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Suleiman to Head Lebanon’s Delegation to Arab Summit in Baghdad

President Michel Suleiman will attend the Arab Summit that will be held in Baghdad this week at the head of a small delegation, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to Baabda Palace sources, Suleiman will head Thursday morning to Iraq and depart the same day after he addresses the Arab leaders.

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ArabNet Digital Summit 2012 to Open Thursday with Participation of 140 Speakers, 1,500 Attendees

Under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Lebanon, Michel Suleiman, represented by the Minister of Telecommunications, Nicolas Sehnaoui, and with the participation of H.E. Riad Salameh, Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, the third annual ArabNet Digital Summit is set to open on Thursday, March 29th at the Grand Habtoor Hotel, Beirut. The Summit is the largest gathering of entrepreneurs and digital professionals in the web and mobile industries in the Arab region and is expected to attract 1,500 attendees for five action packed days of innovation, entrepreneurialism and best practice sharing between regional and global leaders.

In collaboration with the Central Bank of Lebanon and strategic partnerships with Bank Audi, STC, and MBC Group—the summit will feature discussions and lectures involving 150 internationally renowned speakers covering the latest trends and topics in the industry, particularly in relation to the opportunities and challenges created in various industries by the digital revolution. This will include the future of news, television, advertising and digital marketing, as well as mobile applications, online gaming, e-commerce, and other important fields.

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Electricity Logjam Continues as Miqati Calls Safadi, Meets Bassil

The standoff over the issue of electricity continued on Monday, despite a meeting between Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil and phone talks between the premier and Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi.

Bassil said he discussed “several issues with the prime minister,” noting that he did not tackle the issue of electricity with him.

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March 14 Hails Syria's Muslim Brotherhood Document as 'Historic'

The general-secretariat of the opposition March 14 coalition on Monday lauded the political document issued on Sunday by Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood, describing it as “historic in terms of its timing and content” and saying it represents “an essential and landmark addition to the promises of the Arab Spring.”

The Brotherhood vowed on Sunday to share power and respect democracy if President Bashar al-Assad is toppled.

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Phalange Warns against Repeating Antonine Incident in Other Universities

The Phalange Party on Monday condemned a recent incident at the Antonine University, where 37 students performed Muslim prayer outside the administration’s offices in protest at its refusal to provide them with a private prayer room.

In a statement issued after its weekly meeting the party’s politburo condemned “what happened on the campus of the Antonine University, when a number of students of well-known affiliation violated the institution’s bylaws,” warning against “repeating this approach in universities affiliated with Christian religious foundations, especially after the surfacing of attempts to perform similar steps in other universities.”

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Qortbawi Reveals Plan to Appoint 5 Members of Higher Judicial Council

Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi announced on Monday that he will present an initiative to resolve the dispute over the appointments in the Higher Judicial Council, hoping that the government would reach an agreement over the appointment of the head of the council.

He announced in a press conference that he will present a decree in May on the appointment of five members of the council.

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Disabled Man Left Homeless after Collapse of his Zgharta House

Disabled Man Left Homeless after Collapse of his Zgharta House

A disabled man and his sister have been left homeless after their house in the village of Bou Seet in Zgharta collapsed on Sunday, reported the National News Agency on Monday.

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Geagea Meets Gemayel: Govt. Will Collapse Sooner or Later

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized on Monday the government’s performance, while slamming the Free Patriotic Movement’s handling of the electricity file.

He said after holding talks in Maarab with Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel: “The government will collapse sooner or later.”

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Jumblat Lauds Syria's Muslim Brotherhood Declaration, Slams Fears of Islamist Movements

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Monday the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood’s statement on the developments in their country, saying that it reflected the Sunni population’s openness to regional changes.

He said: “The Muslim Brotherhood demonstrated moderation, diversity, and equality.”

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Plumbly Says U.N. Electoral Assistance Team Visited Lebanon Last Week

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly on Monday discussed with Prime Minister Najib Miqati last week’s visit to Lebanon by a U.N. electoral assistance team.

“The team of experts were here to examine what possible assistance may be extended to Lebanon in line with the initial preparations for the forthcoming elections,” said Plumbly after the meeting at the Grand Serail.

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