The
following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press.
LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language
readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab
world.
Al-Akhbar daily
reported on Saturday that more than 300, 000 Lebanese have installed the Viber
application for free calls despite the fact that the application is operated by
an Israeli company.
The daily
learned that the Viber Company celebrated a few days ago the 50 million users
it had garnered around the world, adding that the Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth
English website dedicated a big share to the news.
It is worth
mentioning that the majority of people affiliated with Lebanon’s
telecommunications sector are unaware that the company is of Israeli origin.
Speaker
Nabih Berri confirmed his keenness on “dealing smoothly” with the Monday
legislative session while receiving a “Jumblatti” ministerial delegation.
Berri told
An-Nahar daily that he had already put forth his proposal that calls for the
formation of a ministerial-parliamentary commission, adding that he has
improved the terms of success of his proposal paving the way for its
implementation.
The speaker
added that he has briefed Jumblatt’s ministers on the details of his proposal,
voicing hope that the other party will be responsive.
Asked on the
possibility of postponing the session to pave the way for further contacts
between the parliament’s different blocs, Berri said “the issue is in the hands
of the parliament…the proposal put forth by March 14 regarding such a big issue
cannot be studied and discussed within 48 hours, before the legislative
session.”
Al-Akhbar
daily reported on Saturday that former PM Saad Hariri has purchased an
apartment that is worth more than 7 million Euros and offered it to a Saudi
official working for King Abdullah.
Sheikh Ahmad
Assir confirmed to
al-Joumhouria daily that the movement he had called for is
“peaceful.”
“I call on every human being, whether he is Muslim
or not and whether he accepts tyranny against his fellow man and brothers in
Syria or he does not, to take it to the streets with us to unite together in
the sit-in,” he added.
Sheikh Assir
told
al-Joumhouria daily that the sit-in will reveal “the reality of the
country”.
March 8
sources said that the opposition’s call to boycott the parliament session shows
that they are seeking obstruction.
FPM sources
told
an-Nahar that they are ready to speak out against the statements put forth
by former PM Fouad Siniora during his press conference.
The sources
criticized what they described as “the flagrant fallacies and political
blackmail”, adding that it is likely that MP Ibrahim Kanaan will handle the
counter-attack whose timing will be disclosed today.