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
Iran unveils new missile defense system Iranian media hails counter to Russian S-300 missile defense system. Russia
Turkey’s Patriot offer dead after S-400 delivery The Donald Trump administration automatically rescinded a $3.5 billion deal to sell Patriot missile defenses to Turkey after it took delivery of a Russian alternative in July, US officials have told Al-Monitor. Syria
How Palestinian women's self-sufficiency blossoms in this new garden A garden built by the Cedar Environmental for Soufra Kitchen, a catering company run by Palestinian women at Lebanon's Burj el-Barajneh, enables the group to grow organic produce. Palestine
Will Turkey's oldest library sweep Aga Khan prize? The restoration of Beyazit State Library, established by Sultan Abdulhamid II in 1884, has been short-listed for the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Turkey
Southern Yemeni women enter storm of politics, war Many women in Yemen's south would like to see a return of the more progressive rights they enjoyed before Yemen's north and south merged in 1990; could the Southern Transitional Council's gains against the Hadi government in Aden help bring this about? Gulf
Turkey questions why Russia didn't prevent Idlib attack The Syrian airstrike this week against a Turkish military convoy in Idlib has prompted speculation that Russia and Syria are cooperating at Turkey's expense. Yemen
Who is pulling the strings in Egypt's irreverent puppet show? A new satirical puppet show in Egypt has thousands of fans — but there is a major debate on who is behind it. Egypt
Turkey vexed with Russia after Syria strikes convoy Following Syrian airstrikes on a Turkish convoy, Russia appears to be keeping calm and staying the course, but developments on the ground are spinning quickly. Syria
Meet the agency that brought World Press Photo's images to Iraq World Press Photo Foundation has launched an exhibition in Iraq for the first time thanks to the efforts of one pioneering photo agency which wanted to realize the dream of its founder. Iraq
Turkey’s military base in Qatar to expand with air, naval elements Turkey and Qatar have agreed to expand the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Force Command in Doha with aerial and naval components as stakes grow higher in the Gulf region. Qatar
Do Saudi Arabia, UAE seek perpetual chaos in Yemen? Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are seeking to divide power and influence in Yemen, which is clear following the recent UAE-backed advances of the southern separatists' militia amid Saudi silence. Saudi Arabia
Why Lebanon's largest artificial lake is turning green Lake Qaraoun suffers from industrial pollution from the factories on its banks and agricultural pesticides and no project, local or international, seems to stop it. Lebanon