Iran advances diplomacy with Switzerland, India as US maintains 'maximum pressure' In yet another diplomatic push to ease mounting pressure from the United States, Iranian officials were busy hosting two visiting foreign ministers to talk solutions for economic relief. Iran
Qatari official details mediation between Israel, Hamas The chairman of the Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, Mohammed al-Emadi, says mediation "helped to deescalate the conflict and spare innocent Palestinian civilians." Qatar
British-Iranian charity worker faces new charge in Iran: state TV Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was convicted of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, has been notified of "a new indictment." Iran
Can young Brotherhood splinter group advance issue of political detainees? A group of young people from the Muslim Brotherhood in Qatar, Sudan and Turkey decide to defect from the group and establish their own movement, citing failures on part of senior leaders to tackle the issue of political detainees and fugitives in Egypt. Egypt
UAE grants five-day paid paternity leave The United Arab Emirates grants paid paternity leave for the private sector, a first in the Arab world and a move widely welcomed by locals and expats. United Arab Emirates
Coronavirus-infected Israel, on brink of anarchy As Israel records more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases a day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents and also his ultra-Orthodox partners gang up against him. Israel
Who is behind wave of killings of tribal sheikhs in east Syria? Syria's eastern province of Deir ez-Zor sees escalating tensions between Arab tribes and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Syria
Access to Asi River turned into left-right battleground in Israel A tweet by Yair Netanyahu turned a battle over accessing the Asi River into a political war between right and left, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi. Israel
Sudan floods muddy Nile dam talks The floods in Sudan have destroyed thousands of homes and killed hundreds amid stalled negotiations between Cairo, Addis Ababa and Khartoum over the Nile dam dispute. Egypt
Turkey pumps brakes on car imports Driven by some peculiar dynamics, demand for imported cars has grown in Turkey despite the coronavirus pandemic, leading Ankara to hike taxes to suppress a trend that has worsened the country’s currency woes. Turkey
Online calls for anti-Sisi protests in Egypt may fall flat Social media activists are calling for street protests Sept. 20 against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, but expectations are low. Egypt
Israeli-Arabs split over agreement with the Emirates Some Israeli-Arabs reject the deal with the UAE, while others cheer the opening to the Arab world. United Arab Emirates
Israel punishes Hamas, but also advances Gaza development programs Defense Minister Benny Gantz implements a harsh-response policy on Gaza balloon terror while also advancing Gaza development projects. Israel
On Israel with Ben Caspit Israel’s former UN envoy says UAE deal sends message to Palestinians, Iran Ben Caspit
Intel: Russian naval exercises could fuel Greece-Turkey standoff in EastMed A planned Russian drill could worsen an already tense standoff between Greece and Turkey in the energy-rich and disputed eastern Mediterranean Sea. Turkey
Coalition withdrawal from base near Baghdad worries locals The recent pullout of international coalition personnel from Camp Taji, the first airstrike in years in an area close to the capital, and continued targeting of facilities keep tensions high as the drawdown continues. Iraq