Hamas’ test rockets coincide with Israeli annexation plan Hamas’ military wing fired dozens of rockets and mortars toward the Gaza Strip sea, which some believe to be a message to Israel regarding its annexation plans. Palestine
Did Egypt move too fast to receive tourists in light of COVID-19? Egypt received tourists from Ukraine as the country resumed tourism and airports opened up amid strict precautionary and preventive measures. Egypt
Egyptian loans raise fears of impact on economy The Egyptian government expands borrowing from the IMF and selling international bonds, amid warnings of the danger of trying to solve the economic crises by borrowing from abroad, and demands to search for alternatives as Egyptian foreign debt reaches record numbers. Egypt
China’s 'Belt and Road' push brings risks, rewards to Mideast China's digital and satellite advances offer new regional opportunities and challenges for the United States in countering Beijing's economic influence in the region. Saudi Arabia
Israel, Egypt energy ties so far unaffected by coronavirus crisis, annexation plan Despite the coronavirus crisis and the annexation plan, agreements to export Israeli natural gas to Egypt remain intact. Israel
Can Sudan change course of Nile dam talks? After the tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan reached a dead end, Egypt and Sudan turned to the UN Security Council to resolve the crisis. Egypt
Intel: US pushes Hifter’s Libyan militias to disband US officials pushed strongman Khalifa Hifter’s Libyan National Army (LNA) to demobilize in a virtual meeting on Wednesday. Libya
Amazigh languish in underserved pockets of southeast Tunisia Post-revolutionary Tunisia has been friendlier to its indigenous Amazigh, but the concentration of wealth and power in the north continues to marginalize the remote communities. Tunisia
Congress revives bid to pull US out of Yemen war The Democratic-held House is taking another stab at ending US support for the Saudi coalition’s war against Yemen’s Houthis. Saudi Arabia
Survey: Displaced Iraqis experiencing job losses, food shortages amid pandemic The survey by the International Rescue Committee is the latest proof of economic hardship in Iraq as it grapples with a steep jump in COVID-19 cases. Iraq
Rights group: Detainees in overcrowded Yemen prison at risk of COVID-19 Prisoners at an overcrowded detention center in Aden face serious health risks, Human Rights Watch says in a report. Yemen
Has China gained an edge on the US in the Gulf? China has upped the ante, but the United States holds the winning hand; Oman weighs risks and benefits of Gulf bailout; will migrant workers return to GCC? Legacy: Gulf
Turkish court hears case to convert Hagia Sophia into mosque Long a subject of political discourse in Turkey, a court will issue a verdict within 15 days on whether Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia, currently a museum, can be converted into a mosque. Turkey
Palestinian Authority to pay civil servants half their monthly wages amid cash crunch Faced with a worsening financial crisis, the Palestinian Authority has slashed the salaries of its public sector employees. Palestine
OPEC continues oil export cuts in June Global oil prices continue to hold up relative to earlier in the year as oil-producing countries in the Middle East struggle economically. Legacy: Gulf
Iran confirms ‘incident’ at nuclear site A third fire has struck Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant in one week. Iran
