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
Radical clerics add fuel to fire in Iraq crisis Amid the advancement of militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and other armed groups in Iraq, radical Sunni and Shiite clerics are issuing statements that flare up the sectarian tension in the country. Iraq
Hamas fears Israel will deport its leaders Hamas leaders are also concerned that Israel will launch a military campaign if the kidnapped boys are not found. Palestine
Mosul's rude awakening on ISIS Edward Dark writes that Iraqis who may have welcomed the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as liberators will soon have a rude awakening; a first-hand report of Syria’s barrel bombs; the ISIS threat to Lebanon; video of the IPI Free Media Pioneer Awards. Iraq
Mosul events warning on Palestinians' eastern border The defeat of the trained Iraqi army in Mosul has made many Israelis worry about worst-case scenarios on its own borders. Palestine
Kidnappings force rethink of Israel’s Hamas strategy As it searches for the kidnapped teenagers, Israeli decision-makers are considering how their actions will affect Hamas’ influence in the long run. Palestine
Can Syria help defeat ISIS? The Syrian government, which has recently engaged the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in battle, might share an interest with the United States in defeating the terror organization. Iraq
Syria's barrel bombs: an eyewitness account The author documents the aftermath of a barrel bomb attack on civilians in the Bustan al-Qasr neighborhood of Aleppo. Syria
Youths' abduction stirs Israeli sympathy for settlers Politicians from both the right and the left are sympathizing with the families of the abducted youths in an unusual wave of empathy from the Israeli public toward the settlers at this moment of national distress. Palestine
Knesset member Zoabi says kidnappers 'aren't terrorists' Knesset member Haneen Zoabi has decided to continue to focus more on provocation than on action. Palestine
Hamas summer camps for kids include military training Hamas is keen to retain its influence in Palestinian society, and is using its annual summer camps to stay connected with Gaza youth. Palestine
Iraqi Kurds seize control of key Syria border crossing The Syria-based Democratic Union Party (PYD) fears a return to isolation after a Kurdish rival, the Iraq-based Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), captures the Rabia border crossing. Iraq
Ex-Saddam Baathists unite in Ninevah campaign A member of the Iraqi Baath Party claims that 14 different factions, including the Baathists, were involved in the takeover of Ninevah province on June 10. Iraq
