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
Syria in 'Free Fall' Edward Dark describes the despair in both Aleppo and a Syrian prison; Syria is in “free fall,” according to the chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria. Israel
Turkey’s Democratic Growing Pains The Gezi Park protests may in the end serve to strengthen Turkish democracy. Turkey
The New Era of Israeli-Arab Nazareth The youth of Nazareth, the largest Arab city in Israel, are determined to integrate into Israeli society, but only as equals among equals. Israel
Israel Tries to Game Rouhani Hassan Rouhani's victory in the Iranian presidential elections caught Israel and the West by surprise. Israel
Iraq to Receive Russian Military Helicopters The Iraqi government is expanding its armed forces. Iraq
UN to Decide on Ending Sanctions Against Iraq The UN Security Council will consider this month whether to remove Iraq from UN Chapter VII regulations, but Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations still require permanent solutions to overcome the past. Kuwait
Turkey's Sunni Identity Test The Turkish government’s sectarian impulse, resurging whenever foreign policy fails, reverberates in domestic politics and fans social unrest. Iraq
A Palestinian Mother’s Heartache For Her Imprisoned Son Palestinian filmmaker Suheir Farraj wrote an emotional Facebook message to her jailed son, who remains behind Israeli bars for belonging to the PFLP. Palestine
Conditions for Takeoff for Geneva II Russia and the United States must reach an understanding to set Geneva II up for success. Lebanon
Erdogan and the Battle For the Memory of Gezi Park Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's depiction of Taksim Square protesters as looters and marauders is an attempt to spin the facts on the ground into an "official" history of Gezi Park uprising. Turkey
Turkey-Kurdish Peace Process on Hold? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government says the talks are on track, but the Kurdish side is warning of a break in the process. Iraq
Iraqi Kurds Join Pro-Erdogan Protests Fearing setbacks in Kurdish-Turkish relations, Iraqi Kurds have taken to the streets in support of Erdogan, whom many regard as being the most tolerant of Turkey’s leaders toward the Kurdish population. Iraq
