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
The Rise of 'Cleric Militias' in Iraq In recent years, Iraq has witnessed a rise in militias led by Shiite clerics, with some fearing that Sunnis may soon follow suit, thus exacerbating the regional sectarian conflict. Iraq
Netanyahu’s Threats Undermine Possible Nuclear Deal With Iran Among President Obama’s many challenges in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear file stands the greatest chance to achieve a swift resolution, according to Iran's former nuclear negotiator. Israel
Ankara Warns Against Kurdish Autonomy in Syria While the Kurdistan Democratic Union (PYD) takes control of Syrian territory close to the Turkish border, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warns Kurds against declaring an autonomous Kurdistan. Syria
Israel Awaits Rouhani's Next Move Just as in the last four years, the summer of 2013 has also started with Israeli intimations about a strike on Iran — but the elections there have staved off the winds of war, at least until next spring. Israel
Syrian Kurds Prepare For Self-Governance The PKK-affiliated Democratic Union Party is consulting the political parties of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq on plans to form an interim government for Kurdish-controlled enclaves in Syria. Iraq
New Religious Campaign Targets Baghdad's Cafes Authorities in Baghdad have begun to encroach on personal freedoms, closing cafes even when they only serve coffee and tea after Ramadan fasting is over. Iraq
Amid Yemeni Unification Efforts,Houthis Remain Delicate Issue As various Yemeni factions strive to reach a national consensus and achieve progress in the post-revolution period, the separatist Houthi movement in the north remains contentious. Yemen
Leader of Hezbollah in Iraq Threatens More Sectarian Violence The leader of Hezbollah in Iraq, Wathiq al-Battat, continues to amp up talk of Shiites exacting revenge against al-Qaeda and Baathists. Iraq
Israel Needs 'Neutral Bunker' Policy In the face of recent turmoil and intense violence in the Middle East, the best choice for Israel is to stay out of the conflicts — or more precisely, be neutral. Israel
Hezbollah Regions Targeted As Syria War Spreads to Lebanon Amid rising sectarian tensions and following Hezbollah’s decision to fight in Syria's civil war, attacks against Hezbollah-controlled regions throughout Lebanon have increased. Lebanon
Maid in Saudi Arabia Human trafficking and abuse of domestic workers continue in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Gaza Hospitals Suffering Due To Border Closure with Egypt Egypt's closure of the border tunnels is hampering the ability of Gaza's health sector to treat those in need. Palestine
