Egypt to begin project to convert sand into solar panels Egypt signed with a Chinese company a cooperation protocol to locally manufacture sand-to-cell photovoltaic solar panels, in the first such project in the region. By Rasha Mahmoud
Israel multiplies warning on renewing nuke deal with Iran Two senior ministers, Tzachi Hanegbi and Yuval Steinitz, are warning against the United States pushing for a JCPOA-similar agreement with Iran. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman Ethiopia showing ‘no political will whatsoever’ to reach deal on Nile Dam, says Egyptian Ambassador Motaz Zahran Andrew Parasiliti
PA begins virus vaccinations after receiving batch from Israel The Palestinian Authority began vaccinating medical teams on Tuesday after the first batch of vaccines was delivered by Jerusalem. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Pentagon sends aircraft carrier Nimitz home from Middle East The USS Nimitz spent more than 270 days at sea conducting exercises with the Indian navy and seeking to deter Iran from retaliating for last year's killing of Qasem Soleimani. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Turkish police clash with students as Bogazici protests near one-month mark Turkish police cracked down on protests in Istanbul and Ankara, as demonstrations continued over the controversial appointment of a government-linked rector to head one of Turkey’s top universities. By Diego Cupolo
Qatar announces new aid grant to Palestinians in Gaza New assistance will help with electricity and alleviating poverty and will be delivered with Israeli coordination. By Al-Monitor Staff
UAE ambassador confident US F-35 deal will be fulfilled "You can't … take tools away from your partners who are expected to do more," Ambassador Yousef al-Otaiba said Monday. By Al-Monitor Staff
US-backed Syrian Kurdish unity talks to resume amid mounting distrust Although talks are set to resume this week, the prospects of a Syrian Kurdish unity deal seem more elusive than ever, with plenty of sticking points threatening to sink the effort. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Youth unemployment reaches alarming level in Turkey The unemployment rate among young people in Turkey is estimated to have reached about 40%, experts say, warning of social unrest and political repercussions. By Menekse Tokyay
Twitter adds warning label to Turkish minister's anti-LGBT tweet Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu's tweet accused "LGBT perverts" protesting in Istanbul of disrespecting Islam. By Al-Monitor Staff
Iran says crew of seized South Korean ship free to leave Tehran says it made a "humanitarian decision" to release the sailors aboard a Korean ship it seized in the Persian Gulf, though the Hankuk Chemi will remain in Iran as an investigation and talks over oil funds withheld by Seoul continue. By Al-Monitor Staff
Tehran to begin vaccinations as Iran remains divided over Russian shot Iran’s president is hopeful that his country’s vaccination drive will kick off in the coming weeks despite growing criticism from the Iranian medical community against the Russian vaccine. By Al-Monitor Staff
Israel predicts 6-month nuclear breakout time for Iran Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said Iran is close to amassing the fissile material needed to build a nuclear weapon, but it would be a year or two before it could produce a nuclear weapon. By Al-Monitor Staff
Netanyahu’s diplomatic blitz now victim of the coronavirus The continuing coronavirus pandemic puts a damper on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diplomatic achievements. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Four Netanyahu antagonists could join forces against him Four main rivals of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — Yair Lapid, Gideon Saar, Avigdor Liberman and Naftali Bennett — could join forces after the March elections to establish a government without him. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense