Raisi to enter maze of regional factors in guiding diplomacy with Riyadh Iran’s incoming president, Ebrahim Raisi, says he will focus on regional ties, particularly Gulf Arab neighbors. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Power cuts in scorching Iraqi heat prompt protests Iraq has long suffered from electricity cuts, which make life unbearable during the sweltering summer months. By Al-Monitor Staff
UAE bans travel to South Asian, African countries over virus variants Countries on the ban list have known cases of newer variants of COVID-19 that are more easily transmissible, though it is unknown if many are actually more dangerous. By Al-Monitor Staff
Israel activates third squadron of F-35 fighter jets Israel’s third squadron of F-35 fighter jets are set to be activated next week at Nevatim airbase. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Settlement evacuation compromise rocks Israeli coalition The deal made with settlers on the evacuation of the Evyatar outpost and the upcoming Knesset vote on the controversial citizenship law are already destabilizing the coalition. By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
UN reports severe human rights abuses in Western Sahara Most of Western Sahara is controlled by Morocco, and is considered a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations. By Al-Monitor Staff
Egypt anticipates gains from expanding economic ties with Iraq Egypt, Iraq and Jordan are working to establish an alliance to boost cooperation in various economic fields. By A correspondent in Egypt
Is China ready to intervene in Nile dam crisis? Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry briefed his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the latest developments in the Grand Ethiopian Dam crisis — a move that observers believe is aimed at pushing Beijing to pressure Addis Ababa on the dam negotiations. By Ahmed Gomaa
Islamic State suspected of sabotaging Iraqi electrical towers Power transmission towers have recently been targeted in Iraq, which already is suffering from major electricity shortages. By Mustafa Saadoun
In Biden meeting, Rivlin clears way for Bennett visit to White House In his warm meeting with President Joe Biden, President Reuven Rivlin prepared the ground for an upcoming first visit in Washington by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Egypt, Sudan react to South Sudan’s plan for new dam on Nile South Sudan has announced its intention to build another dam on the Nile River, to the surprise of Egyptian officials. By George Mikhail
Palestinian plainclothes security agents further popular dissent The method in which the protests against the killing of the critic of the Palestinian leadership Nizar Bayat were violently put down, with the use of security officials dressed in civilian clothes, has exposed a deep rift in Palestinian society. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Syrian jihadist group ramps up efforts to oust rivals from Idlib Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which controls Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, has asked a Chechen jihadist group to either join its ranks or leave the battlefronts, in a move that many consider to be part of HTS' policy to have its name removed from international terrorist lists. By Sultan al-Kanj
Egyptian researcher saves ancient sites from termites An Egyptian researcher has patented an organic substance to kill termites; a Japanese company funded her research and manufactured the product. By Salwa Samir In Giza, reporting on politics
US teachers union to vote on support for ‘heroic struggle’ of Palestinians The National Education Association will vote this week on motions that call for backing the Palestinian cause as well as an end to US military support for Israel and Saudi Arabia. By Al-Monitor Staff