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
Rights groups unmoved by Turkey's softened state of emergency As Turkey's state of emergency continues, the government has passed measures establishing a commission for grievances and reducing the period police can hold detainees without charges in what critics call a cosmetic move. Turkey
How are Syrian peace talks holding up? There were no breakthroughs on the first day of negotiating between the Syrian regime and opposition representatives, but talks resumed this morning. Syria
Is Ankara waking up to what Trump really represents? Having vilified President Obama, President Erdogan and his supporters are realizing that ties under Trump may not turn out to be what they hope. Turkey
How sports became means of defiance in Syria's besieged al-Waer Al-Waer district, one of the last rebel-held areas of Homs, has suffered under a regime siege for years, pushing its residents to demonstrate their determination to endure. Syria
Smoking ban leaves some Gaza cab drivers fuming The Gaza government has begun enforcing a ban on smoking in public transportation vehicles at the beginning of the year, to mixed reactions among drivers and passengers. Palestine
Will Rafsanjani’s death draw Iran, Egypt farther apart? As Egypt paid its condolences to the death of former Iranian President Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, many observers do not expect Rafsanjani's death to affect the rapprochement attempts between both countries. Legacy: Gulf
Umm Kulthum returns to the Egyptian stage Egyptians are flocking in droves to puppet shows in Cairo that re-enact concerts by the late legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, complete with a full band. Egypt
Iranians ponder Obama’s legacy with rise of Trump Barack Obama’s departure from the White House leaves Iranians divided about his legacy, with some calling his presidency a "great opportunity for Iran that is now gone." United States
Will Hamas military wing topple Haniyeh’s candidacy? Ismail Haniyeh knows that even if he is elected as the head of Hamas’ political bureau, the military wing will be the one that rules Hamas. Palestine
Reconstruction work brings more gloom to southeast Turkey Renovation work has begun in the emptied, conflict-ravaged old city of Diyarbakir, where the government's restoration project is being criticized as a security move rather than an effort to preserve internationally acknowledged historic sites. Turkey
Democrats urged Obama to cease Yemen war role before Trump took over Twenty-five House Democrats wrote to Barack Obama earlier this month to ask him to stop supporting the Saudi-led coalition. Saudi Arabia
Six years on, Egypt's revolution still alive Those who participated in the January 25 Revolution, who experienced great euphoria but then deep despair, now see a sliver of hope thanks to a recent court ruling. Egypt
