Raisi: Iran 'never has hope' in Vienna talks Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has struck a pessimistic tone commenting on the nuclear talks between Iran and world powers. Iran
Iraq receives 145% more foreign visitors in 2021 Iraq waived the visa requirements for citizens of many economically powerful countries last year in a bid to attract tourists and businesspeople. News Brief
Saudi Arabia building support for Expo 2030 bid The kingdom wants to host the international cultural forum, which is currently being held in Dubai. News Brief
Saudi IT industry to work with German software firm SAP on cloud technology The memorandum of understanding is the latest to come out of the LEAP technology forum in Riyadh, and reflects the kingdom’s diversification efforts. News Brief
Assad’s billionaire cousin denies tax evasion, begs for help in Facebook video Syrian telecom tycoon Rami Makhlouf has made a rare public statement calling on his cousin President Bashar al-Assad to dismiss charges of tax evasion. Syria
Intel: US doubles down on Turkey S-400 sanctions threats The Donald Trump administration has doubled down on threats to sanction Turkey should it activate the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Turkey
Lebanon to seek IMF assistance to help with economic crisis The prime minister said Lebanon would seek $10 billion in loans from the international financial institution after passing a reform bill. Lebanon
Israel’s largest bank admits to helping taxpayers use offshore accounts, facilitating FIFA conspiracy Bank Hapoalim agrees to pay the United States more than $900 million in connection with the two cases. Israel
Arab League slams West Bank annexation plans as ‘war crime’ The pan-Arab organization met to discuss Israeli plans for annexing parts of the territory the Palestinians envision for a future state. Palestine
Intel: US Syria envoy says Turkey must put pressure on Idlib militants Turkey should keep up the pressure on the hard-line Islamist group in control of Syria’s embattled Idlib province, the US special envoy for Syria said today. Syria
Report: Trump threatened to remove US troops from Saudi if no oil production cut Trump told the Saudi Crown Prince that US troops would leave Saudi Arabia if OPEC did not cut production, according to a new report. Saudi Arabia
Turkey says virus outbreak at peak as government weighs easing restrictions The country’s health minister credits new therapies and contact tracing for a recent decline in new cases, but warns it is still too soon to loosen restrictions on mobility to mitigate the outbreak. Turkey
Israeli attorney general clears Netanyahu to head new government Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit told the Supreme Court today that the indictment poses no legal obstacle to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heading the next government. Israel
Germany designates entirety of Hezbollah a terrorist organization Germany previously only classified Hezbollah's military wing as terrorists. Israel hopes the rest of Europe will follow suit. Lebanon
Families of missing IDF soldiers call on government to push Hamas deal According to recent reports, Israel briefed the families of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul on advancement in talks over a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. Palestine
Syrian Kurdish groups deny responsibility for bloody Afrin bombing A truck explosion led to more than 50 deaths Tuesday in Turkish-controlled Afrin, Syria. Syria
