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
Libyan divide deepens as eastern forces shut down oil ports As the Libyan National Army accused the Government of National Accord and Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation of spending its revenues on mercenaries to fight along their ranks, the tribes in eastern Libya shut down multiple oil ports and demanded a new distribution of oil revenues. Libya
Democratic leaders hold fire on Trump’s Mideast peace plan Pro-Israel Democrats are holding their fire on President Donald Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian peace proposal despite some reservations. Palestine
Trump peace plan rollout at White House had Mar-A-Lago feel Trump's peace plan, rolled out with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu but with no Palestinians present, would give the Palestinians no border with Jordan. Palestine
Intel: Congress piles on the Pentagon over possible North Africa drawdown The leaders of the House and Senate foreign affairs panels today expressed concern over a possible Pentagon plan to draw down US troops in Africa, which could impact plans to fight terror in Tunisia and Morocco. North Africa
Intel: Turkey downplays Erdogan’s phone call with Trump The White House disclosed Jan. 28 details of a call between President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Are Russia, Turkey entering last act of Idlib fight? Following the Russia-brokered Syria-Turkey talks in Moscow, hostilities over Idlib may be turning to their last phase, but it's unlikely to be peaceful. Syria
Intel: How Democratic lawmakers are trying to get ahead of Trump’s Mideast peace plan As President Donald Trump met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White opposition leader Benny Gantz to discuss the imminent release of his Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, pro-Israel Democrats signified reservations about the White House’s long-awaited proposal. Palestine
Ex-Foreign Affairs chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen embraces UAE lobby Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the only ex-lawmaker currently registered as a foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates
Meet the man who brought Picasso to Palestine A young curator's determination to bring a work of Picasso to Ramallah marked the decade in Middle Eastern art. Palestine
Popularity of Turkey's ancient temple worries archaeologists Gobekli Tepe, the oldest known place of worship in the world, has been a site of controversy as the Turkish government monetizes the mysterious archaeological treasure. Turkey
Why Lebanon's priests think marriage is better than celibacy In Lebanon, Maronites, Greek Catholics, Armenian Catholics and Syrian Catholics widely accept — and even prefer — married priests. Lebanon
Cairo's museum highlights dark history of nation's police force Egypt's National Police Museum in Cairo's Citadel examines the checkered history of an institution once revered for standing up for Egyptians, but in the years since independence has come to be feared and loathed for repression and torture. Egypt