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
Israel's six options for peace If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were interested in peace, he would have a Knesset majority to back him and at least six options to pursue. Palestine
Iran denounces Orlando terror attack, ignores gay venue While its Foreign Ministry condemned the deadly attack in Orlando, Iran's media seemed split on whether to mention that it took place at a gay nightclub. United States
Will Turkey sacrifice even more civil rights to battle terrorism? Turkey is planning measures that could suspend freedoms to achieve operational effectiveness with a controversial "legal shield" for soldiers. Turkey
Turkey's southeast beginning to resemble Syria As clashes in Turkey's southeast between government forces and the PKK worsen, some cities mirror the destruction across the border in Syria. Syria
Tensions escalate between Iraqi protesters, security forces As an inseparable part of the Iraqi community suffers from unemployment, poverty and lack of services, the Iraqi young people taking part in the current anti-government protests are growing more and more frustrated with their government’s inaction, which may eventually leave them with violence as a last resort. Iraq
Erdogan links Crusades with present-day terror Turkey’s president looks to the past, rather than to his own failed policies; Aleppo offensive imminent; is Israel employing a double standard in its dealings with Turkey? Israel
How UN summit disappointed its Turkish hosts Turkey refused to sign a joint statement at the end of the first World Humanitarian Summit it hosted in late May, wary of an international investigation into gross human rights abuses in its conflict-torn southeast. Turkey
How to end cycle of violence between Palestinians, Israelis The latest attack in a Tel Aviv market raises questions about the factors pushing Palestinians to commit such acts of violence against Israelis and illustrates the need for talks about applying the two-state solution to end the cycle of violence between both parties. Palestine
Will Iraqi-Kurdish conflict break out in Ninevah? Now that the Kurdish peshmerga forces have succeeded in ousting the Islamic State from crucial parts of Ninevah province, they're more determined than ever not to see the area slide back into the hands of the Iraqi forces. Iraq
Gazans lament loss of permits to visit Al-Aqsa during Ramadan Al-Monitor spoke to the members of a group from the Gaza Strip who visited Jerusalem and prayed at Al-Aqsa Mosque on the eve of Ramadan, before the travel permits of hundreds of Gaza residents were suspended following the Tel Aviv attack on June 8. Palestine
Erdogan's take on terror attacks nicely fits AKP agenda Despite the wide Western condemnation of the two latest terror attacks in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pointing the finger of blame westward in accordance with his party's narrative of persecution and defiance. Turkey
Russian, Syrian defense ministers arrive in Tehran for 'strategic meeting' The defense ministers of Russia, Syria and Iran met in Tehran to discuss the latest regional developments and methods to "fight terrorism." Syria
