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
Iran's supreme leader calls on Muslim world to arm Gaza Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has asked Muslim countries to ignore calls by the West to disarm Gaza. Palestine
Life inside Khan Yunis A firsthand account of the intense shelling of Khan Yunis, which left scores of civilians dead and houses turned to rubble. Palestine
What made Abbas change position on Gaza war? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas surprised many, including his Palestinian critics, when he publicly expressed support for armed resistance against Israel in Gaza. Palestine
Turkish spy agency's image makeover Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) is undergoing a controversial image repair and institutional reconstruction after court proceedings revealed the agency's role in murders during the 1990s. Turkey
Obsession with Iran blinded Netanyahu to Hamas threat When the Gaza operation ends, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to justify his national defense priorities, as he relentlessly pushed the budget for funds against the Iranian nuclear threat while ignoring the tunnels Hamas was digging under Israel that threatened the residents of the south. Palestine
Baghdad seethes as Erbil hosts revolutionary tribal conference A revolutionary tribal leaders conference was held in Erbil, stirring harsh criticism from Baghdad that these armed groups are working with the Islamic State. Iraq
Pro-regime Syrians take risks to dodge draft The Syrian army is continuing to conscript recruits for compulsory military service, but young men, including supporters of the regime, are avoiding conscription at the risk of arrest and imprisonment. Syria
Maliki furious over Jordan-hosted Sunni opposition conference The Iraqi opposition conference held in Jordan put the kingdom in an awkward position with Iraq's prime minister, but some in Iraq called for considering its resolutions because they reflect actual Sunni demands. Iraq
Aleppo’s rebels struggle to hold on as regime, IS advance Rebels in Aleppo say they are preparing a counterattack to recover the vital Sheikh Najjar Industrial City, which was captured by regime forces early this month. Iraq
Israeli shells fall on UN school during evacuation The wounded from the bombed UNRWA school in the Gaza Strip describe a scene of chaos and horror as hundreds gathered to board buses. Palestine
Foreign investments slip as Lebanon remains in crisis In addition to stability and electing a president, a series of reforms is necessary to stop the regression of Lebanon’s economy. Lebanon
Tweets from Gaza show Israel other side of war In an interview with Al-Monitor, Israeli social media analyst Orit Perlov discusses how social media provides a look at Gazans' experience of the war and what they really think of Hamas and the Palestinian leadership. Palestine
