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
Gantz says Palestinians need dialogue with Israel on annexation Defense Minister Benny Gantz took another step today at clarifying his stance on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s annexation plan. Israel
Al-Qaeda affiliate bombs Turkish base in Somalia Al-Shabab has attacked Turkey in the Horn of Africa country before due to Ankara's support for the Somali government. Turkey
UN report on Libya mercenaries 'unfounded,' says Russia A Foreign Ministry official dismissed the findings of the report on Wagner Group's operations in Libya and called for an investigation into why it was leaked. Libya
General Electric helps increase electricity generation in Iraq Power stations that General Electric helped develop and improved exploitation of natural gas boost Iraq's energy infrastructure as the country seeks alternatives to imported energy from Iran. Iraq
Trump’s endorsement crucial for Netanyahu’s annexation plan Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that he cannot go ahead with annexation without the endorsement of US President Donald Trump. Israel
Afro-Turks join global outcry over George Floyd killing The little-known community that largely traces its roots to the Ottoman slave trade is speaking out about police brutality in America, saying their own example of coexistence is an example for the West. Turkey
Israel-Iran conflict enters tense waiting period until US election in November Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is praying for US President Donald Trump to win reelection, but security experts worry that he might lose interest in the Iran conflict. Israel
Biologists dive for secrets of coral reef that survives hot Gulf waters Coral reefs are sensitive ecosystems that rarely survive sea temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius, yet coral reef fauna thrives in the Persian Gulf, where scientists hope to find clues about climate change survival. United Arab Emirates
Tunisian rapper busted for marijuana revives debate on legalization The arrest and pre-trial detention of a famous rapper in Tunisia for cannabis possession revived the debate over the legalization of cannabis use and calls to abolish one of the harshest laws penalizing users. Tunisia
Intel: Biden adviser downplays role of upcoming Iran elections in fate of nuclear deal A foreign policy adviser to former Vice President and current presidential candidate Joe Biden downplayed the role that Iran’s presidential elections next year will have on Tehran’s potential willingness to revive the flailing nuclear deal. Originals
Tunisia unemployment protests escalate with activist’s arrest Authorities rounded up 10 protesters accused of attacking police stations with Molotov cocktails. Originals
Iranian food ship docks in Venezuela It is the latest example of cooperation between the two countries in the face of US opposition. Iran
