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
Israel's fix for dangerous Gaza route will only worsen matters Instead of widening the dangerous old road leading to the vital Kerem Shalom Crossing, Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz has decided to limit the operating hours of trucks bringing provisions into Gaza. Palestine
Why Golan settlers paid no mind to Bibi’s latest comments With the war in Syria ongoing, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent statements about Israel keeping the Golan Heights forever attracted little interest. Israel
US aid caught up in Middle East crackdown on civil society An analysis of the State Department budget request shows a drop in support for democracy and human rights. Legacy: Gulf
Khamenei adviser calls US court ruling 'international stealing' Iran has filed an official complaint against the US Supreme Court ruling that would allow families of terrorist attack victims to collect nearly $2 billion in frozen Iranian funds. Congress
Will Turkey ask NATO for help defending against IS rockets? Turkish citizens are calling on their government to boost its feeble response to IS shelling from Syria. Syria
Has the countdown to next Hamas-Israel war begun? Both Israel and Hamas claim not to want another battle, but both are loudly preparing for one. Palestine
Leading rights activist warns of unknown future for NGOs in Egypt The executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information tells Al-Monitor that the government wants to “turn civil society into a government division.” Egypt
What's next for Aleppo? Clashes resumed in Aleppo after the cessation of hostilities there, which raises questions anew on the future of the city and the overall peace process. Syria
Erdogan, Davutoglu shed tears for Gaza, but do little else Turkey as well as the oil-rich Gulf states have still not fulfilled their pledges to help with the reconstruction and development of Gaza. Legacy: Gulf
Did Netanyahu miss out on a 'Golan-Iran' deal? Israeli sources claim that after the Iran deal was negotiated, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu missed out on a historic opportunity to strike a deal on the Golan. Israel
'There is no intifada,' say Ramallah residents In a visit to Ramallah, Israel Pulse contributor Shlomi Eldar heard from residents who expressed a deep weariness with Hamas and other "inciters" to violence. Palestine
Salafi armed groups increase attacks in Syria UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura warns that the cessation of hostilities is in “great trouble.” Saudi Arabia
