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Geagea Assures, Efforts Serious on New Law for Parliamentary Polls

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea seemed pessimistic on the potentials that Lebanon's political parties reach common ground as for agreeing on a new electoral law that will govern the upcoming parliamentary elections, as he renewed rejection for the current 1960 law that governed the 2009 elections.

“Behind the scenes, there are some serious efforts among political parties in all directions in order to reach a new law before the month's end,” An Nahar daily quoted Geagea as saying on Saturday.

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Report: Aoun Determined, New Election Law Must be Agreed

As political parties bicker to find a new electoral law that meets the approval of all factions, President Michel Aoun made a firm stance and assured that the upcoming parliamentary elections will not be held based on the current 1960 law and that a new law must be stipulated, al-Joumhouria daily reported Saturday.

The President's position is firm, and was reiterated in several occasions the most recent was during an interview with Al-Arabiya television that was recorded during his presence in Riyadh, where he said: “There is a Lebanese will to pass a new law and the debate is currently revolving around which law is the best for everyone,” added the daily.

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Aoun to Visit Egypt Soon

President Michel Aoun is expected to visit Egypt before long for talks with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, a trip that was purported to be part of his tour after Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but was postponed for pressing reasons, al-Joumhouria daily reported Saturday.

Cairo was planned to be the third destination for the President during his first trip abroad to Saudi Arabia and Doha. But, it was postponed due to al-Sisi's engagement in pre-scehduled meetings, added the daily.

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Gunfire Erupts in Arsal after Syrian Shot and Wounded

Syrian national Amir Durra was wounded on Friday when unknown assailants opened fire at him in the Bekaa border town of Arsal, state-run National News Agency reported.

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Ministerial Panel on Refugees Holds Positive Meeting, to Issue Paper on 'Priorities'

Prime Minister Saad Hariri presided Friday over a meeting for the ministerial committee on refugees, during which the conferees discussed preparing a paper on the government's policy towards the issue of Syrian refugees.

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Jarrah Says Cellphone, Internet Fees to be Cut in a 'Calculated Manner'

Telecommunications Minister Jamal al-Jarrah announced Friday that cellphone and internet fees will be slashed in a “calculated and non-arbitrary manner,” noting that “a team of experts has been formed to study this file in a thorough way.”

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RPGs, Medium Caliber Machineguns Fired at ISF as Captagon Depot Raided

An Internal Security Forces unit came under heavy gunfire Friday during a raid on a Captagon warehouse in the Baalbek neighborhood of al-Kayyal, the ISF said.

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Six Palestinians Turn Themselves in to Lebanese Army

Six wanted Palestinians turned themselves in on Friday to the army intelligence department of the South to settle their situations, state-run National News Agency reported.

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Israel Raids on Hizbullah, Syria Targets since 2013

Syria's army accused Israel of carrying out missile strikes early Friday on an airbase near Damascus -- the latest in a series of attacks in recent years.

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Mashnouq: Aoun's Rhetoric in KSA Realistic and Responsible

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq stated that President Michel Aoun's rhetoric during his Gulf trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar was “realistic and responsible,” he told LBCI TV station in an interview.

Masnouq hailed the outcome of Aoun's trip and said: “It was more than serious. For the first time, the Gulf people have heard some realistic and responsible words. Meaning, the President did not complain or convey unrealistic statements.”

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