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
Sinai residents complain of violations by Egypt army Sinai civilians claim they are bearing the brunt of the Egyptian army’s war on terror in the peninsula. Egypt
Egyptian women scared to speak out against sexual harassment Sexual harassment leads all crimes against Egyptian women, and experts say it is abetted by toothless laws, lax enforcement and societal acceptance of the phenomenon. Egypt
Israel's halfhearted independence celebration Israel is losing its modest and secular character in favor of a more religious and material society. Palestine
Syrian Kurd leader urges Turkey to join fight against jihadists In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Syrian Kurdish leader Salih Muslim says his Democratic Union Party will not participate in Syria’s presidential elections, and questions why the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq is not helping Syria’s Kurds. Iraq
Former IRGC commander’s comments on Syria censored After a former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corp commented about Hezbollah and the formation of an Iranian committee to help rebuild Syria, the story was censored and the article removed. Iran
Israel, at 66, losing its creative national spirit Once a young, creative and peace-aspiring country, Israel is missing the spirit that animated its founders. Palestine
Iraqis defy terrorists to vote in elections The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission is reporting a 59% voter turnout, despite the threats of violence. Iraq
Hamas won't give up military wing despite agreement Fatah and Hamas have deferred discussion on the fate of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Palestine
US terror report details 'price tag' violence by Israeli settlers The State Department's annual report on terrorism includes acts of violence by Israeli settlers along with terrorism by Palestinians. Israel
Former US diplomat warns of possible 'grave mistake' in Syria Ryan Crocker, former US ambassador to Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, warns against a regime change plan that would depose the Alawite power structure in Syria and advises the Obama administration to contain the fighting by backing US regional allies, but not to intervene militarily. Syria
Sinai ignored in Egypt development plans Egypt celebrated the liberation of Sinai from Israeli occupation on April 25, but Sinai locals, who feel neglected by the central government, have little to cheer about. Egypt
Israeli sanctions on Palestinians could backfire The Israeli assumption that economic pressure will return the Palestinians to "the straight and narrow path," has already proven to be ineffective and might endanger the motivation for successful security cooperation. Palestine
