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
Rethinking Russia’s Mideast ambitions Iran and Russia make for surprising allies in the Middle East, but ultimately Russia values its own interests over any alliance. Syria
Egypt's Copts have no plans to arm youth groups Before the news was shown to be false, jumpy Egyptians were unnerved by a report about Christian youth groups receiving military training to protect their churches. Egypt
Iranians divided over new Senate sanctions Iranian officials and scholars disagree on whether the US Senate’s new sanctions bill against the Islamic Republic violates the nuclear deal. United States
Does the US have answer for Turkish threats against Syrian Kurds? Turkey also seeks sway in Salafi-controlled Idlib; Hamas inches closer to Iran, Hezbollah. Palestine
How Turkey fits into the Qatar puzzle Turkey's military presence in Qatar seems to be complicating an already complex situation for the coalition that recently cut ties with Doha. Legacy: Gulf
Iran cracks down on Salafists in wake of Tehran attacks Iranian authorities have rounded up a large number of terror suspects in Kurdish areas following the June 7 attacks in Tehran. Iran
Ankara's offer to Moscow: Give us Afrin for Idlib As the situation in northern Syria heats up, the future of Idlib and Afrin depend on strategic bargaining between Ankara and Moscow. Syria
As Mosul battle nears end, Iraqi Christians wary of return Despite the liberation of the Ninevah Plains, very few Iraqi Christians have returned to their historical homeland, while the majority of them refuse to return due to security concerns. Iraq
Israel 'playing with fire' on Hamas prisoner issue Israel hopes that by canceling family visits of Hamas prisoners, the organization will be pressured into advancing a prisoner exchange deal. Palestine
New UN Libya envoy faces long road to peace The newly appointed UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, must review all previous steps and policies his predecessors made to avoid repeating their mistakes as the war and chaos continue to weigh heavily on Libya. Libya
Abbas' Gaza sanctions fit into peace project Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' increasing pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip is widely seen as less about reconciliation and more as a step toward a regional settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Palestine
Washington talks fail to secure breakthrough in Qatar crisis Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been huddling with Gulf diplomats all week, to no avail. Legacy: Gulf
