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
Palestinians, Libya, Qatar go on lobbying binge Some of last year’s biggest losers on Capitol Hill are spending big to avoid a repeat in 2015. Palestine
War-ravaged Gaza families marrying in-laws for support It is common practice in Gaza for a widow or widower to marry an in-law to keep the family together, and often they are being promised financial assistance to do so. Palestine
US House preps its own Iran sanctions bill The lower chamber says it won't just pass whatever bill the Senate comes up with. Iran
Are there any prospects for Moscow-Libya cooperation? Russian officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude to developments in Libya. Libya
Iran’s shallow influence in Yemen Iran believes its influence is spreading to a new country with the rise of the Houthis in Yemen in September 2014; however, Yemen is different from other Iranian-influenced countries (Syria, Lebanon and Iraq), where sectarian compositions differ. Saudi Arabia
Could Russia broker Middle East peace? Though Russia has been often proposed as a mediator for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, there is no indication that Moscow would be able to assure Israel’s security or financial support for the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Paris attack rekindles debate over freedom of expression US officials' united show of support for slain journalists hides bipartisan ambivalence over Western governments' role in standing up for unpopular speech. Congress
Iraqi female nurses struggle for equality Women in the health industry are looked down upon by Iraq's conservative society, but the need for nurses and for women to be employed are slowly liberalizing attitudes. Iraq
Yemen falling out of Saudis' grasp Saudi Arabia is struggling to form an effective Yemen strategy as its three main adversaries — the Shiite Houthis, al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood — continue to dominate the Yemeni arena. Saudi Arabia
Russia and the Kurds Russia balances its relationships with various Kurdish groups with its support for the states the Kurds live under. Iraq
Will next Saudi king seize opportunity for change? The successor to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz needs to make real political reforms, whether pressured by citizens or not. Saudi Arabia
Turkish women receive mixed messages on work-life balance Officials from Turkey's Justice and Development Party have made a habit of issuing controversial social edicts to women that don't apply to their wives and daughters. Turkey
