This is a compilation of news event from AP news, GULF news and Reuters. The purpose is to get a complete picture of the nomination of new appointed PM Saad Hariri

Newly-assigned Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri speaks to journalists
at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon,
Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. Lebanon’s newly elected president, Michel Aoun,
on Thursday, asked former Premier Saad Hariri to form a new government,
after he secured an overwhelming parliamentary majority to be named as
the next prime minister. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

Lebanese students wear masks showing the face of Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri and wave his portrait, as they celebrate
the announcement, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Thursday,
Nov. 3, 2016. Lebanon’s newly elected president, Michel Aoun, on
Thursday asked former Prime Minister Saad Hariri to form a new
government, after the ex-premier secured an overwhelming majority in
parliament. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

BEIRUT  — Lebanon’s prime minister designate vowed on Thursday to work swiftly to put together a “national unity government that overcomes political divisions” that have plagued the Mideast nation for years. The pledge by Saad Hariri, who already served as prime minister for 14 months until early 2011, came shortly after the country’s newly elected president, Michel Aoun, asked him to form a new Cabinet. That process can go on for weeks or even months, and usually involves much bargaining among Lebanon’s notoriously fragmented politicians. The government must then win parliament’s approval. Aoun’s office made the announcement about Hariri after two days of talks with lawmakers over their choice of prime minister. The statement didn’t say how many lawmakers supported the 46-year-old Hariri for the post.

“It is a new era,” a beaming Hariri told journalists gathered at the Baabda presidential palace, repeating the phrase three times. “I have great hope -in this positive moment that ends the suffering of the country and its citizens that lasted for two and a half years of vacancy and paralysis,” he said.

Hariri was endorsed by 112 members of the 127-seat parliament on Thursday, with only Hezbollah and the Lebanese Baath party – all supporters of Syria’s government – declining to back him as prime minister. A long line of deputies trekked to the presidential palace on Wednesday and Thursday according to a carefully orchestrated protocol to nominate their chosen candidate for the office.

 The long list was led by outgoing Prime Minister Tammam Salam, followed by a Future Movement delegation, former premiers Najeeb Miqati and Fouad Saniora, Deputy Speaker Farid Makari and the independent deputies Butros Harb, Michel Murr and Nayla Tueini, as well as Michel Pharaon, Talal Arslan and Ahmad Karami. In addition to the Future Movement (35), the Free Patriotic Movement (20), the Lebanese Forces (8), the Phalange Party (5), the Marada Movement (3), and the Progressive Socialist Party (7), all pledged support even if deputy Ahmad Fatfat (Future) voiced his opposition. “I told President Aoun that the constitution and the laws must be respected and I hoped the essential principles will return to political life, seeing as no political system can function without an opposition,” Harb said after his consultations with Aoun.

Michel Pharaon was a bit more cynical when he declared that he “nominated Hariri for the premiership and called for facilitating the formation of the next cabinet in order to immunise unity”. Although the Marada Movement leader did not accompany his bloc to the consultations, in what was a clear protest move on account of the year-long rivalry between Sulaiman Franjieh and Aoun, the fact that Marada added its votes to the tally was a good omen for internal stability.

 Speaker Nabih Berri was the last person to name a candidate in the name of the Amal Party. Berri apparently requested to be the last to avoid making three treks from his Ain Al Tinih headquarters to Baabda Palace — first as a Speaker, second as head of Amal, and third to be briefed by Aoun on the outcome of consultations. Berri declared that he will cooperate at the governmental level, but stressed that he will not forgo his alliances with Franjieh and Waleed Junblatt.

By DailyStar: Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is poised to return to the
premiership this week after having secured the support of most of the
country’s major blocs, including his Future Movement, the Free Patriotic
Movement, the Lebanese Forces, MP Walid Jumblatt’s bloc, in addition to
a number of independent lawmakers. Meanwhile, Saudi King Salman Bin Abdel Aziz spoke by phone with
President Michel Aoun Tuesday night to congratulate him on his election
as head of state, wishing him good luck and success in his new national
responsibilities, in the kingdom’s clearest support of Aoun’s election.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s two major
parliamentary blocs on Tuesday named Saad Hariri, a former prime
minister and a Sunni leader, as their candidate for premier in the
government being formed after a new president was elected The widely expected endorsement by the Future
bloc, led by Hariri, and the majority Christian bloc comes a day after
Michel Aoun was elected president. Hariri was promised the post in exchange for
backing Aoun’s presidential bid in parliament, ending a
two-and-half-year deadlock that left Lebanon without a president. Aoun is receiving the different parliamentary blocs Wednesday before naming the prime minister, likely before the weekend.

