The Day Nabih Berri Filed for Candidacy

Morning headlines focused on the technical and political preparations for the upcoming Monday cabinet session, specifically the military report on arms limitation north of the Litani River and the 'parallel economy' of Iranian imports. Following Saad Hariri’s return to Beirut the previous evening, media attention shifted toward his scheduled meetings with foreign envoys and the anticipation surrounding his February 14 announcement regarding Sunni political participation. By early afternoon, Speaker Nabih Berri dominated the editorial cycle by becoming the first candidate to officially register for the 2026 parliamentary elections, a move framed as a definitive rejection of any term extensions or delays. This coincided with the conclusion of IMF discussions in Beirut, where editors highlighted a reported breakthrough regarding the recovery of deposits and the modernization of digital state fee payments. The evening was marked by reports of regional military posturing, specifically the deployment of a second U.S. aircraft carrier and Israeli threats regarding Iranian missile capabilities, while domestic coverage focused on the judiciary’s claimed restoration of authority and the impact of winter storms on Lebanese infrastructure.