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
Erdogan’s latest wake-up call on Islamic State The Obama administration weighs deeper coordination with Moscow against Jabhat al-Nusra; Erdogan’s slow turnaround on Syria policy; Hamas seeks to resume ties with Iran. Palestine
Why did Egypt deport this British-Lebanese TV host? While Cairo says TV host Liliane Daoud had overstayed her residency permit, others suspect her deportation came as a result of her show hosting anti-government voices. Egypt
Welcome to the most vulnerable country to terrorism As long as the Turkish government does not attach priority to the fight against IS, Turkey will remain the most vulnerable country in the world. Syria
As bloodshed plagues Turkey, politicians enjoy full security A wave of terrorist attacks in Turkey has claimed hundreds of innocent lives, but never the armchairs of government and security officials. Turkey
IS turns its attention to Jordan Some analysts say the Islamic State attack in Jordan’s Rukban border area was designed to increase IS’ popularity within certain segments of Jordanian society. Jordan
Did Turkey abandon Hamas in Israel deal? As Hamas absorbs the aftermath of the Turkish-Israeli agreement, some wonder whether Turkey should be blamed for failing to lift the siege on Gaza. Palestine
Why Iranian Kurdish party is stepping up fight against Tehran The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan broke the two-decade cease-fire by launching attacks on IRGC forces, which triggered Iranian attacks against Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraq
Battle for Syria's Manbij may redraw local alliances The Syrian Democratic Forces are leading the battle to liberate Manbij, close to the Turkish border, which pushed Turkey to warn the Kurds about expanding their influence in their areas of control. Syria
What Israel's payoff for Turkish civilians means for Palestinians Now that Israel has agreed to compensate the families of the Mavi Marmara casualties it calls terrorists, Palestinians are hoping to advance their own claims for compensation. Palestine
After 20-year break, these Iranian Kurds are taking up arms again In a surprise development, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, which has not used guns against the Iranian regime for 20 years, has resumed fighting, reportedly instigated by regional powers. Iraq
Why Sahrawi refugees don't count on census to provide relief Some international parties are pushing for an independent census regarding the number of Sahrawi refugees in Algeria, but some in the camps say they have reasons to be opposed. Algeria
Has Turkey finally made nice with Russia? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s apology appears to have broken the ice with Russia, but the relationship still needs time to thaw. Syria
