between Ankara, Doha and Tripoli demonstrates Turkey’s institution-building efforts in Libya, but the success of these efforts will mainly depend on the support of Western powers. Turkey
Iraqi protesters brace for more violence in wake of assassinations The Iraq prime minister has vowed "by the blood of the martyr" to realize justice for activists who have been murdered. Iraq
Netanyahu, Pompeo celebrate UAE agreement, push for more new ties US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials have kicked off an Israeli diplomatic blitz over the country's normalization deal with the United Arab Emirates. Israel
Power crisis threatens already fragile situation in Gaza As the power outage crisis in the Gaza Strip for more than 20 hours per day paralyzes all health care and economic sectors, Gazans await for Israel to allow fuel to enter the enclave to operate their only power plant. Originals
Is Turkey’s opposition losing Istanbul to Erdogan? President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is employing a panoply of unfathomable methods to peremptorily take over city municipalities he lost in the last election. Turkey
What messages did Egypt’s top military official carry to Libya’s Hifter? The head of Egypt’s military intelligence agency visited military strongman Khalifa Hifter in Libya, coinciding with visits by Turkish and Qatari officials to the rival Tripoli-based government. Egypt
Egyptian news media warned not to criticize UAE-Israel deal Cairo has reportedly instructed local media outlets not to publish content criticizing the recent UAE-Israel normalization deal in another blow to press freedom in the country. Egypt
Israel-Hamas escalation halts sewage treatment, generates ecological crisis Gaza incendiary balloons made Israel stop fuel import into the Gaza Strip, causing in turn for Gaza sewage plants to cease operating. Palestine
