* Can Putin keep Hizballah from Israel's borders? Israel's northern borders with Syria and Lebanon were on edge this week, as Prime Minister Binyamin prepared to raise Israel's concerns about southern Syria at a critical meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
* UN intercepts shipments from North Korea to Syria Two North Korean shipments to Syrian government agency responsible for chemical weapons intercepted by UN in six months.
* 'We will turn Afghanistan into American graveyard' Taliban terror group responds to Trump's speech indicating a new 'fight to win' strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia.
* Netanyahu to warn Putin not to cross the red lines Former National Security Council Advisor Yaakov Amidror says Netanyahu's visit to Sochi is important so that the Russians have an understanding of how Israel will act if its hand is forced.
* IS conflict: Iraqi forces enter outskirts of Tal Afar Iraqi forces have fought their way into the outskirts of the city of Tal Afar, one of so-called Islamic State's last remaining strongholds in the country.
* N. Korea will 'never step back an inch' from nuclear arms development - diplomat to UN A North Korean envoy to a UN disarmament forum has refused to negotiate its nuclear program, accusing the US and South Korea of using joint military drills to carry out "an aggressive war scenario" and "a secret operation" against the North's leadership.
* Trump Demands UN Not Blacklist Companies That Do Business With Jewish Settlers The Trump Administration is again demanding that the UN Human Rights Council refrain from publishing a "blacklist" of international companies that are in any way engaged in business in the Jewish settlements.
* EU commissioner calls for new Turkey policy EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn has called for a change of course for the EU on Turkey's accession to join the bloc, after president Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Turks living in Germany not to vote for the county's two ruling parties in the upcoming September elections.
* Jordan and Turkey call for 'serious and effective' peace talks Jordan's King Abdullah II and Turkish President Erdogan meet, call for "serious and effective" Israel-PA peace talks.