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
Palestinian women protest to end political Hamas-Fatah split A group of women conduct sit-ins each week in Gaza's Park of the Unknown Soldier, calling for an end to the Palestinian division between Fatah and Hamas. Palestine
Tribal mediations undermine Yemen state institutions Given the tribal nature of Yemeni society, disputes are often resolved via state-sponsored “mediation committees,” which undermine the state and rule of law. Yemen
Turkey close to deal with China for anti-missile system Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defense Industries says they are 90% done on the agreement purchasing an anti-missile system from China, but notes that there still could be a political decision to abort the agreement. Turkey
Mistrust Clouds Israeli-Palestinian talks According to a Palestinian source, no understanding has been reached so far by the negotiating parties. Palestine
Where is 'Democracy Brigade' to fight sectarian terrorists? The proliferation of sectarian violence overwhelms the region, which needs a democratic backlash. Saudi Arabia
Turkey may investigate military’s burning of Kurdish villages The Turkish government may launch an investigation into the destruction of Kurdish villages by state military forces in southeastern Turkey in the 1990s. Turkey
Congressman Ted Poe: US-Israeli ties 'very tenuous at best' In an interview with Al-Monitor, Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he hopes "that the United States would mend its relationship with Israel." Israel
Erdogan rules out general amnesty for PKK Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied that he implied he was considering a general amnesty when he said in Diyarbakir that the prisons be should emptied. Turkey
Syria’s criminal gangs As the war drags on and atrocities on all sides continue, criminal and terrorist groups have played a larger role in those forces opposed to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Egypt and Israel spar over Gaza as Sinai crisis escalates Egypt-Hamas ties have plummeted while Israel seeks to keep a lid on Gaza. Palestine
Leading Israeli bank involved in nuclear missiles industry While many countries and companies avoid investing in companies that develop weapons of mass destruction, a Dutch organization reveals the funding sources of the global nuclear weapons industry. Israel
Gazans want electricity, not Hamas military parades Hamas' show of force on the streets of Gaza is not resonating with a population enduring a severe electricity and economic crisis. Palestine
