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
Revolutionary Guard leader slams US, criticizes deal The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in an interview that there were problems with the draft resolution passed today by the United Nations Security Council. Congress
Syrian refugees in Lebanon face mental health crisis Syrian refugees in Lebanon who suffer from mental disorders often go without treatment, but some nongovernmental organizations are working to change this. Lebanon
Turkish artisans keep ceramic craft alight In the Turkish city of Kutahya, ceramic artisans preserve a centuries-old craft, looking both for foreign markets and interaction with fellow craftsmen across the world. Turkey
How Turkey really feels about the Iran deal Although Turkey seems to be happy with the Iran nuclear deal, it is hard to say that politically Turkey would be delighted seeing Iran emerging as a regional power and an international actor. Syria
Kurds push back against charges of ethnic cleansing A visit to northern Syria casts doubts on claims that Kurds are carrying out ethnic cleansing in the area. Syria
Attacks on Chinese escalate in Turkey Turkish anger over Chinese policies has led to attacks and racist protests. Turkey
When children have to provide: Syrian refugees struggle in Jordan A lack of schools and teachers in Jordan along with hurdles preventing Syrian adults from working have led to Syrian refugee children increasingly working illegally to support their families. Jordan
English study an escape for Gazans Attendance in English teaching centers in Gaza is on the rise, with the youth increasingly aware that learning the language increases their chances of finding better jobs and studying abroad. Palestine
Jurassic world comes to Gaza Gazans are thrilled about the new theme park, Dinosaur City, as they lack educational and entertainment opportunities that allow them to forget about their harsh living conditions. Palestine
The secret world of Baghdad's sex toy shops Iraqi citizens and the central government are outraged by the spread of sexual products in popular markets across the country. Iraq
US, EU take strong stand against Israeli demolition plan Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained silent about plans to destroy the West Bank village of Susiya despite calls by the United States and the European Union to rescind the demolition orders. Palestine
Obama calls for 'practical conversation' between Iran, Arab states US President Barack Obama tells Arab Gulf allies to “stop giving Iran opportunities for mischief”; Zarif says Iran “ready to engage” with Arab countries; Netanyahu weighs political costs of Iran deal. Legacy: Gulf
