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
US envoy previews Biden's Israeli-Palestinian policy at the United Nations Washington plans to reestablish diplomatic missions with the Palestinian Authority and defend Israel from "bias" at the UN. Israel
Iran’s FM in Moscow to discuss post-Trump policy Iran’s foreign minister was in Moscow to discuss a range of issues with Russian officials in his first such meeting after the inauguration the new administration in Washington. Iran
Iran blocks encrypted messaging app Signal Signal has experienced an increase in downloads in the region following competitor WhatsApp's user requirements update. Internet is heavily restricted in Iran. Iran
Israel reopens liaison office in Morocco The mission's reopening comes a month after Israel and Morocco agreed to establish diplomatic and economic ties. United Arab Emirates
France says Iran must return to nuclear deal compliance before US does Paris backed up Washington after Russia’s government said the Biden administration must make the first move before Iran returns to compliance. Iran
Six days after disappearance, Turkish worker returns home Following a public outcry, Turkish electrician Gokhan Gunes returned to his family Tuesday after six days of alleged torture. Turkey
Iran to restrict nuclear inspections unless sanctions lifted Government spokesperson Ali Rabiei said Iran would start restricting short-notice inspections of its nuclear facilities beginning next month. United States
Turkey enraged by Clintons' TV show exalting Syrian Kurdish women fighters Turkey’s state-run press agency is churning out angry coverage of former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea producing a TV series about the Syrian Kurdish women fighters who were key in defeating the Islamic State. Syria
Indian Jews bring traditional celebrations to Israel Members of the Jewish-Indian Bene Israel community are eager to share their Malida ceremonies and traditions with other Israelis, and this year they're doing it over Zoom. Israel
Explosions over Riyadh as CENTCOM commander visits region No group has yet claimed credit for the blasts, which came three days after the Saudi military said it shot down an enemy projectile over Riyadh. Saudi Arabia
Iran urges US to end sanctions it says hinder vaccine access Iran says sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump are preventing the country from securing the COVID-19 vaccines it needs. Iran
Israeli minister makes first ever visit to Sudan Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen met with a top Sudanese leader, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and invited him to visit Israel. Israel
