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
Blast in Beirut Sparks Fears Of 'Iraqization' of Lebanon For the second time in just over a month, a major bomb attack has hit Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs. Lebanon
Al-Qaeda Looks to Build Support Among Iraq's Sunnis In Iraq's highly polarized sectarian climate, al-Qaeda has presented itself as the "defender of the Sunnis" to increase its support and influence. Iraq
Erdogan’s Biggest Fear: The 'Concerned' Islamists Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is still resentful of Gezi protests because he fears losing the support of "concerned" Islamists. Turkey
Arab Spring Triggers Renaissance in Turkish Art More than 560 years after the fall of Constantinople, which precipitated an exodus of artists, the Arab Spring has created an influx of artists to Istanbul. Egypt
Hamas, Gaza's Armed Factions Struggle To Stay Out of Sinai Conflict Hamas and the main armed factions in Gaza are holding regular meetings to avoid being dragged into conflict in the Sinai. Palestine
Iranians Differ Widely On Military Intervention in Syria Most Iranians support their government seeking an end to the war in Syria, but differ on whether to provide direct military support to President Bashar Al-Assad's regime. Syria
The Middle East’s New Divide: Muslim Versus Muslim The Muslim world is in the throes of a messy period of political modernization, which means the issue of the role of religion in the state is being debated, and fought, in the public square. Egypt
Saudi Arabia and The Illusory Counterrevolution Washington and Riyadh no longer share the same assessment of the threat and the need for reform in the region. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi Youth Seek New Direction For Failed Politics Disaffected Iraqi youth are increasingly doubtful of the country’s potential for democracy. Iraq
Syria’s Economic Crisis Magnifies Human Tragedy Often eclipsed by the Syrian conflict’s exorbitant human cost, the embattled country’s economy has plummeted over the past three years under stringent international sanctions. Lebanon
Syrian Opposition Condemns Jihadists Targeting Alawites Syria's internal opposition has condemned attacks on Alawite civilians in Latakia. Lebanon
Israeli Settlement Authorization Is Pre-Emptive Strike Israeli is striking a blow against the peace process by authorizing further settlement expansion. Palestine
