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
15 years of Turkey's AKP: Is it a success story? Turkey's Justice and Development Party has had economic and political successes, but the current state of affairs could threaten that legacy. Turkey
Accusations fly as Basra cafes hit by string of bombings A series of bombings has hit Basra's cafes that employ women, leading activists to accuse Shiite militias of imposing an Islamization project on civilians. Iraq
Have Egypt-Hamas relations reached point of no return? Already-tenuous relations between Egypt and Hamas recently worsened with the release of a photo showing two of Hamas’ men who were abducted in Sinai a year ago in an Egyptian cell. Palestine
'Window closing' on US-Russia deal on Syria It seems increasingly unlikely that the United States and Russia will conclude a deal on Syria before US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in China on Sept. 4. Syria
Sahrawi protesters recount recent abuses The people of Western Sahara have been seeking independence for decades and still suffer for their efforts. Algeria
Why Russian warplanes might return to Iran Shared tactical objectives in Syria are likely to continue to drive Russian-Iranian cooperation despite the quick end to Moscow's use of the Hamedan air base. Russia
Why is Turkey wasting its time arresting peace advocates? The arrest of renowned author Asli Erdogan on terrorism charges generates questions about Turkey's arbitrary use of emergency law. Turkey
Did US drag Turkey into 'Syrian quagmire'? The Turkish government remains defiant in the face of warnings from the US, but there are those who believe Ankara was forced into the Syrian quagmire by Washington. Syria
Has Israeli defense minister changed IDF's West Bank strategy? The Israel Defense Forces have been carrying out regular operations in the Dheisheh refugee camp and the villages of Hebron governorate, all inside West Bank's Area A and ostensibly under full Palestinian control. Palestine
Will Palestinian government give in to calls to postpone elections? After violent clashes disrupted the West Bank city of Nablus, both residents and political factions have been calling for the local elections slated for Oct. 8 to be postponed until security is restored. Palestine
What comes next for Turkey after Jarablus victory? Turkey’s strategic goals and field preparations signal that it plans to stay in northern Syria for quite some time. Syria
How Ankara, Washington plan to achieve regional energy security US Vice President Joe Biden was in Ankara last week, and Cyprus and energy security joined Turkey's attempted coup and the Islamic State as discussion topics. Syria
