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
Jeddah Red Sea Film Festival marks historic moment for Saudi filmmakers Saudis, Arabs, world stars and celebrities walked the red carpet in the conservative kingdom in a scene that no one could have imagined a few years ago. Culture
Ancient Gaza monastery restored by unemployed young Palestinians For the third year in a row, a Palestinian team under French supervision works on the restoration of St. Hilarion Monastery in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp. Culture
Hundreds of offerings to Egyptian fertility goddess uncovered at Luxor A team of Polish archaeologists working at the temple of the goddess Hathor in Luxor has discovered hundreds of artifacts that were once used as offerings to the ancient Egyptian gods of love and fertility. Culture
Life returns to 1800s palace in Egypt The Egyptian authorities are preparing to reopen the palace of Mohammed Ali Pasha in the Shubra area, north of Cairo, after extensive restoration works. Culture
Girls feel empowered at skate parks in Gaza Gazan girls are encouraged to practice roller-skating and skateboarding at skate parks in the Gaza Strip, despite the lack of equipment and societal disapproval. Culture
New secrets revealed in discovery at Heliopolis, Egypt's most ancient capital Egyptian and German archaeologists have been working for 15 years to uncover the ruins of a city, the center of sun worship, in the Matariyyah region east of Cairo. This month, they revealed the remains of one of its temples belonging to King Nectanebo I. Culture
Egypt reinvents Qubba Palace as history museum The Egyptian government has decided to transform Qubba Palace, one of the largest presidential palaces, into a museum housing several historical museums and gardens. Culture
Farmers in western Idlib celebrate pomegranate harvest Farmers in the western countryside of Idlib turn part of their pomegranate crop into a special juice, but the local HTS-affiliated government's restrictions on exports have reduced the prices their product can fetch. Culture
Intel: Russia displays new fighter jet at Dubai Airshow 2021 With the Su-75 Checkmate on display, Russia aims to remind the Emirates and other nations they have options when it comes to fifth-generation fighters. Russia / Mideast
Japanese grand piano, gifted to Arafat in 1997, plays on in Gaza The Yamaha grand piano that Japan gave to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1997 returns to make music again after being exposed to three devastating wars. Culture
Palestinian family gives Ottoman treasure to Turkish ambassador After having kept it for 104 years, a Palestinian family handed over to the Turkish ambassador to the Palestinian territories a pouch containing the Turkish and Palestinian flags and old banknotes left by an Ottoman officer who was going to World War I. Culture
Tomb of royal treasurer under Ramses II discovered An Egyptian archaeological mission discovered the tomb of Ptahemwia, a senior statesman during the reign of King Ramses II, who held several positions, including head of the treasury and royal clerk. Culture
