Water protests erupt in Kurdistan Region of Iraq Much of the Middle East is suffering from water scarcity issues amid extremely high temperatures in the summer. News Brief
Qatar names Saudi envoy as Gulf ties improve Bandar Mohamed Abdullah al-Attiyah will serve as Qatar's first ambassador to Saudi Arabia since the 2017 Gulf row. Qatar
UAE sends aid to Greece amid wildfires Forest fires continue to rage in Europe and the Middle East despite containment measures. News Brief
Israel’s Bennett and Lapid partners, but still rivals Behind the seemingly idyllic partnership between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, tensions are seething and competition is already on its way. Israel
Turkey’s defense minister discusses Afghan security in visit to Pakistan President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested yesterday he may meet with Taliban leadership. Turkey
Gaza resort attacked for holding mixed-gender concert A group of masked men bombed a tourist resort in the Gaza Strip for holding a concert for both men and women, which raises questions on whether fundamentalists are once again gaining the upper hand in the coastal enclave. Palestine
Egypt enrolls Russian imams in 'fatwa training program' to combat Brotherhood Egypt is helping Russia confront extremism, namely Muslim Brotherhood ideology, by training Russian imams in the Dar al-Ifta — including a 'fatwa training program.' Egypt
Israel’s Lapid in Morocco to cement diplomatic, economic ties The two-day visit in Rabat of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is not only historic diplomatically, it also cements growing trade relations between the two countries. Israel
'Rainbow' mosque in new banknotes riles Egyptians The Central Bank of Egypt shared its initial designs for the new Egyptian banknotes, but was heavily criticized when many Egyptians took the reflective watermark for an LGBT pride flag. Egypt
Turkey's Erdogan says he may meet with Taliban leadership The speed of the Afghan insurgents' advances is "really troubling," Erdogan told CNN Turk. Turkey
Turkey to host international defense fair Some of the companies that will present weapons at the fair are from countries Turkey has difficult relations with. Turkey
The Takeaway: Egypt weighs options on Nile dam as Ethiopia escalates war in Tigray Also, new Israeli envoy is "frighteningly serious"; Turkey’s wildfires; Nile crocodiles in Sudan; Sisi increases price of bread; and more … in about 1,500 words! Egypt
Biden administration calls on Syria to return missing journalist Austin Tice White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the United States is committed to "following all avenues and talking to anyone" who can help return Tice, a journalist and Marine veteran who disappeared in Syria nine years ago. Syria
Intel: US ambassador meets Libya's Hifter in Cairo The US envoy is for pushing for cooperation with Libya's planned elections in December, State Department says. Libya
Half of adults in Turkey vaccinated as COVID-19 rates surge Turkey passed a milestone Wednesday, announcing half of its adults are fully vaccinated, though COVID-19 rates remain near a three-month high, likely due to the fast-spreading Delta variant. Turkey