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
Talks on Nile River dam to resume on Tuesday The African Union-led talks begin amid continued tensions Sudan and Egypt have with Ethiopia over the massive hydroelectric dam. Negotiations have been on hold since August. Egypt
Russian strikes kill dozens of Turkey-backed rebels in Syria's Idlib The strikes on Monday reportedly targeted a training camp run by the Failaq al-Sham group. Syria
Australia condemns intrusive search of women before Qatar Airways flight Authorities in Doha reportedly searched women's private parts without consent after an abandoned newborn was discovered before a flight to Sydney. Qatar
Turkey’s ruling party blunders at youth outreach The Turkish government's recent attempts to reach out to the country's youth reveal that the generation gap is growing — and might be unbridgeable. Turkey
Iran investigates case of man killed in police custody Investigators have opened a case against a police officer who pepper-sprayed and tased a man who died on the way to the hospital. Iran
Gantz, Netanyahu split again over US F-35 sale to UAE Defense Minister Benny Gantz accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of withholding knowledge of US-Emirates negotiations on the sale of F-35 stealth jets. United Arab Emirates
Erdogan goes on offense against European leaders in defense of lslam Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken up the cause of Islam in the West, further damaging Turkey's ties with Europe. Turkey
Turkey’s gold rush whets appetite of gold-mining companies Turkey is eager to boost gold production amid surging demand for the precious metal despite a growing movement against the environmental damage caused by the industry. Turkey
Syrian journalists in Idlib face crackdown from jihadist-affiliated government The government affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria has decreed that journalists can’t work in their areas of control without a permit. Syria
Jordan cracks down on racketeers following maiming of teenager In an unprecedented move, Jordan's Public Security Department has launched a coordinated wave of arrests of those suspected of racketeering, bullying and repeat offenses, following the attack on a Jordanian teenager in the city of Zarqa that left him with amputated hands and a gouged eye. Jordan
Sisi appoints Salafist party members to Egyptian Senate Although the Salafist Nour party failed to secure any seats in the Senate, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi decided to appoint two party representatives to the Senate. Egypt
Iraqi Sunni politicians organize a new political front Dozens of Iraqi Sunni lawmakers have met to discuss forming a new alliance after eight youths were killed with alleged involvement by Shiite-led factions in Salahuddin province. Iraq
