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
Ultra-Orthodox fashionistas combine modesty with chic Ultra-Orthodox fashion bloggers are no longer a curiosity but a real phenomenon that sweeps women across the sector. Israel
Power failure can't stop World Music Day in Egypt The French-sponsored Fete de la Musique fuses traditional, electronic and other genres of music, drawing large audiences in the Middle East. Countries
Private solar power systems catch on in Gaza The National Economy Ministry in Gaza has lifted taxes and fees on alternative energy equipment to encourage residents to buy it to get through the ongoing electricity crisis. Palestine
Enterprising young Egyptians seize Ramadan business opportunities The festive atmosphere and nightly feasts of Ramadan represent a unique commercial window for young Egyptian entrepreneurs. Egypt
Qatar-GCC crisis unsettles Sudan The government in Khartoum is caught in the middle of the bitter dispute between Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Legacy: Gulf
US struggles to calm new Syria flashpoints Even as the Trump administration says it wants to avoid clashing with Assad and his allies, experts say a lack of a clear US strategy in Syria makes confrontation more likely. Syria
US attack on Syrian jet puts Putin under pressure Russia’s response to the US downing of a Syrian plane Sunday was more measured than some observers seem to realize, but the Kremlin’s patience does have its limits. Syria
Turkey aims to cripple, not contain, PKK Turkish security forces are taking a much more aggressive approach against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), but how will Turkey transform operational military success into a sustainable and peaceful political resolution? Syria
Egypt launches initiative to save nature reserves An Egyptian NGO is set to take the lead in protecting the country's nature reserves and failing tourism industry. Egypt
Turkish military hit by food poisoning scandal With hundreds of conscripts hospitalized and one dead from food poisoning, Turks from all political stripes demand answers. Turkey
Iran's missile strikes in Syria send 'message' to region According to Iranian officials, Tehran's strikes on Islamic State fighters inside Syria carried a wider message. Iran
Recapture of Iraq-Syria border point heralds new regional reality The move by the Iraqi and Syrian governments to link the forces under their command along their border is a new reality on the ground. Iraq
