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
Obama and Erdogan Edge Closer On Syria In meeting with US President Barack Obama, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to have committed Turkey to the Geneva process that foresees a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis. Syria
Israel Continues to Detain Gazans At Border Crossing The Israeli authorities continue to detain and interrogate Gazans traveling into Israel via the Erez crossing, including those who are ill and seeking medical treatment. Palestine
Will Israel Take Out The Russian Missiles in Syria? Israel considers its options if Russia goes ahead with its plan to sell S-300 missiles to Syria. Israel
Saudi-Qatar Honeymoon In Lebanon Is Over Seemingly eager to turn the regional unrest to their advantage, both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are carefully strategizing their diplomatic efforts in the Mideast. Saudi Arabia
Armed Militias in Libya Push for Political Control Libya’s armed militias are consolidating their authority in key parts of the country and pushing to entrench their power politically. Originals
Israel’s Mistake in Attacking Syria Israel’s air strikes on Syria have set back its interests in the region. Israel
Spillover Effects of Syria’s Sectarian Conflict on Turkey The Reyhanli attack not only weakens Prime Minister Erdogan's hand in his meeting with President Obama, but also has ramifications for Turkey's stability. Syria
PKK Members Withdraw To Iraqi Kurdistan Following a call by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan from prison on Imrali island, members of the party have begun to move from Turkey into the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Iraq
Syrian Oil Becomes Fault Line In War With Syria's oil reserves divided between Kurdish and opposition forces, some fear a clash over the country's energy resources. Syria
Lebanon Army Prohibits Nakba Demonstration in Maroun al-Ras To avoid a repeat of last year, when Palestinian demonstrators breached the Israeli border fence, the Lebanese army has prohibited Palestinian demonstrators from going to Maroun al-Ras to commemorate Nabka Day. Palestine
Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs Warns Against Extremism The Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments has warned against the growth of religious extremism in the country, including takfiri Salafism. Culture & Society
Iraqi Judiciary Opens Hawija Investigation Nearly a month after the deadly attacks on protesters by internal security forces in the town of Hawija, Iraq’s judiciary investigates the events and the people involved. Iraq
