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Cypriot Minister in Beirut Next Week to Discuss Maritime Economic Zone

Lebanon's maritime border file with Cyprus, Israel and Syria is expected to resurface again when Cypriot Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, visits Beirut on an official visit to the country next week, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

Christodoulides is expected to fly in Beirut Thursday at the invitation of his Lebanese counterpart Jebran Bassil. He will hold talks with senior Lebanese officials, according to the daily.

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Report: Aoun 'Mulls' Leading Cedre Delegation to France

President Michel Aoun could lead Lebanon's delegation to Paris to take part in the Cedre conference set for April 6, in the French capital, al-Joumhouria daily reportedly on Saturday.

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Rifi Calls for International Election Observation

Former justice minister Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi accused the “State authorities of meddling” in the parliamentary elections in order to “secure victory,” as he called for international observers to monitor the May 6 elections, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

“We have already warned against the authority's interference and influence in the elections. Today we have become certain that they are using legal and illegal means to ensure their victory,” the daily quoted Rifi as saying.

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Nasrallah Says Party Waging Battle Against Corruption, Blames 'Authority' for Public Debt

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasarllah said his party is going to fight a true battle against “corruption” in the upcoming legislative elections, as he blamed Lebanon's public debt on “the side that assumed the premiership since 1992,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

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Satire TV Hosts Hisham Haddad, Abu Talal Under Scrutiny Over 'Bible' Remarks

The Episcopal Media Committee has filed a complaint with the Lebanese National Audiovisual Media Council over two satire TV shows that made “cynical references against segments from the holy Bible”, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

NNA said the Audiovisual Media Council received the complaint filed against weekly satire entertainment programs one hosted by Hisham Haddad on LBCI, and another on al-Jadeed TV hosted by satirist character called Abu Talal.

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UNIFIL Says 'Lebanon, Israel Talks' Proceed Until Dispute is Solved

Spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Andrea Tenenti said Thursday that talks to solve border disputes between Lebanon and Israel are ongoing until a solution is reached.

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Report: Bkirki Refuses Meddling in Elections

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi “stands at an equal distance” from all political parties and refuses to interfere in the parliamentary electoral process, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

“Bkirki stand at an equal distance from all candidates, particularly in the Christian regions. Bkirki does not support anyone (candidate or party) at the expense of another,” the daily quoted Bkirki sources.

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UN Gives Strong Backing to Lebanon's Political Independence

The U.N. Security Council reaffirmed its strong support for Lebanon's political independence following a report by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said "crises in the region continue to pose a risk to the stability" of the country.

In a report circulated this week, Guterres pointed to the sudden resignation — later rescinded — of Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri late last year while he was in Saudi Arabia as one crisis. It was widely seen as orchestrated by Hariri's Saudi backers, who complain that the Lebanese government is controlled by the powerful Iran-backed Hizbullah group.

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Aoun Chairs Cabinet Meeting, to Partake in Arab Summit in April

President Michel Aoun chaired the government meeting on Wednesday at Baabda Palace to discuss and decide on 35 items on the agenda, “including some urgent files,” the National News Agency reported.

The meeting was held in the presence of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and government ministers.

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Bassil to Push Ahead with Law Granting Women Right to Pass Citizenship to Children

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil said on Wednesday that a draft law will be submitted granting Lebanese women married to foreigners the right to pass their nationality to their children, “with the exception of neighboring countries.”

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