Middle East crises loom in background as NATO leaders gather in Washington While this year's summit is expected to focus largely on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Iran's military support for Russia and Turkey's strategic balancing act with Moscow are expected to weigh on NATO leaders gathered in Washington. Washington Pulse
US, Israel hold second virtual meeting on Rafah Biden administration officials have denied offering to green-light an Israeli invasion of Rafah if Israel holds off on retaliating against Iran. Washington Pulse
One year on Sudan’s war: 14,700 killed, 8.6M displaced, 4.9M face starvation As the war in Sudan enters its second year, the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day with no prospects of an imminent end of the hostilities. North Africa Pulse
State Department staffer resigns over Biden's handling of Gaza Annelle Sheline is the second State Department official to publicly resign since Oct. 7, citing the erosion of US credibility on human rights in the Middle East as a result of the war. Washington Pulse
Trump touts Mideast moves as Washington reels from 'Crazytown' accounts As accounts emerge of White House aides' internal resistance to some of Trump's controversial policy decisions, the president boasts of his decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem, cut off Palestinian aid and pull the plug on the Iran nuclear deal. Palestine
Trump shelves Gulf talks until next year The White House has once again postponed a Gulf Cooperation Council summit aimed at bringing together the fragmented alliance to counter Iran. Saudi Arabia
Russia, Turkey size up challenges and opportunities in Idlib In the run-up to the presidential summit in Tehran, Russia and Turkey continue to weigh their options for Idlib. Syria
Israeli women can now command IAF squadrons, but are they equal? It was only in 2001 that a woman reached the pilot’s seat itself in the Israel air force, meaning it took less than two decades to leapfrog from that achievement to the position of squadron commander. Israel
Museum to showcase bewildering history of Palestinian money A new money museum in Ramallah will display all the 28 different currencies Palestine has used over the ages. Palestine
Qatar crisis looms over Trump meeting with Kuwait emir In a quiet visit overshadowed by domestic US political turmoil, Kuwait’s emir visited the White House on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia
Young cleric names and shames Iran's luxury-loving elite With 233,000 followers, a young cleric from Qom has become the voice of Iranians who resent the ruling class' lavish lifestyles while the rest of the country is in dire need. Iran
Egypt’s festivals fear future amid new funding regulations As Egypt's cultural season starts in September, many festival organizers worry that they will be unable to go on after recent additional bureaucratic measures and cuts in state aid. Egypt
Bumpy road ahead for Egypt's first female Coptic governor Women's rights activists and Christian figures rejoiced as Egypt appointed its first Coptic Christian woman as governor, but not everyone in the city of Damietta was delighted with the appointment. Egypt
Is 'The Wedding' new beginning for LGBTQ cinema in Egypt? Film director Sam Abbas' "The Wedding," which tells the story of a gay man forced into a heterosexual marriage, will be screened privately and by invitation only in the Middle East, making the already controversial movie even more controversial. Egypt
Entrepreneur brings blueberries to Lebanon Talal Nassereddine's Tout Berry Farms aims to make berry cultivation a big business in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. Lebanon
Saudi, Syrian foreign ministers visit Moscow for talks After separate sets of discussions with the Syrian and Saudi foreign ministers, Russia continues to dwell on its displeasure with US moves in Syria. Saudi Arabia
