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
Islamic State isn’t the only one calling for a caliphate in Turkey The Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir is hosting a series of conferences in Ankara and Istanbul calling for a caliphate to be reinstated and demanding the closure of the US and British embassies to end terror in Turkey. Turkey
Saudi IS members killing their own relatives The control demonstrated by the Islamic State over some young Saudi minds apparently exceeds even that of prominent Muslim leaders. Saudi Arabia
Five years after bin Laden’s death, mystery surrounding Saudi Arabia and 9/11 remains A congressionally mandated FBI report into possible foreign support for the Sept. 11 attacks deserves more attention. Saudi Arabia
Aleppo on verge of decisive battle UN Syria envoy calls for “urgent initiative” as Syrian offensive in Aleppo appears imminent; the question at the heart of the Aramco IPO offer. Saudi Arabia
Why is Jordan restricting Palestinians' travel? Palestinians have been fighting repressive Israeli travel restrictions for years, now they face Jordanian ones too. Palestine
How the nuclear deal's failings ignited anti-Western sentiment in Iran In the absence of what Iranian officials see as the lack of full implementation of the nuclear deal, the factors that could reignite anti-US sentiment in Iran appear to be back in place. Iran
Easter in Egypt resurrects debate over travel to Israel In the lead-up to Orthodox Easter May 1, disputes have resurfaced over visits by Egyptian Copts to Jerusalem. Palestine
US and Syria's Kurds: Love on the rocks? PKK violence is complicating US relations with Syria’s Kurds just as Turkey steps up its cooperation against the Islamic State. Syria
Congress inches closer to handing Pentagon $350 million for Syrian rebels Sen. John McCain signs off on aid request blocked after last year's effort ended in a debacle. Jordan
UN warns of 'catastrophic' breakdown of Syria cease-fire The United Nations warned of a catastrophic breakdown of the Syria cease-fire as the United States said it was outraged by what it initially assessed to be a deliberate Syrian regime airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo. Syria
Egypt's writers fear increasing restrictions Egyptian authors are fighting for freedom of expression as the state cracks down on what it calls offending public decency and contempt of religion. Egypt
Why young Sahrawis are joining military movement against Morocco Sahrawi youth have grown tired of waiting for the United Nations to break the stalemate between Western Sahara and Morocco. Algeria
