Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: The long road to post-COVID economic recovery in the Middle East

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Wednesday, July 15 | Daily Briefing [By: Karen Young on Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2020]( Gulf 1 [The long road to post-COVID economic recovery in the Middle East]( Indicators show that economic recovery across the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf following the coronavirus pandemic may take longer and more effort than initially thought. 2 [Ethiopia starts filling Nile River dam sans agreement with Egypt, Sudan]( The latest talks between the three countries ended yesterday with no deal, though Egypt and Sudan have made it clear they are strongly opposed to the unilateral filling of the GERD without an agreement. Turkey 3 [Erdogan plays out Islamic 'Reconquista' with Hagia Sophia as backdrop]( The reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is a power move by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that betrays not only domestic but regional and even global ambitions. Palestine 4 [Palestinian tribes in Hebron asked to help stem the spike in COVID-19 cases]( The sharp rise in the spread of the coronavirus in the Hebron district is blamed largely on weddings and public events, and the tribes have been asked to help stem the spread. Gulf 5 [UAE’s historic mission to Mars postponed over poor weather]( The orbiter is now scheduled to launch from the Japanese island of Tanegashima on Thursday. Gulf 6 [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. North Africa 7 [Intel: Eastern Libya invites Egypt to intervene against Turkey-backed offensive]( Eastern Libya’s parliament passed a motion approving a possible military intervention by neighboring Egypt to stop an offensive by Libya’s Tripoli-based government in the west. North Africa 8 [How Tunisia's impoverished southeast remained COVID-19 free]( While the isolation and lack of resources may have played a part in keeping cases of the coronavirus from appearing, they've also kept the region's economy in a state of crisis. 9 [Iran shipyard incident latest in series of unexplained fires]( A huge fire engulfed ships docked at the port city home to Iran's only nuclear power plant. Turkey 10 [Why women’s shelters in Turkey no longer provide safety]( The high-profile domestic abuse case of a popular actor shows violence against women is accepted, and even defended when it comes to powerful men. Iraq 11 [Can Iraqi government control corruption at border outlets?]( Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's government has set its sights on controlling corruption that could ease the impact of the financial crisis in the country, while prioritizing the border outlets. Israel 12 [Israeli-Iranian couple welcomed nowhere, fights for their love]( Israeli Lital and Iranian Vinas are in love, but no country will take in both of them. 13 [Ukraine rejects Iranian conclusion of 'human error' in downed passenger plane]( Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by Iranian forces in January amid their strikes on US military positions in Iraq. 14 [Massive pipeline fire injures 17 near Cairo]( The highway fire, which engulfed scores of cars, is believed to have been caused by leakage from a nearby crude oil pipeline. Washington 15 [Intel: Democrats advance legislation to restrict Trump’s Middle East war powers]( House Democrats advanced three provisions today that would broadly curtail President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct offensive military action across the Middle East — and the world — should they become law as part of the annual defense spending bill. 16 [Iran executes former Defense Ministry employee who it claims spied for CIA]( Iranian state media reported that the man sold information on Iranian missiles to the US intelligence agency. Washington 17 [Intel: Trump, Erdogan chat as Libya heats up]( US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chatted by phone today as regional tensions threaten to escalate the already volatile situation in Libya. Washington 18 [CENTCOM: No sign of coronavirus in Syria’s IS prisons as riots raise concern]( Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, the top commander of American forces in the Middle East, said today that his command is concerned about recurring uprisings in prisons holding thousands of Islamic State detainees in northeast Syria. Gulf 19 [New UAE budget airline makes its first flight]( Air Arabia Abu Dhabi flew to Alexandria today and is now offering low-cost flights to Egypt as airlines in the Gulf country show signs of recovery. 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