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
Hezbollah courts media outlets Hezbollah gave the media a tour of parts of western Syria after seizing territory previously held by Jabhat al-Nusra. Lebanon
Nasrallah warns of impending Arsal battle Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah outlines some factors that seem to announce an upcoming clash in Arsal between Hezbollah fighters and IS and Jabhat al-Nusra militants. Lebanon
Tensions increase between Hamas, Salafists Hamas-affiliated security forces have been waging a large-scale arrest campaign targeting Salafists, while Gaza’s fate seems to hang in the balance. Palestine
Egyptian atheists launch web video series An Egyptian couple regularly transform their bedroom into a studio to produce an online TV program on atheism. Egypt
NATO taps Turkey to counter Russian threat Turkey recently hosted a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, who discussed efforts to transform the organization into a highly maneuverable body that can rapidly intervene in crises with the support of regional alliances. Turkey
How Morsi matters in Turkish politics Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is convinced that the forces that toppled former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi would have toppled him as well, had he not stood his ground against them. Egypt
Are tribes in Sinai really unifying against terrorism? Egyptian media are rushing to claim that tribes in Sinai are fighting terrorism, but the news seems to be premature. Egypt
GCC official: Camp David 'exceeded' expectations A senior Arab official says the Gulf Cooperation Council is pleased at US assurances of a “strategic partnership” and calls on Iran to “modify its behavior” toward the region in the wake of a likely nuclear deal. Regional
Israeli soldier testimonials stoke Gazans' claims of war crimes Palestinians believe a report of firsthand accounts by Israeli soldiers and officers who fought in the 2014 Gaza war prove that Israel committed war crimes in its conduct of the conflict. Palestine
Is Israel in cahoots with Saudi Arabia? Israel and Saudi Arabia feel that the United States is playing a bad hand in its negotiating with Iran, trying to offer more and more compromises while Iran isn't budging. Israel
Egyptian law could imprison refugees, asylum seekers Egypt is in close coordination with Europe and is moving in the direction to clamp down on irregular migrants and human smugglers who would be criminalized for the first time in Egyptian law should the said migration law be implemented. Egypt
Investors remain wary of Gaza A recent conference of investors landed six projects for the West Bank, but none for Gaza because of the risk involved. Palestine
