Israel celebrates first visit of Bahrain foreign minister Israel and Bahrain's foreign ministers met in Israel today as ties between the two countries warm at a rapid pace. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Egyptians blame film festival as virus rates rise As a small number of attendees of the El-Gouna Film Festival report coming down with COVID-19, many Egyptians demanded that organizers Naguib and Samih Sawiris be held accountable. By A correspondent in Egypt
Ethiopian armed conflict may affect Nile Dam dispute The armed conflict in Ethiopia could affect the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam file and slow down construction of the dam, which Egypt sees as a big threat to its water security. By George Mikhail
Suez Canal reduces fees, will add art for cruise ships Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority has reduced transit fees for cruise ships in a bid to attract more traffic and boost the country’s sagging tourism sector. By Mohammad Hanafi
Iraq increases deficit to pay salaries The Iraqi parliament voted on the funding deficit law so that it can borrow to pay salaries that have been in arrears for more than two months. By Mustafa Saadoun
Druze, Circassians not seduced by Netanyahu’s budget A ridiculously small budget of 50 million shekels won’t help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu win over the Druze and the Circassian communities ahead of possible new elections. By Afif Abu Much In Baqa al-Gharbiyye, reporting on business and tech
Biden victory breathes life back into Israeli-Palestinian cooperation The Palestinian Authority is resuming cooperation with Israel, meaning the Oslo process may finally be back on track. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Rockets fall in Baghdad after Pentagon announces Iraq troop reduction One child was killed and at least five other people were injured, the Iraqi military said. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran rolls out rapid test, economic relief as virus continues to spread Iran broke its record for daily cases again on Tuesday. New restrictions will soon come into effect in parts of the country. By Al-Monitor Staff
Chain of teenage suicides shakes impoverished Iranian town Authorities in the southwestern Khuzestan province have imposed a media blackout after the chain of poverty-prompted suicides involving six schoolchildren. By Al-Monitor Staff
Palestinian Authority to resume cooperation with Israel A senior Palestinian official said Tuesday that the Israeli-Palestinian relationship will "return to how it was." By Al-Monitor Staff
Trump asked advisers about options to strike Iran nuclear site The outgoing president's inquiry has raised concerns of a last-minute strike that could ignite a messy conflict. By Al-Monitor Staff
Pompeo skips Ankara, meets with Christian leader in final Turkey visit In his final visit to Turkey as US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo met with the Orthodox Christian spiritual leader in Istanbul Tuesday, forgoing meetings with state officials in a possible message to conservative American voters. By Diego Cupolo
Qatar calls UAE and Bahrain's normalization with Israel 'sovereign decision' Qatar's foreign minister also stressed a "united front" of Arab states on the Israel-Palestine issue and discussed Qatar's relations with Israel. By Al-Monitor Staff
Biden transition, Gulf leaders should start talking about Iran Saudi Arabia and the UAE should reach out to the Biden team now, creating a back channel to promote both Gulf and US security interests in the final months of Trump's presidency. By Karen Young In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy
US to reduce troops in Iraq but not Syria, official says US national security officials say Trump's order to end wars will not halt the Pentagon's counterterror operations abroad. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military