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
Intel: Trump administration notifies Congress of proposed F-35 sale to UAE Lawmakers have introduced legislation intended to ensure the sale does not eclipse Israel's regional military edge. United Arab Emirates
Are attacks on Syrian opposition signal from Moscow to Ankara? As Turkey conducts simultaneous campaigns in different theaters — including assistance to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict — Moscow must be tempted to exploit the turbulence to extract concessions from Ankara. Syria
Egypt prepares for solar alignment in Abu Simbel temple amid coronavirus The major solar phenomenon of the sun passing over the statue of Ramses II at the Temple of Abu Simbel in Egypt’s Aswan is overshadowed this year by the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt
Saudi Arabia to pay families of health care workers who died from COVID-19 The government will disperse $133,000 per family. Saudi Arabia
Intel: New bill in Congress would push for Israel to get bunker-busting bombs The bill was announced the same day the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran is building an underground centrifuge facility at Natanz. Israel
Intel: Pentagon undercounting civilian casualties in Yemen, watchdog says At least 86 civilians have been killed in US operations in Yemen since 2017, according to a new report by Airwars, a UK-based nongovernmental organization. Yemen
US judge dismisses lawsuit against state's Israel boycott law The judge said the plaintiff was not affected by Maryland's ban on the government contracting with supporters of boycotts of Israel, but she did not rule on the law's constitutionality. Originals
Child malnutrition soars in parts of Yemen Rampant food insecurity comes as UN-led efforts in Yemen face serious funding shortfalls. Yemen
Houthi minister shot dead in Yemeni capital The sports minister for the Iran-backed Houthi administration was assassinated while in his car as the war with the Saudi-backed government rages on. Yemen
Boycotts of French goods launched in Kuwait, Qatar over prophet cartoons Following controversial comments made by France's president, calls are growing in Muslim countries for boycotts of French goods. Kuwait
Australia condemns intrusive search of women before Qatar Airways flight Authorities in Doha reportedly searched women's private parts without consent after an abandoned newborn was discovered before a flight to Sydney. Qatar
Can Gulf states adopt universal basic income? Existing social welfare systems have insulated Gulf nationals from changing economic realities and the likelihood of a major global energy transition in the coming decades. Gulf