Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. Libya
As EU mulls sanctions against Turkey, East Med allies to begin joint drills Egypt, Greece and Cyprus are preparing to conduct joint military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea as a European summit is expected to impose sanctions on Ankara amid escalating tensions over maritime borders and gas exploration rights. Turkey
Israel again strikes targets in southern Syria Syria's state news media reported material damage from an Israeli strike on Syrian air defenses and Iranian militias in the country yesterday. Israel
Yemen’s Houthis grant UN inspectors access to aging oil tanker Experts say the FSO Safer, a dilapidated vessel that contains more than a million barrels of light crude oil, is at risk of rupturing and spilling more oil than the Exxon Valdez. Yemen
Will Biden save the two-state solution? President-elect Joe Biden must know that opting for confidence-building measures, instead of pushing the sides into negotiating a permanent settlement, would only perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestine
Is Turkey gearing up for military move against Syrian Kurds? A marked increase in Turkish military activity in the area between Ain Issa and Tall Tamer in northern Syria has raised the specter of a fresh Turkish military move to curb the Kurds before Trump leaves the White House. Syria
Sudan boycotts Nile dam talks, further complicating negotiations What are supposed to be three-way talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam between Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia took one more turn for the worse as Khartoum boycotted the last round of negotiations. Egypt
Will the Ethiopian conflict affect UAE-Egyptian relations? As the conflict escalates between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray region, the United Arab Emirates' support for the Ethiopian regime threatens to strain Emirati-Egyptian relations. United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia will make coronavirus vaccines free to residents The kingdom hopes to vaccinate up to 70% of its population by the end of 2021. Saudi Arabia
Humanitarian disaster looms over Syria’s Idlib amid COVID-19 surge The coronavirus continues to spread in the opposition-controlled areas of Syria, with daily counts ranging between 300 and 500, and health workers say a health catastrophe is imminent. Syria
Archive Upfront from Nov 23, 2020 Biden’s new secretary of state ready to take on the Middle East Antony Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden's choice to lead the State Department, has worked alongside Biden for nearly two decades. United States
Al-Qaeda appoints new North Africa chief after France kills leader Abu Obaida Yusuf al-Annabi succeeds Abdelmakel Droukdel, a founder of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb who was killed in June. Algeria
Gantz slams Netanyahu over leak of alleged secret meeting with Saudi crown prince Saudi and Israeli sources have confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew yesterday to Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, leaked news that Defense Minister Benny Gantz called irresponsible. Saudi Arabia
