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
Air quality a concern in Beirut following explosion The American University of Beirut said air quality has returned to normal following the explosion of ammonium nitrate on Tuesday that killed around 150 and injured thousands. Lebanon
Health workers in Syrian camp for ISIS families test positive for COVID-19 Humanitarians warn that poor conditions in the camp put it at great risk for an outbreak of the virus. These are the first known cases there. Syria
Beirut redoubles rescue efforts; patients continue to surge to exhausted hospitals As rescue efforts continue in Beirut following Tuesday's explosion, a wave of new patients seek care at damaged, overworked hospitals. Lebanon
US military delivers humanitarian aid to Lebanon in wake of Beirut explosion The US military is sending three aircraft loads of food, water and medical supplies to Beirut. Lebanon
South Africa calls Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia back to negotiating table on dam talks After Sudan and Egypt announced they were suspending talks, the African Union chair urged all three parties to resume discussions. Egypt
US top diplomat for Iran Brian Hook steps down Hook was a key figure in the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Iran. Iran
Turkey to use 'all available' tools as currency plunges Turkey’s Central Bank says it's ready to use “all available instruments” to calm the market as the Turkish lira drops to new depths, and an interest rate hike is one of the most obvious. Turkey
Etihad Airways reports massive decrease in passenger flights The number of passengers served and passenger flight revenues went down for the Abu Dhabi-based airline in the second quarter of 2020. Originals
In Beirut visit, France’s Macron promises reform in 'new political pact' The French president said he would meet with Lebanon's political elite to propose a series of reforms that would ensure aid does not go to waste. Lebanon
Journalists in Yemen attacked ‘from all quarters,’ UN rights chief says Since the beginning of April, the United Nations has documented an abduction, a killing and a number of physical attacks and threats against journalists operating in war-torn Yemen. Yemen
Israel prepares to resume air travel in mid-August Israel’s coronavirus cabinet has decided to reopen Israeli skies on Aug. 16. Israel
IRGC says Iran to ‘mobilize’ to help Lebanon after blast Iranian officials and media have offered condolences after the explosion that rocked Beirut. Lebanon
