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
Israeli Wall Creates Limbo For Seam Zone Palestinians Palestinians living between Israel's separation barrier and the Green Line are cut off from the rest of the West Bank and deprived of basic services. Palestine
Turkey's Political Fallout On Iraqi Kurdish Crude Relying upon Ankara as a sole energy transit route without an agreement with Baghdad may further delay the Kurdistan Region’s energy production potential. Iraq
Turkey’s Kurdish Peace Process On a Knife’s Edge The killing of a Kurdish protester by Turkish security forces has heightened fears that the fragile peace between the government and the PKK may be coming to an end. Turkey
Bahrain Salafists Increase Involvement in Syria War Bahraini Salafists are playing a role in the fight against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Bahrain
Secret Israel-Palestine Talks Might Yield Results Little information was revealed during US Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent visit to the region, which suggests a lot might be happening behind the scenes. Palestine
In Egypt, Elections Still Matter As the expected June 30 protests approached, Egyptians were expressing a mix of hope, fear — even resignation — that the nation's military would have to intervene in government. Egypt
New Syrian Institution Helps US Deliver Humanitarian Aid A senior US aid official tasked with coordinating humanitarian assistance to Syria says he is “all for” prolonging the Syria war if it leads to a “democratic Syria.” Syria
Iraq’s Security Apparatuses Focus On Human Rights In an ever unstable security situation, Iraq’s security apparatuses have a reputation for violating human rights and resorting to extreme use of force, a reputation the government is working to do away with. Iraq
Zarqawi's Legacy Continues: Rising Sectarianism in Islamic World Anti-Shiite sectarian violence is on the rise in the Islamic world, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's followers. Pan Arab
Hamas Military Wing Boasts About Israeli Kidnapped Soldiers The propaganda film produced by Hamas' military wing showing Israeli soldiers kidnapped since the 1980s is nothing more than a sign of weakness. Palestine
Sinai Continues to Simmer, Threatens to Boil Over Tensions are running high in the Sinai between supporters of President Mohammed Morsi and Islamist forces disillusioned by his failure to implement sharia. Egypt
