The Takeaway: Would Hamas complicate US plans for reset with Palestinians? Also: the back story on the spat between Israel and Jordan; Gulf post-COVID economic trends; Turkey’s Kurds; Egypt and Somalia; and more! Originals
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
Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday. Palestine
UAE diplomat Gargash replaced in Cabinet reshuffle Gargash will serve as diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. United Arab Emirates
Turkey aims for moon by 2023 as UAE reaches Mars Turkey's president announced he wants to send a spacecraft to the moon by Turkey's centennial the same day regional rival the United Arab Emirates reached Mars. Turkey
Turkey escalates attacks against PKK rebels across northern Iraq Ankara says it has captured a PKK militant responsible for "logistics," while also launching a new operation against the group in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Turkey
What’s next for Turkey in Libya after election of new interim leaders? Universal goodwill messages to Libya’s new interim leadership indicate how complex the Libyan file has become for all foreign actors in the country ahead of potentially clamorous elections in December. Turkey
Pandemic forces Iran to cancel mass marches for revolution anniversary Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Iran’s state-organized marches marking the anniversary of its 1979 revolution had to be reduced to vehicle parades. Yet Iranian officials found their own ways to address tensions with the West. Iran
Houthis claim responsibility for drone attack on Saudi airport The attack comes less than a week after the US administration announced it was rescinding the Iran-aligned group's terror designation. Saudi Arabia
Can Hamas run — and win — on its record in Gaza? With legislative elections just three months away, Hamas is trying to rally its factions and constituents on a unified program. Palestine
Egypt back as ringmaster as Palestine talks progress Egypt seems to be regaining its regional status as peacemaker in the Palestinian file as ties warm with its allies. Palestine
Grand Mufti of Egypt says OK for Muslims to build churches The Grand Mufti of Egypt issued a fatwa permitting Muslims to work in church construction, which sparked controversy on social media with activists recalling previous fatwas on Salafist websites prohibiting such works. Egypt
Who benefits from attacks on Turkish forces in Idlib? Repeated attacks on Turkish posts and soldiers in Idlib are obstructing Turkish efforts to reopen the M4 international highway and cement the cease-fire, raising questions about the parties behind the attacks. Syria
With one leg, this Gazan parkour star crosses besieged enclave Official authorities in the Gaza Strip do not recognize parkour as an official sport, but it has become the only breathing space for many young people in the enclave. Palestine
Displaced Syrians left out in rain by HTS government's building fees The Syrian Salvation Government has imposed construction fees on displaced citizens trying to build homes in Idlib, raising the costs beyond what many can afford. Syria
