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 fumes as Sinjar Yazidis declare 'democratic autonomy' Some Yazidis have announced their opposition to the Iraqi Kurdistan independence vote, as Turkey and Iran consider attacking the Yazidi-allied PKK in the Qandil Mountains. Iraq
Meet Mosul's rebellious tattoo artists Mosul's tattoo artists went underground when the Islamic State occupied the city, but now they're back and they hope the city is more open than before the occupation. Iraq
Turkey, Iran step up coordination in Syria Once unthinkable, an emerging consensus is developing between Ankara and Tehran in Syria, as Washington and Moscow try to keep pace; Iraqi Kurdish sources signal that it could be possible to delay a Kurdish independence referendum for a “short time.” Iraq
Iranian Kurdish fighters step up clashes ahead of KRG independence vote The increased attacks against Iranian forces by Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq raise questions about the future of relations between Erbil and Tehran. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Israel, Hamas, Egypt indirectly cooperating against IS While Egypt and Hamas coordinate efforts against the Islamic State in the Sinai Peninsula, Israel is providing intelligence to Egypt to boost these efforts. Palestine
Iraq, Saudi Arabia to reopen border crossings after 27 years As Iraq and Saudi are preparing to open land border crossings between them, trade activities are likely to resume in the next few weeks. Saudi Arabia
Why did tribes take up arms in Egypt's Sinai? Sheikh Issa al-Kharafin, the sheikh of the Rumailat tribe and the head of the North Sinai Sheikhdom, speaks to Al-Monitor about the pros and cons of the tribal decision to take up arms to help the army fight extremists. Egypt
PA-Jordan coordination takes shape in wake of Al-Aqsa crisis One of the outcomes of a major meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah was an agreement to form a crisis committee to coordinate the positions of both countries regarding incidents at Jerusalem's holy sites. Palestine
Haley to press IAEA on Iran deal compliance The US ambassador to the United Nations and rising Republican star has been sharply critical of Tehran. United States
Iran army chief's Turkey tour ends in promises of military cooperation Regional rivals Turkey and Iran are exchanging visits by top officials, brought together by deeply ingrained fears that Western powers are covertly egging on their respective Kurdish populations to weaken and dismember them. Syria
How Israel's arrest of Islamic Movement leader could backfire The Israeli right has made the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, Raed Salah, the focus of its fight against terrorism, but the move misses crucial parts of fighting against incitement to violence. Israel
Pentagon says captured Islamic State fighters hooked on drugs Syrian Democratic Forces have found an increasingly desperate detachment of militants using drugs, including amphetamines, to keep themselves in the fight. Syria
