MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 15, 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’s 'war of words' casts gloom on Cabinet formation; http://bit.ly/3gPz4zT

Beirut blast investigator reschedules Diab questioning session; http://bit.ly/3r0Xw6q

Oueidat Recuses Himself in Port Explosion Probe; http://bit.ly/3qU9WwG

Report Reveals Israeli Commandos Recently Landed On A Lebanese Beach; http://bit.ly/2JYmp1U

Almost 70% Of All Coronavirus Cases In Lebanon Have Fully Recovered; http://bit.ly/388GdYc

Regional Overview

US Embassy says Sudan no longer on list of terror sponsors; http://bit.ly/383UyoL

‘External source’ causes oil tanker blast off Saudi Arabia; http://bit.ly/3gKZ2oq

U.S. imposes sanctions against Iran over the 2007 abduction of former FBI agent; http://nbcnews.to/3gM9Y4Y

U.S. Puts Limited Sanctions on Turkey After Missile Defense Buy; http://bloom.bg/37jWvOP

Egypt’s Economic Pivot Takes Shape as Army Firms Up for Sale; http://bloom.bg/2WjFAFC

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 14, 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

Politicians, leading figures rally behind Diab after blast charges; https://bit.ly/380Pwth

Aoun knew; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS; https://bit.ly/2KklxnW

Covid Warnings; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS

Open Student Meeting against tuitions; https://bit.ly/3a8FXev

Majority of Lebanese believe in a secular state: survey; https://bit.ly/3gNmFNc

Regional Overview

US adopts map of Morocco that includes disputed Western Sahara; https://bit.ly/2JTcniB

Israel and Bhutan establish diplomatic relations; https://bit.ly/380PIJ1

Iran executes dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam: State TV; https://bit.ly/3mbW1OR

Ruhollah Zam’s execution by Iran ‘shocking’ and ‘shameful’; https://bit.ly/3mim5rA

Sudan nears removal from US terror list amid Congress debate; https://bit.ly/3niexGT

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 10, 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 upbeat on swift Cabinet formation after meeting Aoun; https://bit.ly/3oI6cMH

Paris Mediates between Aoun, Hariri amid Reported Progress; https://bit.ly/3qMnSsK

Report: Berri Circles Lash Out at Aoun; https://bit.ly/37ODBPg

UAE Official Says Visa Ban Not Targeted against Lebanese; https://bit.ly/37RatGR

Hizbullah Sues Bahaa Hariri over Port Blast Accusation; https://bit.ly/2Lnjf8a

Regional Overview

Trump issues formal threat to veto effort to block massive UAE arms sales; https://bit.ly/33VLhxJ

UAE sees "seeds of progress" on Gulf row, says envoy to US; https://bit.ly/3qGnOuh

Netanyahu rival breaks from Israel's Likud to challenge premier; https://bit.ly/2W1rWXU

EU plans new sanctions on Turkey over Mediterranean dispute; https://on.ft.com/3m3qLBJ

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 8, 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 relaunch govt formation process, discuss names of ministers; https://bit.ly/3mVjkOn

Lebanon renews calls for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories; https://bit.ly/39QH02w

As Lebanon subsidy crunch looms, UN agencies warn of social catastrophe; https://bit.ly/3qCWflG

Protesters Block Highway, Rally against Plans to End Subsidies; https://bit.ly/3lVMbkj

Hassan: Two Million COVID-19 Vaccines Reserved for Lebanon; https://bit.ly/2VOrxIb

Lebanon records 16 new coronavirus deaths, 984 cases; https://bit.ly/2Ir54Oj

Regional Overview

Iran dismisses Saudi call for inclusion in nuclear talks; https://bit.ly/3qCdsM6

Egypt leads Africa in COVID-19 resilience, third in the Middle East; https://bit.ly/37J919J

U.S. troop pullouts in Middle East raise fears of Iranian attacks; https://lat.ms/3n8NP3v

Pope Francis to make historic Iraq visit in March; https://bit.ly/39QHCoR

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 4, 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 struggles to cope as 1,520 virus cases registered; https://bit.ly/33LoogG

Health minister says COVID cases rising, beds won't suffice; https://bit.ly/3mAqE1z

Higher Defense Council recommends general mobilization extension until March 2021; https://bit.ly/33H8kMR

HDC Breaks the Law; https://bit.ly/33IKWhZ

Hunger threatens Lebanon if leaders don't act: UK minister; https://bit.ly/3ojznFV

USJ independents win elections; https://bit.ly/33Enjag

Regional Overview

US ‘withdrawing some Baghdad embassy staff’ amid regional tension; https://bit.ly/3lJiYZA

Bahraini minister comments on Israeli settlements products label controversy; https://bit.ly/33DsKGz

