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
Shocking murders expose Libyan government's weakness Twelve men were killed in Tripoli upon their release from prison, raising questions about relations between the Government of National Accord and militias. Libya
Can Saudis ease Egypt-Qatar tension after Al Jazeera death sentences? Saudis want to bridge the divide between Qatar and Egypt so that its Sunni coalition can focus on Iran. Saudi Arabia
Why was this influential Iranian deputy minister replaced? Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs since 2011, has been replaced. Saudi Arabia
Why Turkey is striking out on the diplomatic field Despite some diplomatic gestures by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his new prime minister, it appears Turkey's isolation and desperation in foreign policy will continue. Egypt
Initiative to divide Jerusalem faces own internal split Former security establishment officials who supported the plan of former Minister Haim Ramon to divide Jerusalem now claim that he uses racist means to gain political popularity. Palestine
Will East Jerusalem airport become another Jewish settlement? Israeli plans to build yet another Jewish settlement have many Palestinians worried that they will block the contiguity between East Jerusalem and Ramallah. Palestine
Former defense ministers turn their backs on Netanyahu Former Defense Ministers Moshe Ya'alon and Ehud Barak joined a long line of defense ministers who turned their backs on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that they no longer trust him. Israel
Salman's Saudi Arabia more ambitious than ever The new Saudi Arabian king's first year and a half has been a time of aggressive expansion of power and territory — at tremendous cost and risk. Saudi Arabia
Tehran drags Moscow deeper into Syria The war in Syria is hitting Iran ever closer to home, prompting Tehran to push for closer coordination with Russia, even as leaders on both sides complain of a lack of confidence and tactical misalignments. Syria
Obama should ignore misguided 'dissent' on Syria A Syrian official suggests "federalization" could be the outcome of the political reform discussions, as the Obama administration holds the line on calls for airstrikes against the Syrian government. Syria
US election 2016: Orlando shooting sparks furious attacks on campaign trail Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of June 13. Iraq
Iran shifts on Syria While the Obama administration is facing internal pressure to toughen its stance against Syria's Assad regime, Iran's Supreme National Security Council and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are playing a larger role in setting Syria policy. Syria
