A soldier has been killed in an explosion in Lebanon.The cause of the explosion in the northern town of Abdeh was not immediately known and the army said it was investigating. (more…)
Suleiman Vows Not to Interfere with the Military
2/6/2008- President Michel Suleiman has pledged that he would not interfere in the affairs of the military establishment unless warranted by the nation’s supreme interests.
Suleiman made the address on Friday to a delegation from the Army Command who visited him at the Republican palace in suburban Baabda. (more…)
Debate over Government Portfolios Dominates Saniora’s Consultations
Premier-designate Fouad Saniora resumes on Saturday consultations with Parliamentary bloc leaders to form a new cabinet of national unity.The central debate focused on the distribution of the portfolios in the new cabinet between the opposition and the majority and especially the five “sovereign” ministries which are the Interior, Defense, Finance, Justice and Foreign Affairs. (more…)
Subsidized interest loans reach $1.9 bn at end – 2007
Figures released by the Central Bank show that the cumulative amount of subsidized interest loans to productive sectors in Lebanon reached $1.9bn during the 1997-2007 period. (more…)
Oil imports is leading source of VAT collected at customs , wholesale trade is biggest source of VAT from internal activity
Figures issued by the financial ministry show that revenues from value- added tax(VAT) collected at customs accounted for 73.4% of overall VAT receipts in 207, while the balance of 26.6% came from VAT collected from internal economic activity . (more…)
Siniora meets former premiers ahead of cabinet consultations
With Agencies- Prime Minister Fouad Siniora paid a number of customary visits on Thursday, one day ahead of the mandatory parliamentary consultations that will precede the formation of Lebanon’s new cabinet. Siniora met former premiers Omar Karami, Salim Hoss, Najib Mikati, Rasheed Solh, Amine Hafez and Michel Aoun. (more…)
Lebanon’s gross public debt reaches $43.2 billion
Posted by Daily Star-Lebanon’s Finance Ministry said Thursday that the budget deficit in the first three months of 2008 fell slightly thanks to higher revenues. But the ministry said the size of the gross public debt reached LL65.102 trillion ($43.2 billion), registering an increase of 2.74 percent over the level at the end of December 2007. (more…)
Kuwaiti MP: Star Academy Destroys Morals
Posted by AFP- A Kuwaiti Islamist lawmaker has urged authorities to ban a team from Lebanese reality TV show “Star Academy” from recruiting young Kuwaitis, saying the program destroys morals. (more…)
U.S. Homeland Security Chief: Hizbullah Greater Threat than Qaida
U.S. Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff has warned that Hizbullah “makes al-Qaida look like a minor league team,” and poses the greatest threat to national security.
“Someone described Hizbullah like the A-team of terrorists in terms of capabilities, in terms of range of weapons they have, in terms of internal discipline,” Chertoff told FOX News Thursday. “To be honest, they make al-Qaida look like a minor league team. (more…)
World Bank Studying Food Aid to Ease Crisis
Posted by AFP- The World Bank is studying the creation of a special fund to help combat aspects of the global food crisis which is threatening an increasing number of developing nations, a source said Wednesday. (more…)
Sarkozy to Upgrade Relations with Syria for its Lebanon Role
French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised Syrian President Bashar Assad’s efforts to facilitate inter-Lebanese dialogue in Doha and bring it to success by the election of President Michel Suleiman. (more…)
Hizbullah Ready to Discuss Defense Strategy, Not to Give Up Resistance
Hizbullah’s second in command, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said Thursday that the party is ready to discuss a national defense strategy, but would not give up “our resistance and our weapons.” (more…)