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
New park opens in Gaza near Israel border Palestinians recently inaugurated a new park at the site from which they had launched the Great Return March, establishing a human presence in a buffer zone that Israel has insisted remain clear. Palestine
Will Arabs work with Israel to fight violence in their villages? Israel's public security minister and the Arab Joint List agreed to work together to stop the spread of illegal weapons in Arab towns in Israel, but whether the community cooperates remains to be seen. Palestine
Is Iran expanding its influence in Iraq? Iran seems to have further expanded its influence in the Iraqi government; Tehran still, however, faces challenges in Iraqi governmental bodies that have remained independent of Iran. Iraq
Trump administration scrambles to salvage US troop presence in Syria President Trump says he would leave some US troops in Syria to keep the Assad regime and Iranian forces away from oil fields; the Syrian Democratic Forces commander speaks with both Trump and the Russian army chief of staff. Iraq
Weakened US sanctions threat lingers in wake of Turkish deal with Russia Possible US sanctions on Turkey are looming as fighting subsides in northeast Syria and Kurdish forces draw back following an agreement between Ankara and Moscow. Syria
Following Trump’s lead, Putin gives Erdogan what he wants Even his greatest detractors in Turkey are complimenting Erdogan over winning US and Russian support against the Syrian Kurds. Syria
Why Israel should expand work permits for Palestinians In order to end the situation where Palestinians pay thousands of shekels to obtain work permits in an illegal manner, Israel should expand the number of permits and offer job seekers some hope. Palestine
Hamas signals alarm on Israeli efforts to recruit collaborators Hamas has launched an awareness campaign against what it says are Israeli efforts to recruit Palestinians as spies through deceptive online contacts. Palestine
US faces new facts on the ground as cease-fire expires Russia and Turkey strike a deal on a safe zone as the Syrian Democratic Forces told the Donald Trump administration that Kurdish forces had withdrawn from the Turkish border today in accord with a US-brokered agreement. Iraq
Turkey, Russia both claim win in Syria agreement Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to get what he wants regarding the Kurdish People's Protection Units, and Russia appears to gain yet more influence in Syria; has Idlib become a pawn in Turkish-Russian negotiations? Iraq
Putin, Erdogan nail down Syria deal The Russian and Turkish presidents met for more than six hours to come up with an agreement on Syria, one that might survive. Syria
Israeli politicians only condemn settler violence when it targets soldiers It takes inured soldiers for Israel's politicians to speak out against settler violence, an inherent companion of the occupation. Palestine
