Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Putin, Mohamed bin Zayed seek to reclaim common ground on Libya

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Thursday, July 16 | Daily Briefing [By: Samuel Ramani on Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2020]( Gulf 1 [Putin, Mohamed bin Zayed seek to reclaim common ground on Libya]( The Russian and UAE leaders spoke Wednesday about the path ahead in Libya, seeking to minimize differences and recharge the political process. Israel 2 [Coronavirus crisis escalates bickering between Netanyahu, Gantz]( The coronavirus crisis and the dire economic straits only deepened the rift between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partner Alternate PM and Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Iraq 3 [Virus survivors rake in cash for plasma on Iraq’s black market]( Recovered coronavirus patients in Iraq are selling their blood plasma for $2,000 per liter on the black market as health leaders watch in dismay. Egypt 4 [Will Iranian sea corridor compete with Suez Canal?]( Iran has announced a sea corridor for commercial exchange with Russia and India as an alternative to the Egyptian Suez Canal, which raises questions about the impact this corridor will have on one of the main national economic resources in Cairo that has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. North Africa 5 [Tunisia PM's resignation sparks new political crisis]( Prior to stepping down, Elyes Fakhfakh was under investigation for conflict of interest violations. Iran 6 [Rouhani warns against extension of Iran arms embargo]( President Hassan Rouhani urged the remaining signatories of the Iran nuclear deal to stand up for multilateralism by rejecting US calls for the extension of an arms embargo against Tehran. Washington 7 [Intel: Democrats seek path for Biden to close Guantanamo Bay after obstructing Obama]( After years of obstructing Barack Obama’s efforts to close Guantanamo Bay when he was president, House Democrats have reversed course and are quietly trying to clear the way for Joe Biden to close the notorious detention facility should he win the presidential election in November. Gulf 8 [UN high court sides with Qatar in aviation dispute]( The aviation row centers on a years-long air boycott imposed by Qatar's regional rivals. 9 [Oil tanker sanctioned by US, later found off Iran was hijacked, says captain]( A missing crude oil tanker subject to US government sanctions over alleged involvement in Iran’s oil exportation was hijacked, according to the ship’s captain. Washington 10 [Intel: Trump joins chorus of Iranians urging halt to imminent political executions]( President Donald Trump today joined the online chorus of Iranians warning the government against the imminent execution of three young men sentenced to death after participating in last year’s mass protests against rising gasoline prices. Gulf 11 [Saudi Arabia permanently cancels license of Qatar's beIN Sports]( The popular Doha-based sports network had been officially blocked in Saudi Arabia since the 2017 diplomatic row between the two Gulf countries. 12 [Intel: US squeezes Islamic State’s cash flow with new sanctions]( The United States and six other countries imposed fresh sanctions today on half a dozen targets accused of helping fund the operations of the Islamic State (IS or ISIS), including by funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to the group’s leaders in Iraq and Syria. 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]( © 2020 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