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
Fight Island in Abu Dhabi concludes Saturday with main event featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov The undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov will face American Justin Gaethje in an isolated section of Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, which was set up to host the major mixed martial arts event. Originals
Kuwait’s new emir urges national unity in run-up to elections Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah told lawmakers he would follow in the footsteps of the late emir. Kuwait
US rejects Russian proposal at UN on new Gulf security mechanism The US ambassador to the UN said the endeavor would not work until Iran meets its international obligations. Originals
Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancee sues Mohammed bin Salman in US court More than two dozen Saudis are named in the lawsuit seeking accountability for Jamal Khashoggi's "ruthless torture and murder." Saudi Arabia
US to remove Sudan from state sponsors of terror list President Donald Trump announced the plan to de-list Sudan on Monday. Israel
Armenian-Americans send aid via Qatar Airways during war with Azerbaijan The Los Angeles-based Armenia Fund sent aid via the Gulf airline. Armenia and Azerbaijan are fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Originals
Tunisia allows regions to impose nightly curfews amid COVID-19 spike The North African country has reported more than 40,000 infections since March. North Africa
12 bodies discovered in new mass graves in Libya At least 100 bodies have been discovered since the retreat of Khalifa Hifter's forces from the area earlier this year. Libya
Iran arms embargo ends with warnings from Washington US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has threatened to sanction countries that engage in weapons trade with Iran. United States
First commercial flight from UAE to Israel lands in Tel Aviv Etihad Airways flew to Tel Aviv to bring an Israeli delegation back to Abu Dhabi for trade and tourism talks. Israel and the UAE continue to further ties after normalizing relations in September. Originals
Intel: Congress urges Egypt’s president to release political prisoners More than 50 US members of the US Congress called for Egyptian journalists, lawyers and rights activists to be released in a letter addressed directly to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt
Egypt caves to popular pressure, displays controversial French statue After years of tension and popular pressure, Egypt has decided to move the statue of French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, who was behind digging the Suez Canal, from the Port Said governorate to exhibit it at the headquarters of the Suez Canal International Museum in Ismailia governorate. Egypt