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
Lebanese divided over efforts to repatriate Syrian refugees In the absence of a unified government plan ensuring the displaced Syrians’ return to their country, Hezbollah moved to facilitate the return, which some parties welcomed while others prefer the Lebanese state take charge of this dossier. Lebanon
Egypt gives green light to rice imports amid water shortages Farmers in Egypt were appalled by the government’s decision to start importing rice as part of its strategy to contain the water crisis. Egypt
Prisoners exchanged for evacuees from pro-regime towns in Syrian north As part of a deal between the Syrian regime and the opposition fighters in northern Syria, thousands of government soldiers and civilians have been evacuated from the pro-regime towns of al-Foua and Kefraya in Idlib province in return for the regime's release of several batches of its detainees. Syria
Is there reason for hope with new Palestinian reconciliation bid? Hamas has officially agreed to a new reconciliation push sponsored by Egypt, and Fatah is expected to soon do the same. Palestine
Egypt goes against IMF advice, boosting public investments The International Monetary Fund is keen to reduce Egypt's investments in the country in favor of private investment, but the new government has decided to increase the amount it will spend. Egypt
Friction with US may affect Turkey's trajectory in NATO US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared a fist bump in Brussels, but a figurative fistfight continues between Congress and Ankara. Turkey
UAE talks up diplomacy as Congress curtails US involvement in Yemen war Emirati officials are taking to Capitol Hill to say they’re giving the UN-brokered peace in Yemen a shot, but their patience is running out. Saudi Arabia
Woman elected to head opposition council in western Aleppo The new leader of the opposition council in western Aleppo plans to implement projects to benefit women and develop their potential. Syria
Turkey declines to raise interest rates, sending lira on another tumble Turkey's Central Bank has decided to keep interest rates where they are, surprising investors and dashing hopes that Turkish policies might evolve to meet the country's dismal economic reality. Turkey
Iran arrests top state managers as anti-corruption drive forges ahead Iran's judiciary is intensifying its crackdown on state managers accused of massive fraud amid a currency crisis the country is struggling to overcome. Iran
Detained pastor case casting large shadow over Turkish-US ties Complex criminal cases with political overtones makes the case of the American pastor Andrew Brunson more difficult to resolve than it might have been otherwise. Turkey
Khamenei adviser’s Moscow visit stirs foreign policy debate in Iran The lack of transparency surrounding Ayatollah Khamenei’s foreign policy adviser’s recent trip to Russia, including his announcement of a major deal for Russian investment, has caused heated debate among Iranians. Russia
