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
Egypt taps Asian markets for agricultural export growth Egypt signed a series of agreements to export its agricultural products to Asia, including China and Japan, in a bid to boost its ailing economy. Egypt
Lebanon's short-lived venture into outer space In the early 1960s, the Lebanese Rocket Society developed rockets to explore space and for other peaceful purposes, but its projects quickly attracted the attention of governments seeking military advantage. Lebanon
Saudi ambassador again departs US amid Khashoggi controversy Ambassador Khalid bin Salman, who has faced scrutiny over his public handling of the Jamal Khashoggi affair, has left Washington for the second time since the journalist’s killing. Saudi Arabia
What will 2019 have in store for dysfunctional GCC? The Gulf Cooperation has essentially been split in, with Qatar, Kuwait and Oman resisting the actions of Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman and the UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed. Legacy: Gulf
Shrinking pie causes intense struggle over wages in Iran Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Rouhani administration is under pressure to increase salaries while facing the threat of spiraling inflation. Iran
Turkey's 'Olive Branch' takes root in Syrian olive business Kurdish olive growers in Afrin, Syria, complain bitterly that Turkish authorities who control the area aren't doing anything to stop massive exploitation and armed extortion that is costing the local oil economy $100 million. Syria
How will Egypt integrate its shadow economy in its official one? A study shows that Egypt’s shadow economy amounts to about $400 billion a year, prompting the government to merge it with its official economy through a series of new laws. Egypt
Iran says US is ‘bragging’ about violating UNSC resolution While the United States has failed to receive European support for scrapping the nuclear deal, Europe is more sympathetic to concerns about Iran’s missile program. United States
Pentagon warns Turkey against operation targeting Syrian Kurds Despite Turkey's threats to attack the US-allied Kurdish militia in Syria, there is little evidence that Washington would let Ankara move into the Syrian Kurdish area under its protection. Syria
Turkey’s recession becomes official The shrinking Turkish economy needs external funds to start growing again, but luring foreign investors back is a tall task that Turkey is unlikely to accomplish in the short run. Turkey
