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
Why Turkey issued arrest warrant for this Kurdish leader Ankara issued an arrest warrant for PYD leader Salih Muslim, which appears to be part of an all-out war against Rojava. But will it work? Syria
Sunni town, Shiite PMU join forces in fight against IS Hundreds of civilians flee daily from the Islamic State-controlled areas toward Sunni areas under control of the predominantly Shiite Popular Mobilization Units. Iraq
Rabbis speak out against women's enlistment in IDF The national-religious sector, well represented in the Israel Defense Forces, maintains strong opposition to enlistment by women, and recent proposals to encourage religious women to enlist have met stiff resistance from a group of rabbis. Israel
Youth unemployment poses latest danger to Turkey Young Turks, especially in Turkey's volatile southeast, are facing an increasingly poor employment outlook, leaving them more susceptible to crime and violence. Turkey
Despite security gains, IS still seeking foothold in Tunisia The discovery of warehouses filled with heavy weapons in Tunisia's border area reveal that the Islamic State and its affiliates are still active despite the security crackdown on them. Algeria
After Mosul battle, is Syria next for PMU? As the liberation of Mosul nears, the Popular Mobilization Units announced that they have received an invitation from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to fight in Syria. Iraq
Why an Israeli general is Facebook chatting with Palestinians The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Gen. Yoav Mordechai conducted a first-of-its-kind live chat session on Facebook with Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Is Erdogan’s rise unstoppable? A correlation exists between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian shift and the popular support he receives, making for a paradox that is fast dragging Turkey toward a paternalistic rule. Turkey
Trump talks Middle East plans US President-elect Donald Trump, in a meeting with The New York Times on Nov. 22, discussed many critical matters in the region, including ending the Syrian war and forging Israeli-Palestinian peace. Syria
Iranian navy 'enters Atlantic for first time' — or did it? Iranian officials say the country's navy has entered the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. Iran
The final nail in the coffin of peace process in Turkey Following the detention of the mayor of Mardin, reviving the peace process between Kurdish militants and the Turkish government is no more than a pipe dream. Syria
Ankara intensifies strikes against YPG, moves to arrest PYD leader As Turkey continues its struggle with the Syrian Kurdish militants allied with the United States against the Islamic State in Syria, Ankara has issued a warrant for the arrest of Salih Muslim, the co-chair of the group's political arm. Syria
