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
Palestinian territories stable after Trump plan, but for how long? Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza remain united in their rejection of President Donald Trump's mideast plan but it is unclear in what way they will ultimately express it. Palestine
Syrian army makes gains in Idlib, opposition blames Turkey Syrian opposition groups wonder what value the Turkish observation posts and the Turkish army have in Idlib, as the Syrian regime forces make great advances in the area. Syria
Has Egypt succeeded in calming situation on Gaza border? An Egyptian intelligence delegation visited the Gaza Strip for the first time in months in a bid to restore calm between Hamas and Israel amid renewed escalation ahead of the Israeli elections. Palestine
Is Turkey planning to curb radicals in Idlib under strategy shift? In a scenario that invokes its Afrin operation in 2018, Ankara speaks of reining in radical groups and asserting field control in Idlib, hoping that Moscow will give it a nod to avoid war. Syria
Egypt shows diplomatic finesse forging Gaza cease-fire Hamas' agreement to refrain from attacks, for now, puts Gaza on the back burner for Israeli elections. Palestine
Is Abbas the key to Israeli annexation of West Bank lands? For Israel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remaining in power could ease its annexation of West Bank territories. Palestine
12 years later, Olmert plan discussions could resume Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in New York to discuss reviving the Olmert plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestine
Opposition helpless to stop regime advances in Idlib The Syrian regime's progress in Idlib and control of the key city of Saraqeb on the Aleppo-Damascus highway have marked a turning point in its fight against the Turkish-backed opposition. Syria
Syrian shelling in Idlib knocks out dozens of medical facilities The opposition in Idlib province accuses Syrian and Russian warplanes of deliberately shelling hospital and medical facilities in the province and its surroundings, pushing thousands to flee. Syria
Why is Egypt seeking African military force? President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has proposed during the African Union Summit the formation of a joint African military force to confront terrorism, as part of Cairo’s efforts to boost its presence on the African continent. Egypt
Pentagon tit-for-tat with Iran goes on A Katyusha rocket strikes an Iraqi base where US troops are housed and the US Navy intercepts an apparent Iranian arms shipment for Yemeni rebels as the conflict between the United States and Iran and its proxies continues. Yemen