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
Encouraged by Rouhani Election, US Urges Iran to Engage With the election of Hassan Rouhani, the United States is cautiously optimistic about serious negotiations with Iran when nuclear talks resume in the fall, says a senior US administration official. Iran
US Should Not Cut Aid to Egypt’s Military US military aid can sustain American leverage and assist Egypt’s democratic transition. Saudi Arabia
Erdogan Plays Politics With Egypt's Coup The Turkish prime minister’s stance on Egypt is mostly about domestic politics. Egypt
PFLP Supports Egypt Coup Palestine's main leftist party has broken with the official Palestinian stance of neutrality and endorsed the removal of Mohammed Morsi from power. Palestine
Israeli Military Invests In Cyber Warfare The Israel Defense Forces shift emphasis away from conventional weaponry. Israel
Fatah Official Urges Hamas To Abandon Muslim Brotherhood Fatah senses Hamas' regional decline, and is urging it to focus its efforts on national reconciliation. Palestine
Iraqi Kurdistan's Islamist Parties Condemn Egyptian Coup The Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s Islamist parties consider the coup that ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi a setback for democracy. Egypt
Syrian War Keeps University Students at Home A report from Amuda, in northeast Syria, where students have been forced to abandon their studies due to the war. Syria
Levin Says US Should Consider Limited Military Strikes on Syria Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin says only increased US support for vetted rebel groups can level the Syrian playing field and allow for a political settlement. Syria
Bomb Shakes Hezbollah Stronghold A first-hand account from the Bir el-Abed neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, the scene of a bombing today, July 9, which injured 53. Lebanon
The Message Behind The Bomb in South Beirut Given that the recent car bomb in Beirut’s southern suburbs occurred in a location that was part of Hezbollah’s security perimeter prior to the 2006 war, some may be trying to send a message that Hezbollah will pay a price for its involvement in Syria. Lebanon
International Community Reacts To Beirut Bombing In the wake of the car bombing in southern Beirut on July 9, international actors expressed their commitment to Lebanon’s security and stability. Lebanon
