Egypt's student elections see lack of candidates, voters The recent student elections held in Egypt have raised several questions about the relation between university students and the ruling authority. Egypt
New treatment plant to help Gaza's wastewater crisis Lengthy power cuts in the Gaza Strip have prevented water treatment plants from keeping up with the area's increasing volume of wastewater, but a new agreement with Israel holds promise as a solution. Palestine
House parties the New Year's vogue in Turkey Facing increasing public scrutiny about celebrating New Year’s Eve, a lot of Turks find comfort in professionally organized house parties catering to all budgets and tastes. Turkey
Aspiring Coptic soccer players finally make it to playing field In Egypt, where Copts who apply for soccer clubs get the standard reply “We’ll call you,” Je Suis Academy offers them a chance to train and overcome prejudices. Egypt
Iraqi forces hunt down IS remnants in Hamrin Mountains After the declaration of victory against the Islamic State, Iraqi security forces are still hunting small groups of IS fighters in the remote areas. Iraq
Pro-Iran PMU factions prepare for electoral battle in Iraq Segments of the Popular Mobilization Units close to Iran are forming an alliance to participate in Iraq's upcoming elections. Iraq
What 2018 looks like for Russia, US regarding Syria Will US and Russian relations in the new year involve cooperation, confrontation or attempts to carefully balance both? Syria
Palestinians not popping Champagne over UN resolution Following the UN vote against Donald Trump’s Jerusalem proclamation, the Palestinians are taking advantage of the diplomatic momentum to advance the two-state solution; however, without strong backing from the international community, the door will be left open for a religious war instigated by Iran and its allies. Palestine
Can Russian-Saudi unity extend beyond oil pact? Moscow and Riyadh are on the same page currently when it comes to oil, but it's unclear whether that understanding will last long enough to grease the wheels of further collaboration. Saudi Arabia
Cryptocurrencies could offer Iran way around sanctions While the rise of cryptocurrencies potentially offers Iran a way around the web of sanctions, much remains to be done for the country to be able to fully take advantage of such an opportunity. Iran
Iranian women no longer face jail for dress code violations Iranian police will no longer round up poorly veiled women and take them to detention centers. Iran
Saudi diplomacy goes on defensive Saudi Arabia could live to regret its warm ties with US President Donald Trump as his foreign policy threatens to undermine its longstanding position as the defender of Muslims and the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia
Istanbul wary as New Year's approaches Some Turks have complained about the ramped up security around New Year's Eve, but the authorities have every reason to go into prevention overdrive after last year's nightclub massacre. Turkey
Graphic novel brings human side of Yemen to life Despite the ravaging war, real life in Yemen remains mysterious to outsiders, and two Italian authors are sharing their take with "The Yemeni Bride." Yemen
Can Baghdad contain diseases in areas liberated from IS? In the absence of supervised and well-coordinated health care, areas liberated from the Islamic State suffer from the spread of diseases. Iraq
Israeli opposition on the attack The Labor Party and Yesh Atid finally looked like an actual opposition in joining forces against legislation advanced by the right-wing governing coalition. Israel
