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
Saudi prince's endorsement of MEK angers Iranian officials Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud’s attendance at the annual meeting of the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran has angered Iranian officials and media. Saudi Arabia
What Turkey fails to understand about IS Conspiracy theories keep Turkey’s new ruling class in a bubble of self-delusion, blinding them to the bitter and complex realities that Turkey faces. Turkey
How the IRGC is trying to tighten its grip on Rouhani A controversial bill on eligibility for appointment to “sensitive" positions would give the IRGC's Intelligence Organization vetting authority parallel with that of Iran's Intelligence Ministry. Iran
What do recent attacks mean for future of Egypt's Christians? Sectarian attacks against Christians in Egypt have increased recently, with the police downplaying these incidents that go largely unreported in the mainstream media. Egypt
Jabhat al-Nusra 'al-Qaeda's largest formal affiliate in history' Testimony by US official comes as Amnesty International report documents “abduction, torture and summary killings” committed by Jabhat al-Nusra and allied Syrian armed groups. Egypt
Is Egypt’s Sisi hoping for Trump win? Although Donald Trump's stance on the Muslim Brotherhood is in line with that of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the presumptive Republican nominee's statements on Muslims in general have decreased his popularity in Egypt. Egypt
Is Turkey's radical foreign policy shift sustainable? The Turkish president's willingness to put practicality ahead of pettiness in international relations might be driven solely by his survival instincts, but it is desperately needed. Turkey
Can Bahrain count on Moscow to fill Washington’s shoes? As Bahrain seeks closer ties with Russia, other Arab countries have their doubts about the relationship, yet they recognize Moscow’s growing role in the region amid Washington’s receding influence. Saudi Arabia
Is Israel doomed to live with terror? Former Mossad Deputy Chief Ram Ben Barak disagrees with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position that Israel is doomed to live with terror, claiming that it is up to Israel to decide if it wants to pay the price of occupation. Palestine
Khamenei shakes up Iran's armed forces With three major changes in Iran's armed forces, including chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, Iranian media is speculating that regional developments have required a shift in strategy. Iran
Are Iran, West on collision course over missiles? As Iran makes strides in the development of navigation, guidance and missile systems, the West should consider why Tehran is making such a push. Legacy: Gulf
Khamenei says Iran has not intervened in Bahrain Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran has not intervened in Bahrain and encouraged the island state's leaders to act wisely in order to not turn a political conflict into a civil war. Saudi Arabia
