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
Saudi women entrepreneurs fight cultural conditioning The Saudi government has changed many practices that were discriminatory against women, but really empowering women requires a profound change of mentality. Saudi Arabia
US B-52 bombers train with Morocco, Tunisia aircraft over Mediterranean The destroyer USS Roosevelt simulated a hostile ship in a US show of force alongside the North African countries. Morocco
EU stops Libya-bound ship suspected of violating arms embargo European Union naval authorities inspected the merchant vessel after it departed from an Emirati port carrying suspected military fuel. Libya
Qatar to host Afghanistan peace negotiations Qatar has been active in trying to mediate regional conflicts this year and was previously involved in talks between Israel and Hamas. Originals
US lawmakers grapple with Egypt policy as Sisi’s clampdown continues As President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ratchets up the rights abuses, some in Congress say the Trump administration is giving the Egyptian strongman a pass. Egypt
Arms from Iran, Western countries prolonging Yemen’s war: UN A panel of UN investigators found all of Yemen's rival factions have violated international law and in some cases, may have committed war crimes. Yemen
More than 2,000 US troops to leave Iraq in September, CENTCOM says CENTCOM head formally announces long-awaited reduction of US forces in Iraq. Iraq
Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize following Israel-UAE deal A right-wing Norwegian politician made the nomination, but Trump is not necessarily likely to win it. Originals
Khashoggi murder trial in Riyadh lacked accountability, UN rights office says A court in Riyadh Monday jailed eight people over the 2018 murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia
UAE grants five-day paid paternity leave The United Arab Emirates grants paid paternity leave for the private sector, a first in the Arab world and a move widely welcomed by locals and expats. United Arab Emirates
UN chief urges Libya to shut migrant detention centers Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, said 22% of those detained in Libya's holding facilities for migrants are children. Libya
Russia increased Wagner deployments as Hifter’s offensive faltered, UN report says A new UN report backs US claims that Russia sent more fighters to Libya as Turkey intervened against Hifter. Libya