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
Turkey’s defense minister calls for ‘dialogue’ over S-400 sanctions Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar also said he was optimistic that Turkey would return to the F-35 program. Turkey
Iran to manufacture uranium metal in latest violation of nuclear deal Tehran officials informed the United Nations' nuclear watchdog that assembly equipment is being prepared to produce the nuclear fuel. Iran
Houthi terror designation 'death sentence' for Yemenis, UN officials warn United Nations officials took aim at the US plan to label Yemen's Houthis a foreign terrorist organization that relief groups say will imperil aid deliveries to the war-torn country. Yemen
Rouhani compares Trump to Shah of Iran President Hassan Rouhani said in a recent speech that despite all the pressure, US policy toward Iran has failed. United States
Russia crowds out Turkey in post-war Caucasus Having brokered a cease-fire deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Vladimir Putin is now giving priority to the development of transport links in the conflict-ridden region. Turkey
How delays at Sudan’s largest port could actually boost trade with Egypt Analysts expect the four-month suspension in Port Sudan to accelerate the launch of the Transit Trade Agreement between Egypt and Sudan and eventually bring economic and political benefits to Egypt. Egypt
Joint List frets as Netanyahu courts Arab voters Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is campaigning for Arab-Israeli votes — and some analysts say he may well find the support he needs for reelection. Israel
Egypt resumes trade at Sinai port as Islamic State threat regresses Egypt has recently reopened the Al-Arish port in North Sinai as part of efforts to revive the economy in the area that has struggled under years of Islamist insurgency. Egypt
Animal activists outraged over Egyptian government killing of stray dogs Egypt’s State Council is currently looking into a lawsuit against the government’s killing of stray animals, which officials say is necessary to protect citizens. Egypt
Palestinian factory workers strike in West Bank industrial zone Palestinian workers at the Yamit factory in a West Bank industrial zone are striking for their first substantial raise in decades. Palestine
Did Islamic State make comeback to opposition areas in countryside of Aleppo? An attempted assassination of a journalist bearing the hallmarks of the Islamic State in the opposition-held city of al-Bab in the countryside of Aleppo has prompted fears about the escalation of IS operations and stirred demands to prosecute terrorist operatives in the area. Syria
US labels deputy head of Iraq’s PMU a terrorist The United States accused Abu Fadak of involvement in kidnappings and of attempting to align Iraq's security institution's with Iran's foreign policy. Iraq
