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
Pentagon outlines its '3Rs' Islamic State strategy Democrats and Republicans alike have misgivings about the Pentagon's push for a greater US role in Iraq and Syria. Iraq
UNHCR head: It's time for Europe to get its act together Outgoing UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres says it's urgent to find a political solution to the war in Syria. Syria
Israeli settlers win tax battle In the battle over municipal funding and tax breaks, Likud ministers side with the powerful settler lobby. Israel
Some Iranians still dream of citizenship Up to a million people born to Iranian mothers and non-Iranian fathers continue to be deprived of Iranian citizenship. Iran
Iranian officials justify soldier deaths in Syria The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps addresses the number of Iranian soldiers' deaths recently in Syria. Lebanon
When it comes to foreign policy, will Erdogan resort to 'wily Oriental means'? The best-case scenario for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the worst-case scenario for Turkey, could be the failure of possible coalition talks after the snap elections. Syria
Merkel's 'indecent proposal' to Erdogan German Chancellor Angela Merkel's impromptu visit to Istanbul on behalf of the EU was highly criticized as a desperate gift to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as Turkey's elections draw close. Turkey
How to end the war in Yemen All involved in the war in Yemen, which has created a horrific humanitarian disaster, have paid a high price. A political solution is needed immediately. Saudi Arabia
Planning to rig an election in Turkey? You'd better think twice A fast-growing civic movement has mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers to detect vote-rigging in Turkey’s critical parliamentary elections on Nov. 1. Turkey
Music lessons bring art, hope to refugee camps A Palestinian music association runs schools offering musical skills and life lessons to refugee children in Lebanon and the West Bank. Palestine
Egypt authorities blame destroyed archaeological sites on citizens' 'lack of cultural awareness' The Arab Al Hosn area in Greater Cairo, known for its history and ancient relics, is being subjected to vandalism and theft by the area’s residents while authorities stand idly by. Egypt
What it means when Israel threatens to revoke citizenship Many Arabs fear that Israel's increasing right-wing tendency will open the way for more laws targeting Arab citizens of Israel. Palestine
