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
Iran shipyard incident latest in series of unexplained fires A huge fire engulfed ships docked at the port city home to Iran's only nuclear power plant. Iran
Virus survivors rake in cash for plasma on Iraq’s black market Recovered coronavirus patients in Iraq are selling their blood plasma for $2,000 per liter on the black market as health leaders watch in dismay. Iraq
Will Iranian sea corridor compete with Suez Canal? Iran has announced a sea corridor for commercial exchange with Russia and India as an alternative to the Egyptian Suez Canal, which raises questions about the impact this corridor will have on one of the main national economic resources in Cairo that has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iranian conclusion of 'human error' in downed passenger plane Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by Iranian forces in January amid their strikes on US military positions in Iraq. Iran
Intel: Democrats advance legislation to restrict Trump’s Middle East war powers House Democrats advanced three provisions today that would broadly curtail President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct offensive military action across the Middle East — and the world — should they become law as part of the annual defense spending bill. Congress
Massive pipeline fire injures 17 near Cairo The highway fire, which engulfed scores of cars, is believed to have been caused by leakage from a nearby crude oil pipeline. Egypt
Intel: Trump, Erdogan chat as Libya heats up US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chatted by phone today as regional tensions threaten to escalate the already volatile situation in Libya. Libya
Oman to allow residents to take international flights Oman's government also announced it would extend a lockdown on the Dhofar and Masirah regions. Oman
CENTCOM: No sign of coronavirus in Syria’s IS prisons as riots raise concern Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, the top commander of American forces in the Middle East, said today that his command is concerned about recurring uprisings in prisons holding thousands of Islamic State detainees in northeast Syria. Syria
The long road to post-COVID economic recovery in the Middle East Indicators show that economic recovery across the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf following the coronavirus pandemic may take longer and more effort than initially thought. Legacy: Gulf
Iran executes former Defense Ministry employee who it claims spied for CIA Iranian state media reported that the man sold information on Iranian missiles to the US intelligence agency. Iran
Another pro-Kurdish mayor replaced as detentions continue in southeast Turkey Police detained more than 50 people on alleged terror links in southeast Turkey a day after yet another mayor with the People's Democratic Party was replaced with a state-appointed trustee. Turkey