Sudan investigation committee summons top military officials over sit-in massacre; https://bit.ly/2Jqacml

US could designate Houthi militia as ‘terrorist’ organization; https://bit.ly/3qs9wxm

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 3, 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

France looks to rally aid for Lebanon, but no bailout; https://bit.ly/33Advhl

Parliament session; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS 

Seizure of Salameh’s assets; https://bit.ly/2I3xKfW

Lebanon says difficulties in sea border talks can be overcome; https://reut.rs/2VrDEe2

Qahwaji among 8 Retired Military Figures Indicted over Alleged Graft; https://bit.ly/33DO4M4

Several Hurt as Clash Linked to USJ Elections Renews; https://bit.ly/3g67r5A

Regional News

Iran watchdog passes law on hardening nuclear stance, halting U.N. inspections; https://reut.rs/3qqcyC7

Biden warns Iran to end its ‘malign’ regional activities; https://bit.ly/3mDt5jV

Israel receives its most advanced warship as Iran tensions rise; https://reut.rs/2KTGdTY

Nasrin Sotoudeh: Iran human rights lawyer ordered back to jail; https://bit.ly/36y9hJ0

Afghan gov’t, Taliban announce breakthrough deal in peace talks; https://bit.ly/3mBxwvs

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 2, 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 seen likely to reject Hariri's draft Cabinet lineup; https://bit.ly/2VpZPBh

Salemeh’s address to the people; https://bit.ly/39yq3dd

World Bank sees Lebanon in prolonged depression, -19.2% growth in 2020; https://reut.rs/2Voqu1c

Police Control Memorandum; https://bit.ly/36vaYqK

Israel installs buoy to mark disputed maritime border; https://bit.ly/3fXKmBI

Fight Breaks Out Between Politically Affiliated Students At USJ; https://bit.ly/3mue0Rz

Regional Overview

Drone strike reportedly killsirancommander; https://bit.ly/3fVL6Yj

Jared Kushner takes on Qatar blockade in Middle East ‘swan song’; https://bit.ly/3lwqeI2

Officials Say Peace Accord Between Sudan and Israel Is Already at Risk of Unraveling; https://nyti.ms/37oHo5u

Yet another election seemingly underway in Israel as Gantz OKs dissolving Knesset; https://bit.ly/37tEUTh

Giulio Regeni: Egypt 'suspends' investigation into Cambridge student's murder; https://bbc.in/39v5wWV

MENA Now Morning Briefing, December 1, 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-Israel border talks postponed 'for few weeks'; https://bit.ly/3qbTwQ5

Fakhrizadeh; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS

Pound rises ahead of Lebanon aid conference; https://bit.ly/3fRm5xg

COVID-19 & Schools; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS

Parliament’s Women Committee draft; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS

Parliament and Goods; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS

Regional Overview

Iranian Parliament calls for block on nuclear inspections; https://bit.ly/37rBfFC

EXCLUSIVE: Iran tells MBZ it will hit UAE in response to a US attack; https://bit.ly/2VloaIl

Bahrain to send ministerial delegation to Israel; https://bit.ly/3qqLdjs

Yemen: Houthis claim killing of several Saudi soldiers in Marib; https://bit.ly/39CsiMi

MENA Now Morning Briefing, November 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

COVID-19 Lockdown; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS

Hariri said to present first draft Cabinet lineup soon; https://bit.ly/2VhwskD

Parliament endorses the audit of the central bank — but not in a legally significant way, experts say; https://bit.ly/2JdqajD

Lawyers vs Fahmi; https://bit.ly/37nS9VO

Regional Overview

Suspected Iranian nuclear mastermind assassinated; https://bit.ly/2HXpBK6

Rouhani accuses ‘mercenary’ Israel of killing top Iran scientist; https://bit.ly/3qel9I7

Six dead in clashes between rival protesters in southern Iraq; https://bit.ly/3lrNuqG

Saudi Arabia to end Qatar blockade as 'gift' to Joe Biden: report; https://bit.ly/3lnO3lA

Saudi, UAE central banks work on joint digital currency plan; https://bit.ly/39rQ4ur

MENA Now Morning Briefing, November 27, 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

Macron: Aoun must call on politicians to set aside sectarian interests; https://bit.ly/33gP8W3

Lawyer assaulted by ISF; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS; https://bit.ly/3maqvBG

Protestors against Judge Fadi Sawan; https://bit.ly/32EjUaS; https://bit.ly/376TTTa

Berri in reply to Sawan’s letter; https://bit.ly/3lbBSrJ

Regional Overview

Lavrov urges Biden administration to avoid Middle East 'adventures'; https://bit.ly/37gm3em

UN: Syrian peace talks to resume in Geneva on Monday; https://bit.ly/2KJvYBM

Algerians concerned about 'missing' president; https://bbc.in/39gaeHT