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
Does Russia benefit from attack on Saudi oil facility? The attacks on Saudi oil production facilities may bring Russia some short-term benefits, but the picture becomes more complicated in the long run. Legacy: Gulf
Moroccan sex 'outlaws' protest criminalization of sex outside marriage Following a Moroccan journalist's arrest for an alleged abortion and extramarital sex, thousands have signed an online petition to end the state's criminalization of sex outside marriage. Morocco
Will Egypt ever have female pastors? The ordination of an Egyptian woman in Texas rekindles the debate on whether women can be pastors in Egypt. Egypt
Rouhani to have 'bitter words' for US at UN summit Exuding confidence, President Hassan Rouhani has departed Tehran to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. United States
Arab party torn over integration in Israeli society Leaders of the Arab Joint List qualified their recommendation of Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to compose the next government as historic — that is, until the Balad faction withdrew from the recommendation. Israel
Ankara likely to use new charges to keep HDP co-chairs behind bars Despite both Turkish courts and the European Court of Human Rights calling for the release of opposition leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, the officials may remain behind bars in pretrial detention for new investigations. Turkey
Mediterranean drilling produces spurt of 'diplomacy' Greek Cypriots have been boosting their diplomatic actions to form an anti-Turkey bloc in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
New Turkish hotel combines modern architecture, Roman mosaics Ancient Antiochian mosaics and ruins are securely housed and on display inside a luxury hotel-museum in Antakya. Turkey
Uptick in Turkish exports, tourism comes at a price Increased export and tourism revenues have helped limit the Turkish economy’s contraction in the second quarter, but the improved numbers have come at the expense of price cutting, economic data show. Turkey
A closer look into Lebanon’s fixed currency Lebanon's fixed exchange rate has been a pillar of stability for two decades. However, poor economic conditions threaten its sustainability. Lebanon
Do the Hamas-Israeli understandings have a future? The results of the Israeli elections have raised concerns within Hamas about the future of the understandings reached between the movement and Israel that have provided Gaza a lifeline and that are helping it remain in control. Qatar
Artists take a look at lost history and bright future in Beirut Beirut's annual art and design fairs focus this year on past and future through the eyes of modern artists. Lebanon
