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
Political Islamists brace for Trump era The president-elect and his advisers take a dim view of the Muslim Brotherhood and its cousins, but could shutting them out end up hurting America the most? Egypt
Turkish leaders cry conspiracy as hunt for Reina attacker continues In a now familiar pattern, the Turkish authorities are denying any responsibility for the intelligence lapses linked to the stream of terror attacks that have shaken the country and whipping up fury against their opponents to deflect attention from Turkey’s ballooning other problems. Turkey
Turkish-Iranian rivalry may derail Syrian peace efforts Despite the Moscow Declaration, in which Russia, Turkey and Iran pledged joint efforts to end the war in Syria, the ongoing regional rivalry between Ankara and Tehran could lead to snags in the settlement process. Syria
How Iran sees Russian-Turkish deal on Syria Although it was left out of Russia and Turkey’s announcement of a cease-fire agreement in Syria, Iran is very much involved on the stage as the Moscow-Ankara accord builds on a trilateral understanding with Tehran. Syria
Is Iraqi Kurdistan heading toward civil war? Iraqi Kurdistan is bracing itself for further political instability, economic hardship and armed conflict after the Islamic State has been defeated. Iraq
Are Egypt’s anti-terror efforts 'shackled' by law? There are concerns about the amendment of laws in the Egyptian parliament to impose more exceptional measures under the excuse of combating terrorism. Egypt
How long can Yemen's Houthi-Saleh alliance last? Houthis and former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh claim they have formed a government, but they can't necessarily convince the world, or even each other, in the long run to accept it. Saudi Arabia
Is regulating fatwas solution to extremism in Egypt? A parliamentary committee is currently reviewing a draft law that limits the issuance of fatwas to Al-Azhar and Dar Al-Ifta scholars and sheikhs, as a way to fight the spread of extremist thought. Egypt
Is Erdogan trying to wreck US-Turkey relations? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims he has “evidence” of US support for the Islamic State; Iranian President Hassan Rouhani applauds valuable “victory” in Aleppo. Syria
In Lebanon's Tripoli, culture defeats youth radicalization The northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, known for its violent neighborhood clashes and terrorist attacks, is home to several civil and cultural initiatives that work with youth to eliminate radical thought. Lebanon
Can Egypt’s security stop terrorist attacks by small groups? A series of assassinations and assassination attempts have been targeting Egypt’s security forces and were claimed by the newly established Hasm movement, which calls for the fall of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime. Egypt
Erdogan accuses US, West of supporting terrorists in Syria Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused some partners in the coalition fighting the Islamic State of arming the fanatical group as well as Syrian Kurds. Syria
