MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 30, 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

After year of frustrations, no signs of hope for Lebanese in 2021; http://bit.ly/3ofWXns

Report: Rahi ‘Angry’ with Aoun, Hariri and Bassil; http://bit.ly/2KOiWDx

Beirut Explosion Happened Hours After A Probe Into The Ammonium Nitrate Was Launched; http://bit.ly/3ocMuJn

Lebanon can stretch reserves for subsidies another six months: Diab; http://bit.ly/3pI0H1h

Regional Overview

Explosions rock Yemen airport as new government arrives from Saudi Arabia, killing at least 25;

http://cbsn.ws/2X48HNQ

US bomber mission over Persian Gulf aimed at cautioning Iran; http://yhoo.it/2X8WxmU

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 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

Nasrallah Says MBS Pushed for His Assassination, Israel Still Cautious; http://bit.ly/34OJhI5

Report: Italy Seizes Captagon Shipment ‘Linked’ to Hizbullah; http://bit.ly/2KAvfTT

Army Makes Arrests after Syrian Refugee Camp Burnt to Ground; http://bit.ly/37VzKkI

Lebanon headed to another lockdown if cases increase: Fahmi; http://bit.ly/3n0igI2

Regional Overview

Israeli air attacks cause injuries, damage in Gaza Strip; http://bit.ly/3hqEdyN

Netanyahu expects ties visit by Morocco to Israel next week; http://reut.rs/38HtZWW

Libya’s warring sides begin prisoner exchange; http://bit.ly/3o1oQ2k

New Yemen gov’t sworn in after Saudi-brokered power-sharing deal; http://bit.ly/34RdUgc

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 25, 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

Lebanon coronavirus cases rise by 2,708 with 20 more deaths; http://bit.ly/2L2ei4e

Pope urges Lebanon leaders to put public interest first; http://bit.ly/2Me2qwS

Regional Overview

‘Blood cheaper than water’: Outrage over Trump Blackwater pardons; http://bit.ly/3rCED9V

Zarif dismisses Trump tweet that Iran was behind attack on U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; http://reut.rs/2KxGyw1

Qatar reports airspace violation by Bahraini fighter jets to UN; http://bit.ly/3rzOSvO

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 24, 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

New govt should be formed after New Year: Hariri; http://bit.ly/3mQsv1z

Health experts warn of 'disaster' after holiday season as cases rise; http://bit.ly/2Jert1z

Almost 90 percent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon now live below the extreme poverty line, a UN assessment reveals; http://bit.ly/2M3DHLv

Lebanon's inflation rate registers rare dip but still tops 133% in November; https://bit.ly/3aFFPDo

Regional Overview

Tunisia says it does not intend to normalize relations with Israel; http://bit.ly/3hhFXu5

Israel Heads to New Elections as Government Collapses; http://bit.ly/38Deorp

Qatar Sees No Political Obstacles for Resolving Gulf Standoff; http://bloom.bg/2KOWOIF

Turkish parliament extends law for troop deployment to Libya; http://bit.ly/2WH8XSE

A Quantum Leap Forward: Chinese Influence Grows in Iraq’s Oil Market; http://bit.ly/3nJT4Xs

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 23, 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 striving to form new govt before Christmas; http://bit.ly/3hdF9q8

Hariri hopes for 'govt formula' before Christmas; http://bit.ly/3mGjXdv

US regrets Lebanon-Israel stalemate, offers mediation; http://bit.ly/3rkenRz

Health experts warn of 'disaster' after holiday season as cases rise; http://bit.ly/2Jert1z

Regional Overview

U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on Syria in push for Assad to end war; http://reut.rs/2WH9cwV

US reinstates Sudan’s sovereign immunity; http://bit.ly/3rksshX

UAE’s economy projected to shrink 6% amid oil slump, COVID-19;http://bit.ly/3hcxqbP

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 22, 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

Aoun, Hariri to meet in new bid to break Cabinet impasse; http://bit.ly/37EPAQv

Lebanon eases restrictions ahead of holidays, but no stopping COVID-19; http://bit.ly/3mGIaAg

Lebanon parliament clears way for forensic audit of central bank; http://bit.ly/3rnEc3a

MPs Pass Sexual Harassment Law, Amend Domestic Violence Law; http://bit.ly/3mF92AV

Ex-Ministers File New Request for Replacing Sawwan in Port Probe; http://bit.ly/3pjJQBL

Regional Overview

Palestinians left waiting as Israel rolls out Covid-19 vaccine jab; http://bit.ly/2WAGu0S

US charges third Libyan man in 1988 Lockerbie bombing; http://bit.ly/2Kxknpv

Pakistan to UAE: Can’t recognise Israel until Palestine resolved; http://bit.ly/3hbDv8p

Turkish court sentences Kurdish former MP to 22 years in jail; http://bit.ly/2WDIc1t

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 21, 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

Lebanon records 1,626 virus cases as holiday season looms; http://bit.ly/3azXfkW

Unified criteria can usher in govt soon: Bassil; http://bit.ly/2WzjSxx

Lebanon police scuffle with students protesting tuition hikes; http://bit.ly/2M03kgn

MEA's Hout: We have to charge in fresh dollars to stay in business; http://bit.ly/3h9wIfp

Regional Overview

Yemen’s president announces new power-sharing government; http://bit.ly/3hbrlN6

Egypt, Jordan, Palestine FMs discuss ways of reviving peace process amid presence of US new administration; http://bit.ly/38nAApq

Rockets hit near US embassy in Iraq as tensions flare; http://bit.ly/34xaZcw

Iraq devalues currency by a fifth as oil-price collapse hits; http://on.ft.com/2LPEqQi

Analysis-Spillover from Tigray conflict adds to pressure on Sudan; http://reut.rs/3aBu6FY

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 18, 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

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 17, 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

Lebanon coronavirus cases surge ahead of holiday season; http://bit.ly/37r1ayr

Hariri: New govt will enact reforms, rebuild Beirut; http://bit.ly/2KveokX

Two ex-ministers snub judge after being charged over Beirut blast; http://bit.ly/384GBXC

Migrant worker abuse sends 'wrong image': ambassador; http://bit.ly/37vHCcx

Regional Overview

Khamenei renews revenge vow as Soleimani death anniversary nears; http://bit.ly/3adQ3ea

US blacklists Chinese, UAE-based companies over sale of Iranian petrochemicals; http://bit.ly/37oa53N

Erdogan says U.S. sanctions an attack on ally Turkey's rights; http://reut.rs/3anvPyz

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 16, 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

It's a 'love-revenge relationship' with Hariri: Bassil; http://bit.ly/3nnKptv

Lebanon to get first batch of COVID-19 vaccines in two months, minister says; http://bit.ly/34cGqIT

Companies to stop importing medical supplies due to central bank inaction; https://bit.ly/37nrYQj

Regional Overview

Iran’s Zarif slams US sanctions on Turkey; http://bit.ly/3njDAcu

Iran says it would rejoin nuclear deal within an hour of US doing so; http://bit.ly/3noczov

Kushner to Lead US Delegation to Israel, Morocco; http://bit.ly/2IZ6gc0

Abbas visits Qatar in bid for support to persuade Hamas to agree to elections; http://bit.ly/3qYKqGx