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
Khatib blames regional countries for prolonging Syria war Former Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib says he's open to negotiations with both the Syrian and Iranian governments as a matter of "principle" to help end the bloodshed in Syria. Iraq
Khamenei rep blames Saudi Arabia, Qatar for Iraq insurgents In a rare moment of directness, a representative of Iran’s supreme leader has directly named Saudi Arabia and Qatar as the cause of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s surge in Iraq. Saudi Arabia
Barghouti says Israel must end 'profitable occupation' In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, veteran Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti, who played a key role in negotiating the latest reconciliation deal, provides new details on the unity negotiations and what comes next. Palestine
Participation of Sunnis key to Iraqi reconciliation Iraqi government must recognize the failed policies that led to the Sunnis' displacement and suffering in Mosul. Iraq
In Iran, headlines blame foreigners for ISIS advances As the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham continues to make gains in Iraq, Iran’s right-wing media outlets are running constant updates on the situation and officials are blaming Western and Arab countries for supporting extremist groups. Iraq
Sinai Peninsula remains security headache for Sisi Many Sinai residents blame coercive security practices by the Egyptian military as the cause of instability. Egypt
Removal of Turkish flag stokes anti-Kurdish sentiments Turkey is in an upheaval over the removal of its flag from a military base. Turkey
ISIS weighs approach on Baghdad The fall of Mosul into the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is an indicator of the breakdown in the Iraqi army, and shows the necessity to unify the ranks in Iraq to fight terrorism. Iraq
Iraqi soldier describes army 'without leadership' in Mosul The governor of Ninevah province, Atheel al-Nujaifi, blames "Maliki and his policies" for the fall of Mosul. Iraq
Why doesn't Netanyahu label price tag attacks as terrorism? Participants of the 14th Herzliya Conference criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for persisting in refusing to define settlers who commit "price tag" attacks as members of a terror organization. Palestine
Iran officials call for international response to ISIS violence Iranian officials respond to the fall of Mosul to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham extremists. Iraq
Why is Jabhat al-Nusra no longer useful to Turkey? The Turkish government may be waking up to its failed Syria policies. Syria
