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
Saudi FM to meet with Pompeo for inaugural strategic dialogue Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud will discuss the bilateral relationship Wednesday. Saudi Arabia
Lebanon receives FBI's report on Beirut port explosion The US agency conducted an investigation into what led to the devastating August blast. Lebanon
Qatar extends mandatory travel quarantine through Dec. 31 Travelers from "low-risk countries" must quarantine for at least seven days upon arrival. Qatar
Baghdad, Erbil reach security, administrative agreement on Sinjar district The deal will address major security and structural obstacles, but local communities criticize the accord for failing to bring their people to the table. Iraq
Intel: US condemns Turkey's decision to redeploy ship to Greek waters The State Department called Ankara's plan to redeploy the Oruc Reis drilling ship a "calculated provocation." Turkey
Iran in shock after 11-year-old boy commits suicide over poverty The suicide of an 11-year old boy from a destitute family has sent shock waves across Iranian society, further highlighting the questions of growing poverty and state neglect. Iran
New Jordanian prime minister takes office amid virus spike, struggling economy Bisher Al Khasawneh's government will also oversee the Nov. 10 elections in the country. Jordan
Assad pays rare visit to fire-ravaged western Syria The UN says at least three people have died in the fires that erupted last week in Latakia, Tartus and Homs provinces. Syria
Intel: Production allowed to resume at Libya’s largest oil field as talks progress The Libyan National Oil Company has lifted its force majeure on the Sharara oil field as the warring sides edge closer to a cease-fire. Libya
Moviegoers split as Gal Gadot to play Cleopatra The news that Israeli "Wonder Woman" actress Gal Gadot will play Cleopatra in an upcoming film has the internet in a tangle of excitement and outrage. Egypt
Yazidi students achieve highest marks in Iraq entrance exams to universities Despite difficulties in refugee camps, Yazidi students achieved the highest marks on the entrance exams to Iraqi universities. Iraq
Why can't Iraqis agree on national day holiday? Seventeen years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Iraq has neither a national day nor a national anthem. Iraq
