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
What Israel-Hamas deal looks like In the framework of the Egypt-mediated deal between Israel and Hamas, the latter has promised to keep the demonstrations away from the border fence and under control. Palestine
Attack outside Cairo hospital raises questions about Egypt's anti-terror policies Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has vowed to "defeat brutal terrorism," but some are voicing concern that his anti-terror policies are the cause of an explosion in a central Cairo neighborhood. Egypt
Syrian regime pays heavy price for two strategic towns in Hama The Syrian opposition says the regime forces resorted to scorched-earth tactics to take back two towns in northern Hama in preparation for the Astana talks. Syria
Blue and White champions Israeli sovereignty over Jordan Valley The declarations by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz in favor of perpetuating Israel’s occupation of the Jordan Valley are a cynical ploy to attract right-wing voters, but they erode his support for the two-state solution. Palestine
Airport inspection in Israel a nightmare for Israeli-Arabs Instead of apologizing to Ambassador Reda Mansour for humiliating his family, Ben-Gurion International Airport authorities continued to justify their behavior. Israel
What's next for Russia in Idlib? Following the violation of the cease-fire in Idlib, Russia faces the need to manage the breakout of new hostilities and fix the deal with Turkey. Syria
US warns Turkey on Syria amid last-ditch talks to resolve buffer zone dispute The United States says it will prevent a unilateral incursion into Syria by its NATO ally, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s patience is running out with protracted talks on removing Kurdish fighters from Turkey’s border region. Syria
Israel concerned over dire economy, unrest in West Bank The growing number of Palestinians involved in "popular terrorism" is evidently linked to Israel’s decision to deduct payments to Palestinian prisoners from the tax revenues of the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Zarif says he was sanctioned for refusing to meet Trump Iran’s foreign minister claims he was warned in New York that if he refused to meet Trump at the White House he would be sanctioned. United States
Iraqi Kurds actively support Ankara’s fight against the PKK Spurred by the killing of a Turkish Consulate staffer in Erbil last month, the Iraqi Kurdish administration is stepping up its cooperation with Turkey to rein in PKK activities in northern Iraq. Turkey
Feuding Syrian Kurdish political blocs dance around rapprochement As French and US initiatives for intra-Kurdish rapprochement in Syria stall, it seems that piecemeal defections from the Kurdish National Council to the Kurdish autonomous administration in the north of the country are the rule of the day. Syria
Egyptian army displaces northern Sinai residents Residents of northern Sinai continue to be forcefully evicted from their homes under the pretext of securing the area, while President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is widening the powers of the army. Egypt
