Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: The dealmaker: Mueller witness helped broker $4.2 billion Iraq-Russia arms deal

[logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Friday, March 9 | Daily Briefing [By: Laura Rozen on Thursday, Mar. 8, 2018]( 1 [The dealmaker: Mueller witness helped broker $4.2 billion Iraq-Russia arms deal]( Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s latest interest, Lebanese-American businessman George Nader, has a long history of mysterious dealings in the Middle East despite a low profile in Washington. Turkey 2 [Death sentences cool warming Iraq-Turkey ties]( Death sentences imposed by an Iraqi court on Turkish women affiliated with IS has put Turkey in a difficult spot with its stance on terrorism and puts a brake on what appeared to be improving relations with Baghdad. Turkey 3 [Turkish women take to the streets to demand equality]( Activists say 15 years of rule by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has eroded women’s rights, even as he has vowed to end domestic violence and strengthen the role of women in Turkish society. Israel 4 [Slew of anti-Palestinian bills points to impending Israeli elections]( The numerous anti-Palestinian bills pushed forward by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition are signs that the right is preparing for early elections. Iraq 5 [Iraq’s legendary copper markets fade away]( Iraqi's legendary copper markets, once centers of commerce and socialization, are now fading away, from Baghdad to Najaf. Palestine 6 [New tax plan set to increase Palestinians' burdens]( In an attempt to compensate for threats of US aid cuts, the Palestinian Authority is revamping its tax system to expand the tax liability of citizens, which could have a catastrophic impact on Palestinians. 7 [Iran dismisses Saudi talk of 'triangle of evil' as 'childish']( Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused Saudi Arabia of making accusations against Iran to hide its own failures in Yemen. Turkey 8 [Turkish women's organization looks back on two decades of progress]( For more than two decades, an organization in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast called KAMER has led the uphill struggle to empower women and challenge often deadly social norms in these patriarchal and war-torn communities. Israel 9 [Israeli settlers hold country hostage to their ideology]( Americans and Israelis are hostage to powerful single-interest lobbies like the National Rifle Association and the right-wing settlement movement, which do not represent broad public opinion. Gulf 10 [No light at end of tunnel for Yemen’s economy]( The Yemeni government and central bank are unable to solve the unpaid salaries crisis of government employees amid an economic crisis that has left devastating humanitarian conditions in the war-torn country. STAY CONNECTED [fb_icon_footer]( [twitter_icon_footer]( [instagram_icon_footer]( [rss_icon_footer]( CONTACT US [Support & Contact]( [Advertise](mailto:advertise@al-monitor.com) NEWSLETTERS [Subscribe]( TERMS OF USE [Visitor Agreement]( [Privacy Policy]( © 2017 Al-Monitor. All Rights Reserved. If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may [unsubscribe or manage your preferences]( at any time. Al-Monitor · 1850 K St NW · Suite 1225 · Washington, DC 20006 · USA