Posted by Wires
Former US President Jimmy Carter is scheduled to visit Lebanon in December, the Lebanese Central News Agency (CNA) said on Wednesday.
CNA reported hat Carter was scheduled to meet with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, House Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Seniora on a “private visit.”
Carter is also to meet with […]
Monday, September 01, 2008
Report
Executive Summary
1. Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) called upon the Government of Lebanon to secure its borders and all entry points to prevent the entry into Lebanon without its consent of arms or related material.
2. At the invitation of the Security Council, and in close liaison with […]
Mahmoud Darwish, the renowned Palestinian poet, has died after open heart surgery at the Memorial Hermann medical centre in Texas. Ann Brimberry, Memorial Hermann’s spokeswoman, confirmed that Darwish died at 1.35pm (18:35 GMT).
Siham Daoud, a fellow poet and friend […]
Israel will transfer $23 million (72 million shekels) to the Gaza Strip to pay the salaries of Palestinian civil servants, according to Israeli sources. Matan Vilnai, the deputy defence minister, did not specify how the transfer would be carried out in his statement to public radio on Tuesday. “These funds will be transferred by the […]
RTTNews) - Spanish police have detected an al-Qaeda plot to attack UN peacekeepers in the Lebanon and Afghanistan.A detailed set of instructions on the use of remote-controlled bombs targeting these troops was published online for al-Qaeda’s European cells, according to a Spanish radio station’s report. (more…)
The great Lebanese artist George Wasoof returned to Lebanon to give one of the great performances of this summer season. Wassof’s concert was held at “Al Fardous Restaurant” located in northern Lebanon. (more…)
Over three weeks, after its formation, Lebanon’s national-unity government Monday ratified the policy statement draft reached by a special ministerial committee on Friday.
President Michel Suleiman headed the meeting at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. The meeting endorsed the policy statement draft textually, paving the way for an anticipated vote of confidence session at parliament. Reservations were expressed by four Christian ministers of the so-called “March 14″ bloc. Information Minister Tareq Mitri said the statement was adopted unanimously to secure “ministerial solidarity.” (more…)
BEIRUT (AFP) - Egypt is to supply power-starved Lebanon with 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity to help it meet a drastic shortfall, Lebanon’s Energy Minister Alan Taburian said on Monday.
“Egypt has an excess of 600 MW of electricity which will be divided as follows: 200 MW for Jordan, 200 for Syria and 200 for Lebanon,” Taburian told reporters after talks in Beirut with his Egyptian counterpart, Hassan Yunes.
“If later Syria or Jordan don’t need the full amount they are offered, we could use an additional 50 MW,” the minister said, adding that the grid in Lebanon would not be able to absorb more than an additional 250 MW.
According to state-run utility company Lebanon Electricity (EDL), the country needs 2,200 MW of electricity to meet its daily needs but it currently generates only 1,700 MW. However it also draws 100 MW from Syria.
“Our electricity deficit would be reduced to 500 MW,” Taburian said. It was not clear why the figures given by the minister, who is newly appointed to the post, differ from those of the EDL.
Electricity is a constant concern for the Lebanese government, which allocates the third largest slice of its budget, after debt servicing and salaries, to power supply.
The country suffers daily power outages, including in the capital Beirut where many businesses have bought generators to tide them over during lengthy blackouts.
The situation has been exacerbated by the high cost of fuel.
BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon’s national unity government on Monday adopted a manifesto that affirms the authority of the state over all matters, including the weaponry held by Hezbollah, a minister said. “The document was approved unanimously,” Information Minister Tareq Mitri said at the end of a cabinet meeting chaired by President Michel Sleiman. (more…)