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
Oman’s diplomatic bridge to Syria By inviting Syria’s foreign minister to Muscat, Oman has signaled its interest in contributing to the resolution of Syria’s civil war. Oman
Iran works to get auto industry back on the road As the sanctions on Iran are lifted, many hope the Iranian auto industry will be revivied and Western car makers will be pitted against Chinese rivals for shares in Iran's market. Iran
Khuzestan tells story of Persia’s rise, fall Iran's Khuzestan province, with its many ancient sites and artifacts, tells the story of Persia’s rise and fall. Iran
'100 Works by 100 Artists' nurtures Tehran art scene The Golestan Gallery in Tehran just celebrated its 23rd annual exhibition showcasing Iranian art of all styles and prices. Iran
Which ancient leader is really buried in colossal Tower of Tughrul? Controversy surrounds a 12th-century tomb tower carrying the name of the founder of the Seljuk dynasty, Tughrul Beg. Turkey
Esfahan’s bridges to history threatened by development, neglect The Iranian city of Esfahan is renowned for it centuries-old bridges, but these architectural marvels are under threat due to pollution, neglect and a governmental water diversion scheme. Iran
Araghchi: Iran's nuclear achievements led to agreement Iranian negotiator Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that Iran had decided to achieve an "irreversible" amount of progress in nuclear program before entering new round of talks. Iran
Israelis remember the past by singing along today Israeli society has changed radically since the days of the country's establishment, but people of all ages cling to the sing-along tradition, which offers a sense of nostalgia and belonging. Israel
Palestinians paint walls to show resilience Two Palestinian men launched an initiative to paint the walls of al-Zaytoun neighborhood to show the world their ability to overcome wars and destruction. Palestine
Egypt must take 'serious step' to resolve crisis with Brotherhood The circumstances in Egypt and tensions between the state and the Muslim Brotherhood are turning the possibility of a reconciliation less likely each day. Egypt
What’s behind Zarif’s visit to Beirut? An Iranian diplomat shared with Al-Monitor some behind-the-scenes information regarding the Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Beirut and its implications for Lebanon and the region. Palestine
Will Abadi's reforms work? Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi approved major reform measures for the country, but challenges, especially when it comes to implementation on the ground and within state institutions, still stand in the way. Iraq
