MUST-READS

• Coronavirus
  No confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in Saudi Arabia

  The Saudi Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that it has not registered any confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Kingdom so far. “The highest precautionary and preventive measures are being implemented in the ports to prevent the virus from reaching the Kingdom,” said ministry in a statement on its official Twitter account.

• U.S.-Iran
  U.S. says first shipments of medicine to Iran delivered via Swiss humanitarian channel

  A humanitarian channel to bring food and medicine to Iran has started trial operations, the Swiss and U.S. governments said on Thursday, helping supply Swiss goods to the struggling population without tripping over U.S. sanctions.

• U.S.-Iran
  More Iranian students are being deported at US airports, advocates say

  US Customs and Border Protection says its inspections take additional factors into account and can uncover details that didn't come up in previous visa screenings. There's no guarantee, the agency says, that someone with a visa will be allowed to enter the United States. And every day, hundreds of people are denied entry at US ports.

• U.S.-Iraq
  Here’s why Patriot missile defense systems aren’t in Iraq yet

  “One of the things we have to do is make sure we have permission from the host government, and that’s one of the matters we have to work on and work through,” Esper said at a news conference Thursday. “We need the permission of the Iraqis. That’s one issue. There may be others with regard to the placement, things like that, more tactical, operational — it’s a combination of things.”

• Banking and Finance
  SAMA launches licenses for non-bank financial institutions – statement

  The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) issued licenses for non-bank financial institutions in the Kingdom for the first time on Thursday, licensing an electronic wallet company and a payment services company.

• Syria
  Rebel-held Idlib ‘hit by 200 air strikes in three days’

  Fighting in Idlib, the last stronghold of the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, has intensified in recent weeks as the Syrian army pressed on with an offensive. On Wednesday, soldiers captured the strategically important town of Maarat al-Numan, which straddles a highway linking the capital Damascus with Aleppo.

  • Reuters - Erdogan says Turkey may launch Syria offensive if Idlib attacks continue
• Yemen Civil War
  Yemen’s Houthis offer talks for Sudan prisoner swap via Red Cross: TV

  Yemen’s Houthi movement is ready to hold talks with Sudan over an exchange of prisoners through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), al-Masirah, a television channel run by the Iran-aligned group, said on Thursday. The Sudanese authorities said last month they had 5,000 troops operating in Yemen as part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis.

• Ties that Bind: Jordan
  The Collapse of Jordan’s Social Safety Net

  Jordan’s deteriorating economic situation is straining traditional support networks and reshaping Jordanians’ ties with their relatives, friends, and local communities in the process.

• Turkey
  Turkey’s Erdogan criticises Arab silence over U.S. Middle East plan

  Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday criticised Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations for not speaking out against the U.S. Middle East plan which he said endorsed the Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands.

• Saudi-China
  China oil imports from top supplier Saudi Arabia rise 47% in 2019: customs

  The big annual boost in Saudi shipments followed a new marketing strategy by state-run Aramco, which signed at least two new supply pacts with private refiners in China that came into the market from late 2018. Previously, Saudi Aramco had only dealt with China’s state refiners in long-term contracts.

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