By Naharnet: Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat has asked to go alone to the
binding parliamentary consultations to name a premier, and will not
accompany the Mustaqbal bloc MPs to the presidential palace, al-Akhbar
daily reported on Wednesday. “Fatfat is taking this measure because he did not
support the bloc’s decision to nominate Aoun for the post of president,”
sources close to Fatfat told the daily. The sources denied rumors alleging that Hariri has
distanced Fatfat from the alliance for his failure to commit to a
decision to vote for Aoun. They assured that the two men had a
“friendly” telephone conversation on Tuesday. On the reason that made Fatfat leave the Mustaqbal ranks
despite the fact that other Mustaqbal MPs including head of the bloc
Fouad Saniora and MPs Mohammed Qabbani, Farid Makari, Ammar Houri and
Samir al-Jisr have also refrained from voting in favor of Aoun, the
sources preferred to keep the reason undisclosed. However, well-informed Mustaqbal sources told the daily
that distancing Fatfat came after a “direct request from Hariri, who is
very upset with the MPs actions, statements and his lack of commitment
to the bloc’s decision.”

By DailyStar:

Aoun’s call came during a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of
State John Kerry, who also called the founder of the Free Patriotic
Movement Tuesday night to congratulate him on his election as Lebanon’s
president. Kerry urged a quick formation of a new government in Lebanon
following Aoun’s election to the presidency. Kerry affirmed “the United States’ stand beside Lebanon’s and its
commitment to support the Lebanese Army in confronting terrorism and its
attempts to strengthen stability,” according to a statement released by
Baabda Palace’s media office. He also told Aoun that the U.S. and “the
international community are looking forward to the formation of a new
government as soon as possible,” the statement said.

Thanking Kerry, Aoun underlined the “importance of the U.S. keeping
its military assistance to the Lebanese Army which is working to bolster
security and stability in the country.” The U.S. has provided Lebanon with more than $1.4 billion in military
aid since 2005 following Syria’s withdrawal from the country. Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi was among the first visitors to meet
Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda. Kahwagi later signed a
memorandum appointing Brig. Gen. Salim Feghali as the head of the
Presidential Guard. Feghali is set to begin his job on Nov. 7.

By Business Insider: Pamela Engel

Huma Abedin has been by Hillary Clinton’s side for decades as one
of her longest-serving aides, and now she’s at the center of an
FBI investigation that involves the Democratic presidential
nominee’s use of a private email server. Clinton’s critics have long focused on the 41-year-old Abedin
because of her close connection to Clinton.

Vanity Fair
noted in a profile of Abedin earlier this year that
she is often referred to as Clinton’s “second daughter.” She
follows Clinton nearly everywhere and is thought to be one of her
closest confidantes. Abedin started working for Clinton as an intern in
1996 when Clinton was the First Lady. Abedin had initially
wanted to go into journalism, but ended up sticking with Clinton
and following her from the White House to the Senate to the State
Department to the campaign trail. She’s now vice-chairwoman of
Clinton’s presidential campaign. And the email scandal isn’t the first controversy she’s
found herself at the center of.

Her ties to Saudi Arabia Abedin’s upbringing and family ties have been the sources of many conspiracy theories. She was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to a Pakistani mother and Indian father, and she spent much of her childhood in Saudi Arabia.

By Ahram Online Google marked the 95th birthday of Wadih El Safi, Lebanon’s most prominent cultural icon, with a doodle featuring the musician sitting with his oud at the backdrop of a typical Lebanese landscape.Born on 1 November 1921, “El Safi became known as the ‘Voice of Lebanon’ after winning a national radio competition at […]

The new exhibition’s 520 pieces range from the Paleolithic period to the Ottoman Empire. A naturally preserved mummies, found in the caves of Qadisha valley in the Lebanese mountains and dating back to 1283 A.D., on display in the newly inaugurated basement section of Beirut’s National Museum. The National Museum of Beirut has a collection […]

By Dania Saadi, The National

Lebanon’s economic growth could accelerate to 3.3 per cent
next year following the election of a president after a 29-month
political vacuum, according to a report from the International Institute
of Finance (IIF).

Lebanon’s parliament on Monday elected Michel
Aoun, an ally of Hizbollah, as president, a post that had remained
vacant since May 2014 because of political haggling over the successor
to Michel Suleiman. The
next step is to form a national unity government, which is expected to
be headed by Saad Al Hariri, who helped to broker consensus for the
election of Aoun.

Growth, which is forecast to have risen to 1.4
per cent this year from 1.2 per cent last year, will pick up next year
thanks to “modest recovery in private investment and exports of goods
and services”, said Garbis Iradian, chief economist for the Middle
Eastern and North Africa for the IIF in the report.

These
growth estimates are more optimistic than the IMF, which is forecasting
1 per cent growth this year and 2 per cent for next year.The
economic recovery could be boosted if the blocked trade routes with
Syria and Iraq are reopened in the event of the defeat of ISIL, a
de-escalation of fighting in Syria takes place and Lebanon’s ties with
Arabian Gulf countries improve, according to the IIF.

By Gulf news

Sharjah: Lebanese intellectual and academic Dr Ghassan Salame was
named Cultural Personality of the Year of Sharjah International Book
Fair’s (SIBF) 35th edition. Dr Salame, who is a former Lebanese
minister of culture (2000-2003), will be recognised during the fair,
which will take place from November 2 to 12 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Ahmad
Bin Rakkad Ameri, chairman of Sharjah Book Authourity, said, “Our
selection of Dr Salame was based on his long and distinguished career,
his invaluable contribution to the Arab cultural scene and his concern
for all issues relating to the Arab world.” The SIBF’s recognition
pays tribute to intellectual figures in the Arab world and celebrates
their achievements that inspire future generations. Dr Salame is highly regarded for his significant achievements in the history of the region over the past five decades.

An internationally recognised and influential personality, he was
appointed political adviser to the UN Mission in Iraq, served as senior
adviser at the United Nations and taught political science at the
University of Paris.

BY Daily Star Lebanon

Daily Star BEIRUT: Family and friends filled the Saint Nicolas Church in Beirut’s Ashrafieh area Sunday as they said their final goodbyes to one of Lebanon’s most beloved singers and composers, Melhem Barakat, who passed away two days ago.

His coffin arrived from the nearby Hotel Dieu Hospital at around 10 a.m. to the Greek Orthodox church, where a funeral mass was held by Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut Elias Aoude at around 1 p.m. It arrived in a black hearse with a large picture of the late singer on top, as loudspeakers played his songs.  His life-time friend and Lebanese poet Nizar Francis helped carry the coffin inside the church.

Many Lebanese singers and politicians were present at the funeral mass.  “We are going to miss a lot of his songs, words and laughter…It’s not only a loss for his town, family and fans, but one for all music,” Lebanese singer, Ragheb Alama said.  The renowned singer passed away Friday at the age of 71, after battling an illness.

The funeral convoy later departed to the Mount Lebanon town of Kfarshima, the home town of Barakat, where he will be buried. Hundreds of people joined in the funeral procession in the town, which took place around 3 p.m. Barakat was one of the few Arab singers to perform in colloquial Lebanese Arabic, a stylistic choice that he defended throughout his career.

The Lebanese musical icon also launched an acting career, appearing in several films in the 1980s and participating in many of the acclaimed Rahbani Brothers’ musicals. When the musical legend wasn’t singing, he was composing songs and collaborating with famed artists such as Ghassan Saliba, Majida Al-Roumi, Najwa Karam and Carol Sakr. He is survived by his three children from his first marriage Majd, Waed and Ghinwa, and a son named Melhem Junior from his second.

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state news agency says Lebanese singer and composer
Melham Barakat, who was highly esteemed and popular across the region,
has died. National News Agency said Barakat, 71, died Friday at a Beirut hospital where he was admitted weeks earlier.

Barakat rose to prominence more than three decades ago. He was
influenced by the late Egyptian composer Mohammed Abdul-Wahhab, who was
widely regarded as one of the Arab world’s best songwriters. Among Barakat’s most popular songs are “Two Moons at my Door,” and “Habibi Inta (You are my Love)”. He was married twice and is survived by four children.

By Daily Star: The esteemed singer and composer, who began his long career in the
1960s, was admitted to the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Beirut more than a
month ago, local media reported. Barakat was one of the few Arab
singers to perform in colloquial Lebanese Arabic, a stylistic choice
that he defended throughout his career. The Lebanese musical icon
also launched an acting career, appearing in several films in the 1980s
and participating in many of the acclaimed Rahbani Brothers’ musicals.

By Lisa Barrington and Tom Perry
| BEIRUT

Lebanon’s
central bank chief said he was satisfied with the country’s foreign
currency reserves, which have been boosted to record highs by months of
financial engineering, and had no plan for further operations to boost
them.

“Today we
are at a historical, record high,” Bank of Lebanon Governor Riad Salameh
told the Reuters Middle East Investment Summit.

Foreign
currency reserves excluding gold rose to $41 billion by mid-October
from around $35 billion before the financial operations involving the
Ministry of Finance, central bank and local banks began in June.

We are at a satisfactory level which
will allow the country to fund its needs for the public and the private
sector,” Salameh said. “The engineering we are talking about has
achieved its purpose and has been now ended.”

By John Ziegler 

Yesterday, I examined the ten most undereported stories about Donald Trump
during this campaign, which I believe would have done great damage to
his candidacy if they had been given appropriate attention by the
all-too-easily-distracted news media. Today, I have complied a similar
list of topics, in no particular order, to which the news media has
given short shrift regarding Hillary Clinton.

1) Benghazi. Before Donald Trump was a
serious threat to make this election all about him, it was assumed/hoped
by most conservatives that at least a significant portion of the
dialogue would be about how Hillary handled the loss of four Americans under her watch at Benghazi.
And yet, despite a major motion picture having focused attention on the
heart-breaking story, almost nothing has been made of it during this
election. I guess, as Hillary infamously said in one of her testimonies
about the episode, “what difference, at this point, does it make?!”

2) Bill’s Presidency. You would think that
if someone’s spouse had been President of the United States for eight
years that their record might come up if that person ran in a general
election for the very same job. However, you would think wrong. At least
based on the fact that about the only thing we ever hear about Bill’s
presidency these days is that the economy was good. Nothing about why he
was impeached (no, not the sex, it was the perjury and obstruction of
justice), his outrageous last-second pardons (specifically of Marc Rich), his unwillingness to kill Osama bin Laden, or how the Republican Congress was responsible for much that got done.