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 opens new parliament packed with Rouhani critics The tough road ahead of President Hassan Rouhani in the upcoming closing year of his term is expected to be made even even bumpier by the new ultraconservative legislature. Iran
Intel: Russian jets intercept US Navy plane over eastern Mediterranean Two Russian fighter aircraft intercepted a US Navy patrol plane over the eastern Mediterranean. Syria
Turkey conducts rare strike in Iraq's Sulaimaniyah province against PKK Most Turkey-PKK fighting takes place in other parts of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq where Turkey has military bases. Iraq
Intel: US, Italy to co-host virtual meeting of anti-IS coalition Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Italian counterpart, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, will co-host a virtual meeting for members of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State on June 4, the State Department announced today. Iraq
Pandemic worsening existing food crises across the Middle East, UN agencies warn Even before the coronavirus outbreak, nearly 110 million people across the Middle East and North Africa were undernourished. Yemen
Speculation grows in Iran about outgoing parliament speaker's possible presidential bid Political circles in Iran are busy debating where Ali Larijani is headed next following his farewell as parliament speaker after 12 years. Iran
Oman ending lockdown in capital Restrictions in other parts of the country to remain in place as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Oman
Rainbow flags over Baghdad fan debate, spur fear In what both progressive and conservative critics considered a tone-deaf step to support Iraq’s LGBTQ community, several Western embassies’ raising of the rainbow flag did not have its intended effects. Iraq
Is Hamas becoming second power in ruling Palestinians? Hamas is destroying houses in the Gaza Strip, as it considers them illegally built on government territories, while its understandings with Israel are ongoing despite Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ announcement about halting all agreements with Israel. Palestine
Abbas’ decision to cut ties with Israel will weaken PA, boost PLO The Palestinian president's decision to sever relations with Israel means strengthening the larger Palestine Liberation Organization, which represents all Palestinians and is not limited to the occupied territories. Palestine
Democrats prepare legislation forcing Trump to declassify report on Khashoggi murder Democrats are drafting new legislation that would force the Donald Trump administration to declassify a report on Khashoggi’s murder, potentially implicating the crown prince. Saudi Arabia
Coalition airstrike kills Islamic State leader in eastern Syria, Iraq says Mu'taz Numan 'Abd Nayif Najm al-Jaburi was killed in a coalition-led airstrike, Iraq's intelligence services said. Iraq
