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
Trump stays in Iran nuclear deal for now, targets rights abusers US President Donald Trump once again waived Iran nuclear sanctions to stay in the deal, but he warned it will be for the last time if he does not get a legislative fix that meets his demands. United States
Iraq's Anbar eyes political battle as displaced return The competition for May's election has already started among Anbar's politicians, while there are still many IS sleeper cells in the province. Iraq
Turkey’s optimistic plans in Iraq seem to be faltering Ankara thought it had promising deals with the Iraqi government — such as a new pipeline from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Ceyhan, Turkey, and a new crossing to Iraq — but the proposals now are in question. Iraq
Netanyahu plays the victim card, again Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to shift the public's focus from his son Yair's nauseating behavior to trying to legislate the ability of workers to make recordings of government ministers. Israel
Israeli settlers use cemeteries to gain foothold on land The decision to bury terror victim Rabbi Raziel Shevach in the unauthorized West Bank outpost where he lived serves the settlers’ agenda of establishing facts on the ground. Palestine
The Palestinian village with only three residents While all of the inhabitants of the town of Shoshahla left under Israeli threats, three people have returned and continue to cling to their land and refuse to leave a second time. Palestine
Syrian Druze wary of Hezbollah, Iranian presence Since the Syrian war erupted, Iran has been trying to gain a foothold in Syria, most recently in the south, which includes trying to win over the local Druze community. Israel
Border dispute among many straws weighing on Egypt's back Egypt has upped its game in, and its claim to, the Halayeb triangle border area, as Cairo's relationship with Sudan heats up. Egypt
Turkey calls on Russia, Iran to get Syrian army under control The Syrian army's attacks against armed groups at Idlib could ignite tensions between Russia and Turkey. Syria
Women’s organizations in northern Syria have come a long way Although women’s organizations are successfully raising awareness about women’s rights and the need to fight sexual violence and crimes in north Syria, challenges represented by a patriarchal society remain. Syria
Russia, Iran must 'stop the regime' in Idlib, pleads Turkish FM Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has ramped up diplomatic efforts to get the Syrian government to halt its offensive in Idlib. Syria
Armed Kurdish groups want disputed territory back in Iraq New Kurdish militias are forming from the remnants of defunct ones to renew the fight with the Iraqi army and the Popular Mobilization Units. Iraq
