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Parliament Continues Debating State Budget for 2017

The Parliament convened for second day in a row to debate the country's first budget in 12 years with an earlier session on Tuesday that saw lawmakers tackle political issues instead of the country's budget.

Change and Reform bloc MP Naamatallah Abi Nasr spoke first, he said: “I urge the government to adopt the position of President Michel Aoun in line with the ministerial statement as for the displaced file.”

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Caccia Leaves to Rome as Lebanon Mission Ends

Papal ambassador Gabriele Caccia left Beirut Wednesday morning returning to Rome after the end of his posting in Lebanon and his appointment as ambassador to the Vatican in the Philippines, the National News Agency reported.

The Pope has appointed Caccia as apostolic nuncio in the Philippines, titular archbishop of Sepino.

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PSP Affirms Commitment to 'Mountain Reconciliation'

The Progressive Socialist Party on Wednesday stressed keenness on preserving “reconciliation, cooperation and civil peace in the Mountain” voicing calls to shun political rhetoric with the aim of gaining popularity in the elections.

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Parliament Renews Mandate of Parliamentary Committees, Heads, Rapporteurs

The Parliament renewed on Tuesday the mandates of the parliamentary committees, the heads and the secretaries, the National News Agency reported.

Lawmakers re-elected in a ten-minute session the parliamentary committees, their presidents, and members of the rapporteurs, NNA said.

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Zahra: LF-FPM Ties Going the 'Acceptable' Way

Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra clarified that the party's ties with the Free Patriotic Movement are going in a “reasonable” way, adding that differentiation must be made between “President Michel Aoun and his political faction.”

“Relations between the LF and FPM are going in a reasonable framework. The LF positions are adopted according to each file where the approach is based on the political and national plan,” said Zahra, noting that "there is a radical disagreement with the FPM and other parties on the issue of communication with the Syrian regime to resolve the file of displaced persons.”

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14-Year-Old Teen Kills Three, Including Father, Wounds Several in Beirut Neighborhood

Three people were shot and killed and three others were wounded in the Beirut neighborhood of Zqaq al-Blat when a young man first opened fire killing his father and later killing another two, the National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The 14-year suspect who was identified as Ali Mohammed Younis shot his dad, Mohammed, using a hunting rifle at 6:15 killing him instantly, NNA said.

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Report: Aoun Determined to Solve Displaced Syrians Crisis

President Michel's Aoun is determined to achieve results as for the return of displaced Syrians and his efforts will not stop at appealing to the international community for help to organize their return, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

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Hariri Discusses Military and Economic Support to Lebanon with Italy PM

Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Monday in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and the talks focused on military and economic support for Lebanon.

“The meeting tackled the ongoing preparations for the Rome II Conference to support the Lebanese army and security forces, and the Paris Conference to support the Lebanese economy as well as Lebanon's request to lift Italian restrictions on Lebanese agricultural and industrial products,” Hariri's office said in a statement.

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Refugee Crisis Tops Aoun's Talks with UNSC Permanent Members

President Michel Aoun held talks Monday in Baabda with the envoys of France, China, Russia, the UK, the U.S., the EU, the Arab League and the U.N. and the meeting focused on the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on Lebanon.

Aoun, who called the meeting, stressed that the “return of the displaced to stable and safe areas in Syria must be done without linking the matter to a political solution in Syria.”

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Berri Says Staging Parliamentary Elections 'Inevitable'

As Lebanon's parliamentary elections loom closer, Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that staging the polls has become an “inevitable reality” and that they will be staged “on time,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

“Parliamentary elections have become a reality and staging them on time is inevitable,” Berri was quoted by the daily as telling his visitors on Sunday.

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