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
Who was the winner of Iran’s first presidential debate? While the first round of Iran’s first presidential debates this year was supposed to be about social issues, it quickly turned into a battle on the economy and politics. Iran
Egypt's pole dancing studios wipe out stigma Egyptian society is warming up to the idea of women getting fit through pole dancing. Egypt
Erdogan tests Trump with attack on Syrian Kurds US-Turkey relations sink further following airstrikes; Russia’s expanding military presence in Syria. Syria
Does Turkey plan to continue airstrikes in Iraq, Syria? Turkey’s recent bombings of groups it says are linked to Kurdish terrorists give Russia and the United States something else to agree on. Iraq
The story behind the end of Ahmadinejad’s bid for third term Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been barred from seeking a third term on May 19. But was this because the Guardian Council disqualified him — or because it didn’t approve of his qualifications to run in this year’s race? Iran
Are the US, Russia staking out territorial clout in Syria? Moscow and Washington both deny they are dividing Syria into "zones of influence," but they might be laying the groundwork by creating military facilities at various sites. Syria
In shift, Saudis seek political solution for Yemen port Hoping signs of progress in talks with Houthi rebels come to fruition, Riyadh is now looking away from military plans and considering a political solution to take a strategic Yemeni Red Sea port. Saudi Arabia
Will Lebanon's president keep parliament from 're-electing' itself? Despite four years' worth of extensions already, Lebanon's parliament could keep itself in office even longer because it's unable to break a deadlock over a proposed change in the electoral law. Lebanon
Liberation of Iraq's Hawija delayed yet again Due to the disagreement between Iraqi forces linked to Baghdad and the Kurdish forces, the liberation of Hawija has been delayed several times. Iraq
How Iraq is planning to secure key border road US security companies have been assigned to secure highways linking southern Iraq to the West, but it may face many difficulties, including being targeted by armed militias. Iraq
Much more than power at stake in Israel-Hamas electricity standoff With Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announcing that he will stop financing Gaza's electricity needs, Israel must decide whether to save Gaza's residents and the Hamas regime with them. Palestine
Israel demands PA stop paying off prisoners' families Israel's prime minister has called for an end to payments to Palestinians held in Israeli prisoners and their families, but so far the Palestinian Authority has refused to comply. Palestine
