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
Will the Palestinian Authority succeed in pursuing activists beyond its borders? Palestinian activists living abroad report being targeted for airing their criticisms on social media. Palestine
Israel wary of Russian comeback to the region Russia has extended its presence in the region to such an extent that any IDF jet crossing the Israeli border in the north immediately appears on Russian military radar screens. Israel
Iran’s new challenge: The Islamic State in Persia? Though Iran has announced that it has killed the Islamic State’s "emir" in the country, it continues to face serious security threats from a variety of militants. Saudi Arabia
Are Egyptian-Saudi disputes just a passing crisis or a decisive storm? Egyptian-Saudi squabbles over Syria and Yemen have gone viral, and some worry that this will have a lasting negative effect on the relationship between Cairo and Riyadh. Saudi Arabia
Did Putin give green light to Turkish attack on US-backed Syrian Kurds? Kurds again in crosshairs as Turkey weighs options in Mosul. Iraq
The battle of the Euphrates islands: The last stages in the fight against IS In conjunction with the Mosul operation, the Iraqi army has launched an operation in Anbar province to liberate islands in the Euphrates River that are under Islamic State control and are used as IS safe havens. Iraq
Are Turkish leaders ill-informed about their own history? Many question whether Ankara has aspirations in Iraq linked to a misunderstanding of Turkish history. Iraq
Turkey’s misguided policies now haunt it at Mosul Turkey criticizes the Mosul operation but is doing everything possible to be part of it. Iraq
Will tension at sea lead to endless war in Yemen? The Yemeni war reached the sea after being confined to the mainland for 19 months, with international and regional players heading to the most important maritime route in the world. Yemen
Mosul adds to staggering world refugee crisis With the highest number of refugees and displaced people since World War II and continued brutal conflicts in Syria, Iraq and beyond forcing millions to flee, humanitarians lament a broken system running from crisis to crisis. Iraq
How Ankara plans to repeat Syria success in Iraq Ankara seems to have contingency plans for every situation to make its presence felt in Mosul. Iraq
What Turkish raid on Syrian Kurds means for Ankara-Washington ties Turkey's decision to launch airstrikes on fighters for the Kurdish People's Protection Units in Syria could have a major impact on Washington's efforts to balance relations with Ankara. Syria
