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
Is Turkey’s fight against Syrian Kurds enabling Assad? Ankara’s constantly evolving intentions in Syria have eased the minds of Russia and the Syrian regime as they continue to consolidate their position in Aleppo and beyond. Syria
Former Iraqi PM: US could have stopped IS with 2008 security deal In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki discussed the country's relationship with the United States, the ongoing battle against the Islamic State and the role of the Popular Mobilization Units. Iraq
Who was behind Cairo church bombing? Authorities have arrested suspects in a weekend attack on a Coptic church in Cairo, as Copts call for the government to deliver on promises to protect the religious minority. Egypt
Iranian-Turkish tug-of-war over Kurds Allegations of Iranian support for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have created fresh tension in the region as Turkey faces new violence from Kurdish militants. Iraq
Turkey moves against HDP after Istanbul attack After the attack in Istanbul claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, the Turkish government launched raids to detain more than 200 people, including Kurdish leaders. Turkey
How Iraq's PMU law is disrupting national unity efforts Sunni blocs, which walked out of the Iraqi parliament when the Popular Mobilization Units law was passed, are now refusing to participate in the national reconciliation project. Iraq
Will Turkey finally launch space agency? With the launch of its second active military satellite on Dec. 5, Turkey now has five satellites in orbit and is planning for even more activity in space. Turkey
Can Syrian Democratic Council play unifier in postwar Syria? In an interview with Al-Monitor, Ilham Ahmed, Kurdish co-president of the Syrian Democratic Council, discussed the reasons behind the council's establishment and its aspirations for Syria. Syria
Will Palestinians pay heavy price for Amona evacuation? Palestinians fear that Israel will destroy Palestinian homes, lift the construction freeze and resume work on hundreds of new settlement housing units to compensate the settlers for the evacuation of Amona. Palestine
Turkey scrambles to cut its losses in Syria Turkey’s Syria policies "lie in shreds"; Syrian Kurds coordinate with government forces in Aleppo; would Russia support federalism in Syria? Syria
Putin lays out Moscow’s new Mideast strategy A new foreign policy strategy document released by Russia includes a comprehensive section on the Middle East — but will there be a shift in Moscow’s priorities in the region? Legacy: Gulf
Will Putin invite Netanyahu, Abbas to Moscow? The United States, France and Russia could join forces to form a new Middle East axis that will promote the two-state process. Palestine
