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
Iran scores PR win in intelligence wars with Israel Israeli security sources admit that Iranian intelligence scored a point by recruiting former Minister Gonen Segev to spy against his country, but downplay his access to any sensitive information. Israel
Will Gaza kites lead to war with Israel? Many have been surprised by the effectiveness of the incendiary kites flown from Gaza that are frustrating Israeli politicians, flummoxing the Israeli military and attracting worldwide attention. Palestine
Morocco helps ease burden on Gaza hospitals Given the medical and humanitarian crisis crippling Gaza’s hospitals while the Great Return March continues, Morocco delivered an aid convoy that included a field hospital to ease the burden on the territory's overtaxed and underequipped health care services. Palestine
No Turkish party free to speak up for captives held by PKK Dozens of Turkish captives held by the Kurdistan Workers Party seem forgotten by Turkey's politicians, none of whom have much to gain and everything to lose by calling attention to their plight. Turkey
Renewed fight over Libya’s oil threatens entire country The repeated attacks against the country’s main oil lifeline will always be a looming threat as long as no central government is in place with full power over the entire territory of Libya. Libya
Iran denies supporting Qandil operation, fueling Turkish resentment Pro-government analysts say Iran is trying to prevent Turkish influence in Iraq, and they accuse Tehran of “strategic shallowness,” which they say it will come to regret. Iraq
Ultra-Orthodox, leftists join forces against Israeli draft Ultra-Orthodox and leftist Knesset members have joined forces and advanced a proposal to abolish Israel's compulsive military service. Israel
Israel announces destruction of underwater Hamas tunnel Palestinian analysts believe that Israel announced the destruction of a recently discovered underwater tunnel in the Gaza Strip as part of a media strategy aimed at deflecting attention from its response to Gaza border protests. Palestine
Battle for Kurdish vote turns violent, leaves four dead in Turkey's Suruc Four people were killed during campaigning in a mainly Kurdish town last week, and the government and the opposition are trading blame over escalating tensions ahead of the June 24 election. Turkey
Israeli bill forbids documentation of IDF abuses Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman claims an Israeli bill criminalizing the filming of Israeli soldiers is meant to protect them from harm, but human rights workers point out that it will also shield them from prosecution. Palestine
Iran coy on support for Turkish assault on PKK in Iraq Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s offensive appears linked to Turkish elections and Iraqi politics; Is Turkey staying or going in northern Syria? Putin and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri discuss Syrian refugees. Iraq
Islamic State fighters buried without identification in Iraq A year after Mosul was liberated from the Islamic State, the bodies of the group’s fighters are finally being recovered from the rubble of their last stronghold in the city. Iraq
