MENA Now Morning Briefing, October 28, 2020

*This daily morning briefing covers news as presented by the media, and does not present the views of MENA Now.

* All sources were drawn from publicly available online news sources

Lebanon Today

Hariri steps up govt formation bid as rivals jockey for key ministries; https://bit.ly/35VebP5

Lebanon to adopt 'game changer' stance in maritime border negotiations with Israel; https://bit.ly/2HFvxqU

Israel's Gantz praises 'positive voices' from Lebanon; bit.ly/2HDudVg

BDL declines Alvarez & Marsal request for documents: official; https://bit.ly/3eaUZAw

STL summons witnesses over three attacks; https://bit.ly/34yo8lH

French report on blast to arrive in two weeks; https://bit.ly/3e2pHM1

Lebanon’s coronavirus cases surged Tuesday, as a record 1,809 infections and 11 deaths were registered; https://bit.ly/37KolV6

Regional News:

Iran starts building underground nuclear facility: IAEA; https://bit.ly/3oAnM68

France encourages EU allies to take measures against Turkey after Erdogan's boycott calls; https://bit.ly/2Tsua18

Saudi Arabia holds off from backing action against France over cartoons; https://reut.rs/3e1aZF9

Prominent Saudi women's rights activist on hunger strike in detention, says family; https://reut.rs/31LmUlh

Iraq reopens Green Zone bridge year after revolt; https://bit.ly/2G4I46q

Israel to approve settler homes in flashpoint Hebron area, says Peace Now; https://bit.ly/3oBrf4k

Child malnutrition surges to highest levels ever recorded in war-torn Yemen, UN says; https://bit.ly/37KoO9O