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
Pompeo argues US still in Iran deal in bid to snap back global sanctions Can the United States use the UN to force other countries to sanction Iran? Russia
The Takeaway: Netanyahu’s annexation plan: Don’t count out Jordan Also, are Turkish security forces targeting the dead?; A US-Iran naval hotline might prevent unwanted conflict; Iran’s economy depends on fighting corruption; Iraq’s historic buildings in disrepair; and more! Originals
Saudi Arabia eases anti-virus measures Saudi Arabia allowed businesses to reopen today, but mosques, schools and other places remain closed. Saudi Arabia
Egypt forcibly disappears two women amid coronavirus crackdown: Rights group Marwa Arafa, 27, and Kholoud Said, 35, disappeared last week at the hands of Egyptian security services, Human Rights Watch said. Egypt
Intel: In letter to Trump, Erdogan bemoans Turkey’s poor reputation on Capitol Hill President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's personal letter to his counterpart Donald Trump was delivered today as part of Turkey’s COVID-19 relief package for the United States. Turkey
'Not the New York Gulf': US-Iran war of words heats up Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said today that the United States should stay out of the Persian Gulf. United States
Iraq’s Kadhimi submits plan to parliament as deadline approaches Iraq’s newest Prime Minister-designate, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, has submitted his government program to the parliament for approval. Iraq
Alleged Gulenists main target of forced disappearances in Turkey A new report from Human Rights Watch on forcible disappearances in Turkey called for an "effective investigation into credible testimony" from one of the most recent men to go missing for months. Turkey
Syria allows businesses to reopen during the day The Syrian government announced the easing of the country's coronavirus lockdown today. Syria
Intel: Pompeo condemns terrorist attack in Syria’s Afrin Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned on Tuesday a terrorist bomb attack that killed at least 40 people in the northwestern Syrian city of Afrin. Syria
Intel: US 'concerned' over separatists declaring self-rule in Yemen The US government is concerned by the actions of a separatist group that declared self-rule in parts of southern Yemen over the weekend, said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Yemen
Skies to reopen over Israel, but for whom? International carriers have announced flights will resume to Tel Aviv, though significant obstacles remain to international air travel. Israel
