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
Are the Palestinian assaults on Israelis lone wolf attacks? Palestinians largely support the latest spate of attacks on Israelis, which they see as retaliation for Israel’s attempted desecration of Al-Asqa Mosque and the occupation. Palestine
How Hamas uses Temple Mount Hamas leaders have been calling on West Bank Palestinians to attack Israel in efforts to provoke a religious war against Israel, as they depict a situation where the Israeli right wing is about to take over the Temple Mount. Palestine
Is Algeria's dialogue initiative for Libya still viable? Algeria had announced a dialogue initiative bringing together Libya’s rival factions to be held in October, but the month passed without a meeting being held. Egypt
Iraqi Shiites join Sunnis to fight Islamic State The Islamic State aimed to create a Shiite-Sunni conflict to impose its control, but Iraqi Sunnis have instead turned to help from Shiites to get rid of the extremist group. Iraq
Police shooting of Arab Israeli youth could ignite Israel The police shooting of a young Arab resident of Kafr Kana proves that 14 years after the killing of protesters in the October 2000 riot police still discriminate against Arab citizens and treat them like enemies. Israel
Turks increasingly sympathetic to Islamic State The Islamic State's declaration of a caliphate has generated conflicting views in Turkey. Turkey
Iraqi army crippled by flaws Since its establishment, the Iraqi army has been directed inward, playing a domestic role rather than protecting the country from foreign forces. Iraq
Egypt’s Islamists try to distance themselves from IS As Egypt’s Islamist groups fail to take a common stance on domestic politics, they agree at least that the Islamic State is giving political Islam, as a movement, a bad reputation. Egypt
Hamas, Fatah trade accusations over Gaza bombings Fatah has accused Hamas of being behind a series of bombings targeting Fatah leaders in Gaza, while Hamas has accused former Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan of perpetrating the attacks. Palestine
Syria faces decisive battles in north, south Rebels are making gains in the south while government forces are closing on Aleppo city, and the outcomes of these battles may determine how final negotiations proceed. Syria
Turkey's border security problem Political factors are not the only cause of Turkey’s border security vulnerability. Countries
UN envoy seeks cease-fire, end to 'carnage' in Aleppo Edward Dark writes from Aleppo that arming the Syrian opposition will prolong the war; Iran and Russia dig in on President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
