As pandemic wilts other industries, Egyptian vineyards flourish Egyptian grape growers are celebrating a profitable season as the coronavirus pandemic raises demand from European importers. By Ahmed Elleithy
Egypt reviving Luxor's Grand Avenue of Sphinxes Egypt is moving ahead with the restoration of the Grand Avenue of Sphinxes, which experts say will be a great cultural achievement for Egypt and an exquisite addition to the study of the ancient Egyptian civilization. By Amr Emam
Bedouins in Egypt retreat to more traditional way of life to face COVID-19 Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bedouin community in Egypt, mainly in southern Sinai, that heavily relied on tourism to make ends meet, is retreating deep into the mountains and the desert to live a more traditional life. By A correspondent in Egypt
Why Al-Azhar sides with Sisi against protests Al-Azhar has condemned the recent anti-government protests in Egypt, raising questions on whether it was under pressure to issue a statement in support of the state. By Khalid Hassan
Egypt inaugurates hundreds of mosques amid smear campaign The Egyptian government is opening hundreds of new mosques across the nation, brushing off Muslim Brotherhood accusations that the state is demolishing places of worship. By Mohammad Hanafi
Israel’s Lapid fighting to leverage Netanyahu’s coronavirus failure Yesh Atid leader and opposition chair Yair Lapid fails to leverage his energy and gain momentum, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is highly criticized over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Economic uncertainty looms after Kuwaiti emir's death Kuwait faces a wave of bankruptcies as the COVID-19 crisis wreaks havoc on the emirate’s economy, which is in desperate need of reform. By Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
Algeria cracks down on press as protest movement persists Algeria's massive protest movement, temporarily stifled by the pandemic, is also seeing many activists and journalists jailed as the government. By Simon Speakman Cordall
UAE Mars probe's trajectory now viewable online The public can now track the Emirate probe Hope as it heads toward Mars, in the United Arab Emirates' first space mission. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: Pentagon eyes partnership with Algeria amid competition with Russia, China The United States is looking to bolster military ties with North Africa. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Armenia recalls Israel ambassador over arms sales to Azerbaijan The diplomatic rebuke came after an Azerbaijani official said Israeli-made drones were being put to use in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. By Al-Monitor Staff
Syria resumes commercial flights out of Damascus The first international flight in six months departed today for Cairo. By Al-Monitor Staff
Two Iranian fuel tankers reach Venezuelan territory The Associated Press reported that two Iran-flagged ships reached Venezuela and a third is on its way without US interference. Together they are carrying 815,000 barrels of fuel. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: Turkey rejects US, Russia, France call for cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh dispute The United States, Russia and France called for an immediate cease-fire as the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the mainly Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh entered its fifth day. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman GCC rift ‘pained the late Emir the most,’ says Kuwaiti scholar Alanoud Alsharekh Andrew Parasiliti
Turkish Health Ministry admits to posting partial COVID-19 data Turkey’s health minister acknowledged Wednesday that state records do not reflect the full number of COVID-19 cases in the country, drawing fire from medical groups that have long claimed infection rates were underreported. By Diego Cupolo