Lebanon
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Qaouq: Latest developments boosted consensus chances

Hezbollah central council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq on Sunday said that the “latest developments” have increased the chances for “consensus” over the presidential file.

“Our priority lies in electing a president to halt the collapse and rescue the country, but the priority of the challenge and confrontation camp is taking the country to a new adventure in order to overturn the domestic political balances," Qaouq said.

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Geagea says rejected deal involving Franjieh election

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has confirmed that he has rejected “domestic and foreign” proposals for the election of Suleiman Franjieh as president in return for the appointment of a pro-opposition premier.

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Berri-Mouawad rift triggers flurry of fiery statements

Independent MP and presidential candidate Michel Mouawad said Friday that he will not accept to be insulted, after Speaker Nabih Berri described him as an “in vitro experiment” candidate.

"What Berri said is not acceptable," Mouawad said. "We are not students in a classroom."

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Aoun suspends investigations, says 'things positive' with Oueidat

Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun has suspended her investigations into suspsected violations committed by Lebanon’s banks, at the request of State Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oueidat, ad-Diyar newspaper reported on Friday.

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Ibrahim begins planning for his political future

Former General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim has started “calm planning” for the role that he will play in the coming period, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday.

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Report: Franjieh-Salam deal 'born dead' as army chief's chances plunge

The so-called Franjieh-for-Salam presidential settlement proposal was “born dead,” political sources deeply involved in the presidential file have said.

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Hezbollah, Shiite Council condemn Kouyoumjian's 'Mutaa' remarks

Hezbollah condemned Friday remarks by the Head of Foreign Affairs in the Lebanese Forces Party, Richard Kouyoumjian, who criticized the Shiite Mutaa marriage and the political Shiism that he described as "arrogant."

"Even if religion allows it, Mutaa marriage remains an adultery that results in an illegitimate child whose mother is ashamed of, and whose actual father is different from his real father," Kouyoumjian had said in a tweet.

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Analyst: Only Iranian-Saudi agreement can break presidential deadlock

Lebanon is navigating a devastating economic crisis that has plunged more than 80 percent of the population into poverty, according to the United Nations.

Strikes and absenteeism have paralyzed public services, the state is barely able to provide a few hours of mains electricity a day, and the local currency has lost most of its value against the greenback since 2019.

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Report: Jumblat will not endorse Franjieh as KSA opposes his election

MP Wael Abu Faour has affirmed to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat that Saudi Arabia will not support the election of Hezbollah's presidential candidate Suleiman Franjieh, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported Friday.

Marada leader Franjieh, a former lawmaker and minister close to Hezbollah and a personal friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has not officially announced his candidacy, but said he was interested in the position.

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Mouawad lashes out at Berri over 'in vitro experiment' candidate

Presidential candidate MP Michel Mouawad on Thursday lashed out at Speaker Nabih Berri in a barb-filled statement, after the latter described him as an “in vitro experiment” candidate.

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