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
Turkey's pro-Kurdish HDP returns from Erbil with no news on PKK talks A delegation from Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish party paid a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan that many Kurds hoped would lead to renewed dialogue between Turkey and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, but nothing concrete seems to have yet emerged. Turkey
Iran celebrates Bolton ouster The departure of John Bolton, the US administration's most relentless Iran hawk, at a time of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington was good news across the political spectrum in Iran. United States
Can Turkey escape the fireball in Idlib? Protesters in Idlib are calling Turkey traitorous, but that’s only a small part of the big picture, in which radical jihadi groups emerge as a fireball in all scenarios for Ankara, entertaining menacing ambitions. Syria
Female officers in IDF aiming higher and higher With more women assuming combat roles in the IDF, it becomes more plausible that a woman will one day command the IDF and that along the way more women will be able to move from the military into high-level national politics. Israel
How UAE airstrikes on government forces changed military map in Aden Hopes for a negotiated solution to the dispute in Aden vanished with Saudi Arabia calling on the UAE-backed separatists to withdraw from government institutions in the southern Yemeni city. Saudi Arabia
Will Russia reinforce Iraq's air defenses? Iraqi authorities are considering moves to reinforce the country's air defense systems with Russian help following alleged Israeli strikes. Iraq
Pompeo, Mnuchin say no preconditions for Iran meeting as Trump ousts Bolton After President Donald Trump announced that he had fired his national security adviser John Bolton over very strong policy disagreements, Trump’s top diplomat and treasury chief reiterated that Trump has no preconditions to meet with Iran. United States
Pentagon fears Islamic State surge in Iraqi Kurdistan The Donald Trump administration is concerned that the Islamic State could take advantage of ongoing disputes between Iraq’s government and Kurdish authorities to gain refuge in the war-torn country. Iraq
Netanyahu gets little from Putin in Sochi meeting The meeting that took place on Thursday between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin produced no change in Moscow’s policy on Iran. Israel
Turkish drones in Libya are a strategic and family affair Drones manufactured by the company of the Turkish president’s son-in-law been prominently involved in what has become a proxy war between Turkey and the UAE in Libya. United Arab Emirates
Pentagon says it’s 'on time' with Syria safe zone despite questions The Pentagon said Monday it is "on time" or ahead of schedule in most areas of setting up a safe zone in Syria after initial patrols with Turkish troops over the weekend, despite lingering questions about the size and depth of the area. Syria
