Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was a supporter of Israel and took a hard line against terrorism, but eventually U.S. administrations began to pressure the Egyptian leader over human-rights abuses. Amr Nabil/AP hide caption

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson is a NPR foreign correspondent based in Cairo.A Kiowa Warrior helicopter flies above soldiers with 4th Squadron 2d Cavalry Regiment during a live-fire exercise in the desert on March 6, 2014 near Kandahar, Afghanistan. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption
Merkel Expected To Push For Global Cohesiveness In New Year's Speech
German Chancellor and leader of the German Christian Democrats Angela Merkel waves after her last speech as party leader on Friday in Hamburg, Germany. Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images hide caption
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Announces She Won't Seek Another Term
Where Things Stand As European Leaders Try To Reach An Agreement On Brexit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's political allies in the wealthy alpine state of Bavaria risk losing ground to the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party in upcoming regional elections. Pool/Zick,Jochen-Pool/Getty Images hide caption