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
Fallujah residents fear abuse from Popular Mobilization Units liberators As Iraqi forces retake Fallujah, reports and videos have surfaced of Iraq's mostly Shiite Popular Mobilization Units committing human rights violations and abusing citizens. Iraq
Israeli defense minister moves to muzzle Palestinian voices for peace Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has revoked the entry permit of Mohammed Madani, who was appointed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to organize dialogues with Israelis to promote peace. Palestine
Is one of Iran's top diplomats a member of Quds Force? A commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the country's deputy foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi is a member of the IRGC's elite Quds Force. Iran
Will Abbas intervene to save Nablus from mayhem? The situation in the streets of Nablus has become very dangerous in light of the chaos and security unrest, while Palestinian officials exploit the situation to settle political scores. Palestine
Near Damascus, watch out for missiles, shelling and speeding tickets In a visit to Damascus, Al-Monitor spoke with Syrian officials about the latest developments happening in Syria. Syria
Obama administration lays out $56 million plan for Libya The United States is boosting its commitment to the new coalition government in Libya. Libya
Why Iran still doesn’t trust Russia on Syria Despite its close collaboration with Russia in Syria, Iranian political and military officials are growing increasingly suspicious about Moscow's intentions and long-term strategy. Russia
Is Tel Aviv attack revival of the Jerusalem intifada? The latest Tel Aviv attack has raised questions about the Palestinian party standing behind it, as some claim it was an individual operation. Palestine
As external threats recede, Jordan left to face inner demons Though attacks from across the border with Syria and Iraq are becoming less of a concern, experts say that the political, economic and cultural conditions in Jordan are perfect for home-grown extremism, a risk the government seems reluctant to address. Jordan
Why Israel fears Orlando-style attack Israeli security experts point out that despite severe restrictions on arms sales, Palestinian terrorists can manufacture their own submachine guns and could launch massive attacks — like in Orlando. Palestine
Can US-backed offensive bring back residents to Syria's Manbij? The citizens of Manbij, which is northeast of Aleppo, have high hopes of returning to their hometown in light of the US-backed offensive against the Islamic State in their city. Syria
Palestine hopes to join Interpol this fall Palestinian officials are working with EU officials to apply for Interpol membership, a major step toward full international recognition. Palestine
