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
Emirates resumes flights to several European cities The Dubai-based airline received $2 billion from the government in August and is gradually approaching its pre-pandemic number of destinations. Originals
US ambassador to Israel warns Biden win could undermine consensus on Iran Ambassador David Friedman is the latest sitting US official to promote the president's policies ahead of the 2020 election. Israel
Intel: Morocco signs 10-year military cooperation agreement with Pentagon The United States is building up its alliances in North Africa amid tensions with Russia and China. Morocco
Economic uncertainty looms after Kuwaiti emir's death Kuwait faces a wave of bankruptcies as the COVID-19 crisis wreaks havoc on the emirate’s economy, which is in desperate need of reform. Kuwait
Algeria cracks down on press as protest movement persists Algeria's massive protest movement, temporarily stifled by the pandemic, is also seeing many activists and journalists jailed as the government. Algeria
UAE Mars probe's trajectory now viewable online The public can now track the Emirate probe Hope as it heads toward Mars, in the United Arab Emirates' first space mission. United Arab Emirates
Intel: Pentagon eyes partnership with Algeria amid competition with Russia, China The United States is looking to bolster military ties with North Africa. Algeria
US charges New York father, teenage son who joined Islamic State Emraan Ali allegedly told prosecutors he snuck his family into Syria after in-laws told him they had a good life under IS. Originals
Trump administration again slashes refugee admissions to new low The announcement followed Trump's attack on refugees during a campaign rally in Minnesota. United States
Egypt renews demands to retrieve Nefertiti bust from Germany Egypt has repeatedly tried to retrieve Nefertiti’s bust from Germany, which Cairo claims was illegally smuggled out of the country when it was discovered more than 100 years ago. Egypt
Grand Egyptian Museum to display thousands of artifacts Egypt gears up for the big opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2021, where 50,000 artifacts will be displayed. Egypt
Trump's Supreme Court pick represented controversial Iranian group Amy Coney Barrett was part of a legal team that represented the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which had previously been designated by the United States as a terrorist organization. Originals