Egypt, Qatar appoint mutual ambassadors Qatar has appointed an ambassador to Egypt, for the first time since reconciliation efforts started between the two countries earlier this year, setting the stage for better relations with Cairo in the coming period. Egypt
Qatari, Italian athletes praised for sharing gold medal at Olympics Entities in both Qatar and Italy praised high jumpers Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi for opting to share an Olympic gold medal, though one commentator said such a deal was unbecoming of elite athletes. News Brief
Saudi Aramco denies rumors it will produce bitcoins The Saudi state-owned oil company said reports it will engage in the process of creating cryptocurrency are "false." DONT USE - Gulf Pulse
Blinken vows ‘collective response’ for ship attack blamed on Iran Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States is confident that Iran carried out the attack on the Israeli-linked oil tanker. Iran
Intel: US-led coalition reaffirms support for prisons holding IS fighters in northeast Syria The coalition commander called the Syrian Kurdish fighters' achievements against the Islamic State "astounding" and reaffirmed international support. Syria
Israeli court gives protected status to Sheikh Jarrah residents facing eviction The Supreme Court adjourned without ruling on the planned eviction of four Palestinian families who reside in the East Jerusalem neighborhood. Israel
Iran's outgoing health minister asks for military-enforced lockdown Iran's health minister asked for a two-week lockdown to be enforced by the military to stop the spread of COVID-19. Iran
Israeli gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat can't get married in own country Artem Dolgopyat won Israel’s second-ever gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in men’s gymnastics, but isn’t considered Jewish by religious authorities. News Brief
UK, Romania summon Iranian ambassadors over ship attack Iran, which has denied involvement in the attack on the Israeli-linked oil tanker, responded by summoning the British chargé d'affaires in Tehran. Iran
EU offers Turkey assistance as wildfires continue to rage The government faced calls to step down after it emerged that the country did not have any usable fire-fighting planes in its inventory. Turkey
Yemen's Houthis blow up homes after losing control in Al-Bayda, Marib Houthi rebels used to brag of blowing up homes of top government officials between 2010-2014, and once the group took control of Sanaa in 2014, they continued sporadically attacking opponents' homes. But the latest attacks have captured media attention as they coincide with military defeats. Gulf
UAE approves China's Sinopharm vaccine for children 3-17 The decision followed clinical trials in June involving 900 children in Abu Dhabi, including members of the royal family. United Arab Emirates
War of words rages between Israeli-Arab coalition, opposition legislators The Joint List, which is part of the opposition, is apparently unhappy with the Ra’am Party, which is part of the coalition, getting so much media attention. Israel
Egypt mum on Israel’s observer status at African Union While opposition mounts to the African Union Commission’s decision to grant Israel observer status at the AU, Egypt has yet to officially comment on the move. Egypt
Egyptian universities list suspected Muslim Brotherhood affiliates Egypt’s parliament approved a new draft law to allow the nondisciplinary dismissal, or dismissal without judicial procedures, of public servants who are affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt
Russia recalibrates coordination with new Israeli government in Syria There are indications the Kremlin is about to revise its approach to Israel in order to force the Israel Defense Forces into accepting new rules of the regional game. Russia
