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
Photos of Beirut's abandoned buildings tell city's story Gregory Buchakjian photographed abandoned buildings in Beirut to document the political and economic crises that have shaped the city and the rest of Lebanon. He is currently presenting what he discovered in an exhibition, book, and film. Lebanon
UN Syria envoy's last Astana meeting ends with mixed results While the UN envoy to Syria lamented the 11th meeting of the Astana talks as a "failed possibility" to make progress, other participants felt differently about the results. Jordan
Trump administration dusts off Cold War playbook to defend Saudi ties The Donald Trump administration is using a popular 1980s theory to rationalize support for a friendly autocracy. Saudi Arabia
Congress gives Rand Paul the run-around to pass Syria sanctions bill Congress may resort to parliamentary parlor tricks to pass overwhelmingly bipartisan Syria sanctions legislation because of opposition from one senator. Syria
Will Neolithic West Bank mask spark modern-day culture war? A Neolithic mask found in the Judean Desert is a relic from a bygone spiritual belief system prevalent in the region around 9,000 years ago. Palestine
Turkey’s Kyrgyz colony struggles to keep traditional lifestyle alive In eastern Anatolia, a village of Kyrgyz resettled from Afghanistan has become an unlikely tourism hub and a fortress of Turkish nationalism. Turkey
New school raises hopes of higher education for West Bank's hearing-impaired Al Amal Association for the Deaf is set to open the first high school for the deaf in the West Bank by spring 2019, which would give hearing-impaired students the chance to continue their education. Palestine