Introduction to the evening news 09-01-2013

Olga, Mikhail Bogdanov, William Burns and Lakhdar Brahimi were the most recurrent names today.  

Olga is the name of the Russian fierce storm hitting the region for the third day.   In Lebanon, snow reached the coastal regions. Though this storm was expected by weather forecasts, its surprised the Lebanese officials.  

Bogdanov, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Burns, the newly appointed US Secretary of State and the famous Brahimi will be meeting in Geneva on Friday to discuss the Syrian file.  

However, Russia and Brahimi's positions over Sunday's speech of President Bashar Assad did not match.

Russia announced that the ideas aired by Assad should be taken into account in the search for a solution to the conflict.  

For his part, Brahimi said that the Syrian president's proposal to end the crisis was no better than previous failed initiatives.   

Meanwhile, Syrian rebel groups have freed 48 Iranians captured over recent months in the country in exchange for 2130 prisoners held by Syrian security services.    

In Lebanon, the parliamentary sub-committee tasked to discuss electoral law proposals resumed its meetings while PM Najib Mikati declared that the upcoming parliamentary elections will be held on their due time. 

This as, the cabinet approved LBP 3 Billion to help the people who were affected by the current storm, Achrafieh residents who were affected by the explosion that targeted late Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan and Tripoli's residents who were affected by the clashes between Bab el-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen's militants.