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
Riyadh's bold gamble King Salman's costly foreign adventures and high-risk interventions are a significant departure from past Saudi foreign policy. Saudi Arabia
Why Sahrawis see more hope in war than in peace Sahrawi leaders are growing ever-more impatient — and becoming more vocal about it — as little has been accomplished in the 25 years they have waited peacefully for change. Algeria
Iran says US in cahoots with terrorists in Syria The US-led coalition's bombing of Syrian government forces triggered harsh condemnation from Iran, which accused Washington of being in cahoots with terrorists in Syria. Syria
Veteran French diplomat: EU should play greater role in resolving Syria crisis French diplomat Alain Le Roy discusses the European Union's "unstable" and "insecure" borders and its greater challenge of resolving the crisis in Syria. Palestine
New Turkey-Russia hotline still subject to static Russia and Turkey are effusive about the positive gains in their relationship, but ties remain tenuous where Syria is concerned. Turkey
Turkey could find itself facing hefty legal bill for mass purges The mass expulsions of public servants after the July 15 coup attempt bode big legal trouble for Turkey, legal experts warn. Turkey
Iraq struggles to stop antiquities smuggling Iraq has managed to recover some smuggled antiquities, but illegal excavations and the theft of ancient artifacts continue. Iraq
Why Iraq's Yazidis are upset over new film depicting IS massacres Women who suffered at the hand of the Islamic State are now being subjected to further humiliation, in the opinion of the Yazidi community, which is protesting a film on the topic that they say is inaccurate and misleading. Iraq
How will Israel respond to Assad’s warning? The missiles fired at Israeli fighter jets this week indicate that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad refuses to be held accountable for Syrian rebels’ stray mortar fire at Israel. Israel
'Settlement schmettlement': Turkish purges target Kurds Government crackdown targets include Kurds, military officers, educators and intellectuals, as well as supporters of Fethullah Gulen. Turkey
How are Aleppo's residents dealing with truce? Although aid convoys have yet to enter Aleppo as part of the latest US-Russia brokered cease-fire, Syrians are still satisfied with the relative calm following the truce’s implementation. Syria
How post-coup purges depleted Turkey's military New data shows military purges by the Turkish government in the aftermath of the July 15 coup attempt have adversely affected the combat strength of the Turkish Armed Forces. Turkey
