“Lebanon’s parliament has elected the country’s army chief as president, ending a power vacuum that has lasted more than two years. Joseph Aoun’s candidacy for the mainly ceremonial role – which is reserved for a Maronite Christian under a sectarian power-sharing system – was backed by several key political parties, as well as the US, France and Saudi Arabia. A rival preferred by Hezbollah, the powerful Shia Muslim militia and political party supported by Iran, withdrew on Wednesday and endorsed the commander.” Army chief elected Lebanon’s president after years of deadlock [BBC]