Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Cairo cracks down on social media influencers

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Tuesday, May 26 | Daily Briefing [By: Shahira Amin on Tuesday, May. 26, 2020]( Egypt 1 [Cairo cracks down on social media influencers]( Internet personalities in Egypt, especially women, are the target of a government campaign against debauchery and other charges that rights activists say violate free speech. 2 [Podcast: Olmert speaks out on Netanyahu]( Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaks to Ben Caspit on Bibi’s trial, the prospects for annexation, and whether the new Israeli emergency government can keep it together. 3 [Criticism mounts in Iraqi Kurdistan over unpaid teacher salaries]( Teachers say the Kurdish government is not paying on time and want their salaries to come from Baghdad, but Kurdish authorities point to a budget dispute with the federal government. Washington 4 [Intel: Senate Democrats warn Netanyahu against West Bank annexation]( Nineteen Senate Democrats warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partner Benny Gantz against Israeli plans to annex settlements in the West Bank and the entire Jordan Valley in a letter Thursday. Turkey 5 [Is Turkey on moderation path in its foreign policy?]( Conciliatory messages coming out of Ankara recently may appear as an effort to moderate Turkish foreign policy vis-a-vis the United States, Europe and Israel, but they are likely to be just maneuvering to weather the many stalemates in Turkey's foreign ties. Israel 6 [Netanyahu conducting his trial outside courthouse]( Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to play for time and drag the trial against him for many months and perhaps even years. Egypt 7 [Nile dam talks stall again amid Egyptian-Ethiopian dispute]( Egypt has addressed a letter to the UN Security Council over Ethiopia’s plan to begin filling the Renaissance dam without prior notification of both Cairo and Sudan, further complicating talks to resolve the dispute. 8 [Saudi Arabia quarantines cash to prevent further coronavirus spread]( Saudi Arabia will isolate coins and banknotes for up to 20 days in sealed containers. Lebanon 9 [Lebanon’s economic crisis is decimating its middle class]( The middle class in cash-strapped Lebanon is having a hard time making ends meet as salaries have been slashed and banks are imposing informal capital control, all compounded by the coronavirus-induced lockdown measures. Jordan 10 [What are Jordan’s options if Israel annexed the West Bank?]( Jordan is considering suspending parts of the 1994 peace treaty with Israel, sources told Al-Monitor, if Israel goes ahead with its plan to annex parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. 11 [Two Islamic State leaders killed in joint coalition-SDF raid in Syria]( The raid comes amid a string of SDF operations against suspected IS members over the past week. 12 [Intel: Pompeo warns against Libya weapons flows in PM call]( As Libya's United Nations-backed government reclaimed parts of the capital today, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed an end to the fighting with the embattled prime minister. Iraq 13 [Iraqi judiciary initiates procedures to hold MPs accountable on corruption charges]( The Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq is seeking to interrogate a number of members of parliament on charges of corruption and defamation. 14 [Khashoggi's son says family forgives killers]( Those sentenced to death in Jamal Khashoggi's killing can now be reprieved, but criticisms remain of Saudi Arabia's involvement in the murder and its response. 15 [Health care system collapses as COVID-19 races across Yemen]( As the United Nations appeals for $2 billion in emergency funding for Yemen, aid organizations on the ground warn community transmission of the coronavirus is taking place throughout the war-torn country. Iraq 16 [Iraq to launch investigations against killing of protesters]( Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Khadimi announced the formation of an investigation committee to look into the killings of Iraqi protesters. Egypt 17 [Egypt makes major archaeological discovery amid coronavirus crisis]( A joint Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission announced a major discovery in the Bahnasah region, in Minya governorate, consisting of a unique cemetery. 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