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
Has US sacrificed Israel for Syria deal? Israel feels the Trump administration is not seriously taking into account Israel's concerns about Iran's regional aspirations. Israel
Is Barzani backing away from independence referendum? Iraqi Kurdistan's president expects "guarantees and alternatives" from Washington; Hamas diplomatic surge with Iran and Russia. Palestine
US-backed forces cut off Islamic State in Raqqa The Syrian Democratic Forces have surrounded the Islamic State’s Syria stronghold. Syria
Jordanian king’s Ramallah visit more than morale booster Jordanian King Abdullah's two-hour visit to Ramallah was meant to send a number of signals to multiple parties. Palestine
Hamas convinced Israel will launch an attack Hamas leaders believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing for a military operation in the Gaza Strip to distract attention from police investigations against him. Palestine
What Russia has to gain from relations with Hamas Russia's recent steps to further its rapprochement with Hamas are connected to its existing alliance with Iran and the overall situation in the region. Palestine
US vows to press ahead with Iraq bomb clearance despite criticism A State Department audit released this week criticizes the agency’s approach to oversight of efforts to clear improvised explosive devices and mines in Iraq. Iraq
Turkish opposition claims Erdogan building private intelligence service Turkey is reeling from an explosive report and subsequent media coverage of an alleged private intelligence service operating under and reporting to the president. Turkey
Israel, PA discreetly resume security coordination Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared at the height of the Temple Mount crisis that he was halting security coordination with Israel; now it seems that contacts between the security services of both sides have been resumed. Palestine
US touts success of Syria cease-fire negotiated with Russia Despite recent sanctions on Russia, the Donald Trump administration sees a path forward for cooperation with Moscow in Syria. Jordan
Egyptian lawmakers rile Congress with US gun violence jab In a letter to Congress protesting a US travel advisory, an Egyptian parliamentary delegation downplayed the threats to Coptic Christians in the country, comparing the statistics on violence against them to shootings in US cities. Egypt
What is the fate of foreign IS fighters in Iraq? Iraqi security forces arrested dozens of foreign fighters for the Islamic State during the battle of Mosul, but Baghdad must now decide their fate. Iraq
