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
PKK feels heat from Turkey as commanders fall Baris Oner — code-named Tarik the Turk — is the third high-profile member of the Kurdistan Workers Party to be targeted this month. Turkey
Russia, Turkey seek greater engagement amid US sanctions Russia plans to lift visa requirements for some Turks and to begin delivery of the S-400 missile-defense system to Turkey next year in an attempt to further sway Ankara away from the United States. Turkey
Will Iraqi Shiite militias withdraw from Sunni areas? Some factions of the Popular Mobilization Units have started to withdraw from Sunni areas, which they helped to liberate, in a step aimed at avoiding sectarian conflicts. Iraq
Ankara to continue targeted killings of PKK leaders abroad Turkey is encouraged by the success of its surgical airstrike in Iraq that killed outlawed Kurdish leader Ismail Ozden. Iraq
Will Gaza factions accept Israel-Hamas arrangement? Some Gaza factions demand that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas be included in the Israel-Hamas arrangement. Palestine
Why Netanyahu wants more money for security Top defense experts estimate that the new 2030 Security Concept was designed not as a serious tool to protect Israel against its threats, but as a means to preserve Benjamin Netanyahu’s image of "Mr. Security." Palestine
Pompeo names high-level Syria team as Trump looks for the exit The Donald Trump administration has named former US Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey James Jeffrey to coordinate all aspects of US Syria policy. Syria
Turkey amasses force of Syrian rebel factions at Idlib It's not clear what plans Ankara has for the National Liberation Front, a collection of Syrian opposition groups Turkey has established at Idlib. Syria
Lebanon embraces Russia’s refugee initiative for Syria On his visit to Moscow, Lebanon's foreign minister expressed support for a Russian initiative on the return of Syrian refugees, but its implementation is easier said than done. Syria
Drive-by shooting targets US Embassy in Turkey This morning's shooting attack on the US Embassy in Ankara is the most serious manifestation of the wave of anti-American hysteria gripping Turkey since sanctions were announced. Turkey
Israel-Hamas talks isolate Abbas Israel negotiates with Hamas, despite its ideology of destroying the Jewish state, while ignoring Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, its only security partner against terror. Qatar
How will Hamas react if Israel assassinates its leaders? Palestinian analysts believe that Hamas will retaliate with a full military escalation if Israel assassinates any of its leaders. Palestine
