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
Stakes high for Kuwait as mediator in Qatar crisis Kuwait has established its neutrality in the Qatari crisis, but it has a lot at stake. Legacy: Gulf
Trump administration welcomes financial watchdog’s Iran sanctions reprieve Treasury Department experts prevail as the United States endorses the Financial Action Task Force’s decision to indefinitely suspend countermeasures on Iran. United States
The holy alliance between Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ceding to all their demands, Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties are in no hurry to dismantle his government. Israel
Third time, no charm: Eid proves unlucky for Istanbul Pride Istanbul's pride parade has been derailed yet again by police and ultranationalists, but LGBT Turks and their supporters still have much to celebrate. Turkey
Tensions flare between IDF, UN peacekeepers in Lebanon With Hezbollah turning into a real army, with strong attack capabilities, Israel starts building a defense wall on its northern border. Israel
Gaza artist turns waste into art Palestinian artist Shareef Sarhan collects discarded items and transforms them into art to help reduce pollution in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Turkey's real target on way to Idlib: Kurds Turkey wants to be part of the de-escalation process in Syria, especially if that means it can multitask and wipe out the Kurdish corridor at the same time. Syria
For now, Turkey's college bathrooms remain gender-specific There is strong student support for LGBTQ groups’ demands for gender-neutral bathrooms at one of Turkey’s best public colleges, but administrative and public reaction reveals deep-rooted transphobia from the least-expected corner of Turkish society. Turkey
Gazan sword-maker sharpens his blade to protect his craft The Abu Wadi family has been making swords for hundreds of years, but will the disappearing trade see the next generation? Palestine
Saudi-led Qatar blockade brings Iran, Turkey together Rather than forcing Doha to bow to its demands, the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar has split the region in two, bringing together the kingdom’s rivals. Saudi Arabia
With Qatar isolated by GCC, Iran steps in After Saudi Arabia asked Qatar to cut relations with Iran, Iranian and Qatari leaders said they plan to expand ties. Saudi Arabia
Iraq's Kurds question motives behind independence vote Opponents of the Iraq Kurdistan referendum on independence question the real agenda behind the Kurdistan Democratic Party's push for the vote. Iraq
