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
Culture Dinosaur footprints uncovered in Egypt's Eastern Desert An Egyptian research team announced the discovery of the footprint of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs in the Eastern Desert dating back more than 70 million years. Culture
Culture Sacred animal mummies live on in Egypt’s City of the Dead Among the many archeological treasures of Tuna el-Gebel in Upper Egypt is a large cemetery for sacred animals. Culture
Culture 20 ancient mummies discovered in Aswan tomb The sudden discovery of a tomb in Aswan took an Egyptian-Italian archaeological mission by surprise. Culture
Intel: Pentagon chief orders reform to civilian harm policies Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's initiative follows pressure from lawmakers and fruitless attempts at reform under the prior administration. Washington Pulse
Egyptian archaeologists unwrap Amenhotep I mummy, rewrite history Egyptian archaeologists rewrite history after digitally unwrapping the mummy of Pharaoh King Amenhotep I, whose secrets were kept for thousands of years. Culture
Egyptian revives 5,000-year-old martial art Cairo is working to revive interest in the 5,000-year-old marital art of tahteeb, which soldiers practiced to train for war. Culture
Palestinian embroidery represents social, cultural identity on UNESCO list Palestinians praise the registration of embroidery on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List after Israeli attempts to attribute the traditional embroidered Palestinian dress to themselves. Culture
Syrian women open laurel soap making workshop in Idlib 20 women making soap in Idlib hope to expand their factory and increase their production in a bid to improve the living conditions of their families, which they provide for after losing their husbands in the Syrian war. Culture
Will Egypt manage to bring home all smuggled artifacts? As part of their continuous efforts to retrieve Egypt's stolen, prized antiquities, Egyptian authorities announced on Dec. 20 the recovery of 36 artifacts that had been smuggled to Madrid. Culture
Black Gaza artists fight racism with music Black Palestinians in the Gaza Strip still suffer racism, but the artistic community has a musical response. Culture
Egypt resumes hunt for Nefertiti’s tomb amid historical debate Egypt’s archaeological team, led by famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, resumed on Dec. 9 the hunt for Queen Nefertiti’s tomb in the west bank of Luxor, after years of debate over her burial site. Culture
Egypt unveils tombs dating back to the Late Period of ancient Egypt Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of two cemeteries dating back to the Late Period of ancient Egypt in al-Bahnasa archaeological area in Minya governorate. Culture
