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
Arab-Kurd conflict heats up after Tuz Khormato incidents Factions in Iraq seem more worried about staking claims to territory and power than in fighting the Islamic State, and the result could be a prolonged civil war. Iraq
Turkey sticks its neck out again, this time in Iraq Ankara’s unusually loud public acknowledgement of sending reinforcement soldiers into Iraq shows Turkey hopes to establish its own territory there. Iraq
Palestinian peace activist speaks out on son's arrest Palestinian peace activist Ziad Abed Sabateen recounts how his son was arrested by IDF soldiers in the middle of the night. Palestine
What it takes to smuggle information out of IS strongholds in Syria Media activists in Deir ez-Zor face daily death threats by the Islamic State, but the danger is not stopping many of them from documenting what is happening in the Syrian province. Syria
Turkey’s red line in Syria under attack Syrian military advances, backed by Russia, threaten Turkmen and Jabhat al-Nusra forces along the border with Turkey; Russia and Israel understand each other on Syria; Israel’s’ "small joy" in clash with EU over settlements. Israel
Congress focuses on Islamic State threat from Europe A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Dec. 7. Iraq
Turkey takes a hit from the Russian hammer Moscow is bringing its hammer down on Ankara following Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane late last month, crushing Erdogan’s aspirations for autonomy from the West in foreign and security policy. Turkey
The high price of Russian bombs in Syria Russia’s use of blind aerial bombings could win the war in Syria cheaply, yet at a great cost. Syria
Will Israel's military intervene in the West Bank? Palestinians question the reasoning behind calls for an Israeli "Operation Defensive Shield 2," given the lack of available targets and unclear objectives. Palestine
You won’t believe what these Iraqi taxi drivers are using to prevent carjackings In Iraq, organized crime is proliferating in light of lax security measures, a fragile political situation and control by the Islamic State of large swaths of territory. Iraq
Will Iran play peacemaker between Russia, Turkey? Given Tehran's ties to both countries, Iranian officials discuss the potential for Iran to mediate between Russia and Turkey. Turkey
Will Fatah, Hamas take Egypt's road to unity? Hamadeh Faraneh, a PNC and PCC member, revealed an Egyptian plan to achieve Palestinian unity between Fatah and Hamas, among other goals, and talks details about this in an interview with Al-Monitor. Palestine
