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
Egypt’s Precarious New Reality One month after the June 30 demonstrations that led to the ouster of Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's civilian leaders are becoming increasingly marginal to the broader changes taking place in the country. Egypt
Saudis Divided Over Egypt Saudi fears of a democratic Egypt are deferred as long as Egypt is crippled by post-revolutionary turmoil. Saudi Arabia
Shiite Seminaries Divided On Fatwas for Syrian Jihad While Shiite clergy in Iran and Iraq mostly prefer to stay out of issuing fatwas, a minority is calling for jihad in Syria against salafist groups. Iraq
Has Turkey Made U-Turn On Syria’s Kurds? The leader of the Democratic Union Party of Syria (PYD), Salih Muslim, says Turkey has given the green light for autonomy for the Kurds in Syria. Syria
Islamic Jihad, PFLP Slam Renewed Peace Talks The PFLP, Islamic Jihad and human rights activists have all strongly condemned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to resume negotiations with Israel. Palestine
Al-Qaeda's Syrian Recruits: The Case of 'Abu Majed' Amer Ghajar went from being a student at a prestigious private university to al-Qaeda jihadist, falling in battle last week. Syria
Jordan Brotherhood Leader Says Morsi Ousted for Opposing Israel The deputy leader of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, Zaki Bani Arshid, warns in an exclusive interview that Egypt's crisis will have a "great effect" on Jordan. Egypt
The Price of Peace: Releasing Palestinian Prisoners Yesterday's terrorists are today's heroes, whose release is essential to prevent the wars of tomorrow — in South Africa, Israel and Palestine. Palestine
Turkey's Egypt Question Turkey's role in the Middle East will turn on how it handles the crisis in Egypt. Egypt
No Separation in Hezbollah Political and Military Wings Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah mocks the EU’s misunderstanding of the inseparable nature of the party’s military and political branches. Lebanon
Turkey’s Missed Opportunities With the Kurds Disarray in Turkish foreign policy is not allowing Turkey to play its rightful role in supporting Kurdish national unity. Iraq
Gezi Cleansing In Turkish Media Many journalists lost their jobs and suffered from police violence following the shifting of Prime Minister Erdogan’s hard-line reactions to media freedoms. Turkey
