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
Moscow’s take on US-Turkey Manbij deal: Wait and see Russia is reserving judgment but also keeping a close eye on an agreement between Turkey and the United States regarding the Kurdish People’s Protection Units in Manbij, Syria. Syria
Gaza women fight for fairer, faster divorces A women's association in Gaza is fighting to address the glacial legal process to obtain a divorce and the lack of support for women during those interminable periods. Palestine
Saudi Arabia bails out Jordan In light of Jordan's latest protests that toppled the prime minister, Saudi Arabia initiated a summit June 10 where a $2.5 billion five-year aid program was agreed on to help the Hashemite Kingdom regain a position of stability in the region. Saudi Arabia
Egyptian MPs open Pandora's box on popular soccer team's finances An exchange of accusations between Saudi soccer boss Turki al-Sheikh and Al-Ahly's board opens Pandora's box on the Egyptian soccer team's donations. Saudi Arabia
Iranian nationalism grows amid rising US pressure The US administration and its regional allies' policies toward the Islamic Republic appear to be fueling a rise in nationalist sentiment in Iran. Syria
US loses leverage to stop Yemen operation Congress is calling on the Pentagon to try to prevent a UAE-backed attack against Yemen’s largest Houthi-held port, but analysts said it’s unclear whether the United States has much leverage. Saudi Arabia
Can Egyptian families be persuaded that less is more? Egypt's recent family planning policies are educating couples on the number of children to have, debunking the idea that having many children means a source of income now and later in life. Egypt
Iran could become collateral damage of OPEC decision If OPEC decides this month to increase oil output, it will probably be the result of a simple economic decision and not any desire by Riyadh and Moscow to cater to the United States. Saudi Arabia
Iraq's favorite lake dries up in sign of worse to come Iraq's once-impressive Lake Milh used to be a major touristic site near Karbala, but now its vanishing water is part of a growing regional crisis. Iraq
Egypt’s female Ramadan drummer breaks taboos In one of Cairo's neighborhoods, a female Ramadan drummer has taken on one of the oldest Ramadan traditions by waking up those who fast before dawn, breaking social and religious taboos. Egypt
Congress rebukes Trump over lack of Syria policy Congress called out the Donald Trump administration for failing to provide lawmakers with a US strategy for the conflict in Syria. Syria
Will Libya’s newly signed border security agreement change anything? Libya, Sudan, Chad and Niger signed a security protocol to fight cross-border criminal activities in the Sahel region. Libya