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
Vlad and Yuri: How Putin is applying the lessons of Afghanistan to Syria Russian President Vladimir Putin is using his regional allies to create "Alawistan," an enclave isolated from the rest of Syria. Saudi Arabia
Palestinians look to Turkey for substance, not show Although Turkey got its share of praise as the Palestinian flag was raised at the UN, Palestinians are still waiting for practical moves affecting their lives. Palestine
Netanyahu loses control Recent attacks of Israelis in Jerusalem and the West Bank also undermine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically from inside his own coalition and from the right-wing opposition. Palestine
Obama prepared to work with Putin to broker Syria transition Despite widespread condemnation of Russian airstrikes in Syria, signs of progress on UN-brokered talks on a political transition; Iran’s ties with Saudi Arabia and Egypt; the trend toward counterterrorism; United States should not treat Iraq as a "weak partner." Saudi Arabia
Bon Jovi rocks Tel Aviv, dedicating 'We don’t run' to their fight In a seemingly normal evening, Israelis enjoyed a rock show by Bon Jovi, while the situation in Jerusalem and the West Bank keeps escalating, with dramatic stabbing incidents. Palestine
Congress to probe war in Yemen A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Oct. 5. Saudi Arabia
Saudi war in Yemen impossible to win As Yemen's civilian casualties mount and Arab coalition forces sustain further losses, it looks increasingly likely that Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen will only lead to more destruction. Legacy: Gulf
Should European states transport refugees themselves? Refugees and migrants are paying thousands of dollars to smugglers to reach Europe, so why don't European governments cut into the trade and provide the migrants safe transportation? Iraq
Aleppo residents celebrate Eid al-Adha, despite war Syrians in Aleppo celebrate Eid al-Adha, despite the constant shelling by the regime forces. Syria
US-Iraqi relations need a reset US-Iraqi relations have had their ups and downs since the 2003 invasion and withdrawal of US troops in 2011, and currently require a reassessment to establish a solid partnership between the two parties. Iraq
Senate bill splits Iran deal advocates Nuclear deal skeptics seek to put the screws on Tehran without blowing up the agreement. Iran
After Iran deal, can P5+1 tackle Syria civil war? Major international parties continue to fumble for a solution to the Syria crisis as the plot thickens, and Russian airstrikes join the fray. Syria
