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
While US dithers on peace plan, Israeli right shores up support While the US administration delays presenting its peace plan, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is busy promising the Israeli right more construction in the West Bank settlements. Palestine
US keeps aid flowing for Palestinian security forces, for now Despite its deep cuts in aid to Palestinians, the US has continued to offer financial support to the Palestinian security services. Palestine
Three years in Syria, Russia sums up achievements and challenges On the third anniversary of the Russian campaign in Syria, Foreign Minister Lavrov summed up Moscow's achievements but conceded challenges persist. Syria
Erdogan greets Turkish lawmakers with fire, fury as parliament convenes The Turkish president opened the parliamentary session with renewed antagonism toward the United States and the Kurdish militants it's aligned with in Syria and Iraq, dashing hopes that Turkey's economic difficulties had tempered his aggression. Syria
Russia pins downed plane on Israel, will add missiles in Syria Russia’s decision to deploy its S-300 air defense systems in Syria is a major step toward dominating Syrian airspace, but to what extent will it affect Israel? Syria
UN warns of famine after Yemen talks sputter In an interview with Al-Monitor, the top UN aid official in Yemen warned that 10 million more people are at risk of starving if fighting in the war-torn country doesn’t stop. Saudi Arabia
Will Shiite militias become Iraq’s Basij? The Popular Mobilization Units are expanding their presence in the strategic city of Basra by forming a Voluntary Reserves force, similar to the Iranian Basij forces. Iraq
Head of PMU faction talks Iraqi politics, US relations The head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali, spoke to Al-Monitor about the Iraqi organization's history with the United States and current political positions. Iraq
Abbas’ UN speech draws deeper wedge between Palestinians Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were deeply divided over President Mahmoud Abbas’ address to the UN General Assembly meeting, as Hamas and Fatah exchange attacks in the media while arrest campaigns on both sides continue. Palestine
