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
Has Israeli army become defender of democracy? In the case of the IDF soldier who shot a Palestinian assailant on the ground, it was Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot who defended categorically the army ethics and values of democracy. Palestine
Saudi Arabia tilts toward India Pakistan, after refusing to supply troops for Saudi Arabia's war against Yemen, finds the Gulf kingdom improving relations with Pakistani archenemy India. Saudi Arabia
Why Egypt abstained from voting on UN sex crime resolution Egypt believes a country could suffer far-reaching consequences under the UN resolution. Egypt
Why Israel needs a two-state solution Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's view of Islamic State terror as a clash of civilizations paints Israel as the "good guy," absolving it of resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. Palestine
Hamas finds itself between a rock and a hard place Hamas seems likely to accept Egypt’s demand that it sever ties with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, even though the relationship formed the basis for its ideology. Palestine
Egyptian Islamic Jihad founder: Annihilate terror groups or they annihilate you In an interview with Al-Monitor, Nabil Naeem, the founder and former leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, expresses concerns about the potential for a reconciliation between extremist groups and the state. Egypt
IRGC rejects Obama's 'spirit' of nuclear deal The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has rejected calls by the Obama administration to use the comprehensive nuclear deal banner to implement other changes, arguing that the agreement has not benefited the Iranian public. Iran
How Turkey seeks to kill two birds with one stone in Diyarbakir The air of secrecy surrounding an urban renewal project in Turkey’s largest Kurdish city sparks anxiety among local residents, already stripped of their homes amid devastating clashes between Kurdish militants and the security forces. Turkey
Why Iraqi-Saudi ties are backsliding yet again After Iraq’s foreign affairs minister defended Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist group by the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League, Gulf-Iraqi ties may worsen. Saudi Arabia
Why Erdogan can't end PKK war Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s personal agenda precludes a negotiated settlement with the Kurds, and a military solution remains just as out of reach. Turkey
Jordan blocks 50,000 Syrian refugees near border Jordan cites security concerns as it blocks thousands of Syrian refugees at its border and leaves them stranded in the rocky desert. Jordan
Is Turkey's lax oversight keeping PKK flush with funds? While the Turkish public is asked to mobilize against PKK terror, are the government’s efforts to curtail PKK financing and money laundering enough? Turkey
