Iran presents national strategy to fight coronavirus Iran’s Health Ministry has initiated a nationwide program to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Iran
Iraq's Falcon Intelligence Cell wants to root out corruption The head of the Falcon Intelligence Cell, Abu Ali al-Basri, spoke to Al-Monitor about the lingering Islamic State presence in the country and discussed his idea of setting up a similar team to fight corruption. Iraq
Israel’s third election only intensified political chaos Four days after the elections in Israel, all the different sides are still squabbling among themselves as if the election isn’t over yet. Israel
Egypt's Coptic philanthropist nominated for Nobel Prize Visits to the garbage slums of Cairo transformed Magda Gobran — a businesswoman and an academic with a comfortable life — to Mama Maggie of the poor. Egypt
Palestinians insist that there is no back channel with Washington Is there or isn’t there a back channel of talks between the Palestinians and the US administration? Palestine
LGBTQ association achieves major legal milestone in Tunisia A Tunisian court granted legal protection to Shams, a Tunisian association defending LGBTQ rights, setting a major precedence in the region. North Africa
Did Netanyahu celebrate his victory too early? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thought that he had won the elections, but now finds out that the road toward a majority government is long, if not impossible. Israel
Can Israeli Arabs settle political score with Netanyahu? The Arab Joint List is ready to cooperate, even with Yisrael Beitenu’s Avigdor Liberman, to pass a law preventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a new government. Israel
The Takeaway: March 4, 2020 Highlights: Pompeo offer on coronavirus creates opening for Iran; Economic costs of virus may outlast public health impact; Three things to watch in Putin-Erdogan summit tomorrow; ‘Heart’ of Lebanese protests; and more! Originals
What the US-Afghan agreement means for Iran The US agreement with the Taliban could prove to be an added burden to Iran, which has serious concerns about the deal creating instability in neighboring Afghanistan. United States
AIPAC gets Democrats to help Trump chip away at nuclear deal AIPAC is marshaling significant bipartisan backing for a bid to extend the Iran nuclear deal’s first sunset provision as hawks push for snapback sanctions at the United Nations. United States
Pentagon says Patriot sale to Turkey still on table The United States is reportedly still considering supplying Patriot missile systems to Turkey in what the administration may see as an opportunity to convince Ankara to walk back from the Russian system it acquired last year. Syria
Turkey looks to Russia for 'quick cease-fire' in Syria President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss a truce in Turkey's offensive against the Syrian army during talks in Moscow, seeking to avert a new refugee influx even as another humanitarian crisis deepens on Turkey's border with Greece. Syria
Iran’s IRGC claims it's close to producing coronavirus vaccine As the coronavirus marches across Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that its research teams are set to produce a vaccine. Iran
Why Otzmah Yehudit flamed out in Israeli elections The decline in support for Otzmah Yehudit, which once again failed to pass the vote threshold to enter the Knesset, was especially notable in the settlements. Israel
Israel’s Zionist left down but not out Many supporters of the Zionist left voted this time for the Blue and White Party, but the constituency is likely to return to its political home as soon as it has a new leadership and focus. Israel
