Iran holds another military drill in the Gulf of Oman Tuesday's ground forces exercise followed naval and drone drills last week, as tensions with the United States continue. Iran
Intel: Biden’s pick for top intelligence official vows to report to Congress on Jamal Khashoggi murder Avril Haines says the Biden administration will release to lawmakers an unclassified intelligence assessment on who was behind the murder of the Saudi dissident journalist. Saudi Arabia
UFC star Conor McGregor makes Fight Island debut in Abu Dhabi on Saturday Abu Dhabi has emerged as the global center of the mixed martial arts competition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originals
600 arrested as police, protesters clash in Tunisia The anti-government protests come 10 years after Tunisia's revolution triggered pro-democracy uprisings across the region. Tunisia
Twitter, Pinterest face ad ban in Turkey under new social media law The Turkish government issued advertising bans for Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest Tuesday when the platforms refrained from complying with a controversial social media law human rights advocates say will stifle free speech online. Turkey
Iran denies informal talks with Biden team Tehran claims there have been no informal preliminary talks with the incoming US administration, but signs of economic relief are already appearing in Tehran’s forex market. United States
Houthi terror designation could set off Yemen’s oil tanker 'time bomb' Experts say the terrorism label will complicate efforts to secure a decaying oil tanker in the Red Sea that could rupture at any moment and unleash another humanitarian and environmental catastrophe. Yemen
Netanyahu proposes international corporation to battle pandemics Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed to six other heads of states that they join forces to combat the current and future pandemics in a more coordinated manner. Israel
Palestinian skeptics not yet sold on elections As the prospect of Palestinian general elections draws near, Palestinians are skeptical about their success as divisions remain between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements. Palestine
Netanyahu’s campaign: a superhero challenged by small-time politicians As rivals keep garnering low scores in polls, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu portrays himself as a mega statesman and his opponents as lightweights. Israel
Exhausted Syrians call for removal of crossings in opposition-controlled areas Crossings between the areas under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish-allied FSA factions are a burden on civilians, who feel like they are traveling from one state to another. Syria
Iraqi port revenue surges as anti-corruption move bears fruit Iraq’s key Umm Qasr Port has been positively affected by measures to reduce corruption, leading to a massive revenue increase in 2020 despite fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans for the massive, nearby Faw Port and an electronic system being put in place may also serve to shore up state coffers and reduce those of “outlaw” groups. Iraq
Why the sudden shift in Sudan’s position in Nile dam dossier? Sudan has recently shifted its position in the negotiations on Addis Ababa’s controversial dam on the Nile River, as Khartoum grows more concerned about the dam’s impact on its own dams and agriculture. Egypt
Fears of Syrian government offensive mount in Idlib as Turkey withdraws from military posts Syrian opposition groups worry that the Turkish withdrawal signals a coming military offensive. Syria
Netanyahu lays out campaign for US to maintain course on Iran Israel is hoping that the new US administration will conduct an intimate strategic dialogue with Israel’s allies in the region before making a final decision on the Iran nuclear issue. Israel
UAE steps in to ease Nile dam crisis Sudanese reports recently revealed that the United Arab Emirates is seeking an initiative to bring the views of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia closer so as to break the deadlock in the negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. United Arab Emirates
