After Jordan, Emirates also furious with Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only managed to get into a diplomatic row with Jordan, he also succeeded in angering the Emiratis. Israel
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. Turkey
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." Israel
Syrian Kurds designate graves for those who die abroad To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in Syria is burying any residents who die abroad in designated graves near border crossings. Syria
Netanyahu’s paranoia impedes coalition talks Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s paranoia and fears are the real reason why a unity government agreement has not been signed yet. Israel
Lebanon’s waste crisis worsens amid COVID-19 outbreak A local NGO is taking care of medical waste produced by health institutions amid the coronavirus crisis in Lebanon, which is already grappling with an acute trash crisis. Lebanon
Extremist settlers exploit pandemic to step up violence While the Israel Defense Forces and the political leadership are busy fighting the novel coronavirus, Israel's notorious hilltop youth are rioting and attacking Palestinians with impunity. Palestine
Pandemic reveals Iran's online-learning challenges Iran is working out the kinks in its distance-learning process, which it launched on the fly when the coronavirus struck. Iran
COVID-19 crisis pushes Bahrain to resume flights from Iran after 4-year halt The tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain is bringing hundreds of Shiite pilgrims home from Iran, with which it has no diplomatic ties and normally no direct flights. Bahrain
Worst-case report: 75% of Iranians may contract coronavirus A state-funded Iranian research center predicted that in a worst-case scenario, some three-fourths of the country’s population could ultimately contract the coronavirus. United States
Iran condemns Trump’s halt of WHO funding Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blasted the United States in a tweet April 15, condemning the US president for suspending funding to the World Health Organization. United States
Are there any partners for Turkey among radicals in Idlib? The reopening of the M4 highway in Idlib remains a tall task for Turkey, which is grappling with how to remove jihadi groups from the area. Syria
Migrants in detention center go on hunger strike in fear of coronavirus Migrants in a Tunis detention center went on a hunger strike to protest bad conditions that aren't improving amid the coronavirus outbreak despite calls by rights organizations that prisoners be released. Tunisia
Coronavirus killing off what's left of Gaza Strip's economy Due to measures taken to tackle COVID-19, the Gaza Strip economy is at a virtual standstill, worsening unemployment and poverty. Palestine
Ethiopia turns to upstream countries amid Nile Dam dispute with Egypt Ethiopia is trying to mobilize Nile Basin countries against Egypt when it comes to dispute over the Renaissance Dam. Egypt