Suleiman criticized over picking Chahine as Zahle representative at dialogue talks

President Michel Suleiman announced earlier in the day the list of national dialogue committee members. But Culture Minister Salim Wardeh issued a statement on Monday voicing surprise that Suleiman picked Professor Fayez al-Hajj Chahine as Zahle’s representative in the committee . He criticized the appointment as one that does not represent the Greek Catholics of Zahle.
The appointment of Chahine deprives the Zahle residents of their democratic choice and marginalizes their region, Wardeh also said
According to NBN the talks will convene within 10 days

Israeli intelligence: Nasrallah visits Syria 3 times a year

Israeli intelligence agencies announced that they have real time ( or slightly delayed ) intelligence information on the recent visit of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to Damascus where he met with the Iranian and Syrian presidents .
Israeli newspaper “Yediot Aharonot” quoted an Israeli security official as saying ” Israel had more than one opportunity to seize , but chosen not to.”
According to Israeli intelligence, Nasrallah visits Syria at the rate of three times a year.

LAF arrests 13 suspects in arson attacks in south Lebanon

The Lebanese army has reportedly arrested 13 youths suspected of involvement in arson attacks on scores of homes in the southern town of Jwayya.
Voice of Lebanon radio said Sunday that the latest attack was on the home of a citizen from the Qleit family.

Phalange: Saifi headquarters not for sale

The Phalange party on Sunday denied as “baseless” a report in the Ad-Diyar newspaper that it was planning to sell its headquarters in Saifi district of Beirut to former Prime Minister Najib Miqati.
Miqati’s office also issued a statement denying Ad-Diyar’s report which claimed that the former premier intended to buy the Phalange headquarters for $20 million.
The party “stresses that such information is not true” and the party’s headquarters “cannot be sold or bought,” the Phalange said in a statement. (more…)

Sfeir: Coming days do not guarantee peace of mind

Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir urged the Lebanese during his Sunday sermon to unify ranks because the coming days do not guarantee peace of mind.
“It is necessary to unify ranks,” Sfeir said at his Sunday sermon in Bkirki.

He also urged Lebanese to avoid futile debates

Why did Ethiopian flight ET409 crash and who is at fault?

There are a barrage of statements and counter charges by all parties concerned with the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET409.This report explains how blame in such cases are determined

Chile earthquake: Death toll reached 300

The death toll from the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday has reached 300 and is expected to climb further as authorities estimate two million people were affected by the disaster and half a million homes were severely damaged or destroyed.

List of participants in national dialogue meetings

The presidential press office issued a statement on Sunday, stating that President Michel Suleiman has finalized the formation of the committee for national dialogue as follows:
Speaker Nabih Berri, PM Saad Hariri, former President Amin Gemayel, MP Michel Aoun, former PM Najib Miqati, former PM Fouad Saniora, Deputy Speaker Farid Makari, Defense Minister Elias Murr, MP Walid Jumblat, MP Mohammed Raad, MP Suleiman Franjieh, MP Talal Arslan, Minister Michel Pharaon, Minister Mohammed Safadi, Minister Jean Oghassabian, MP Assaad Hardan, MP Hagop Pakradounian, LF leader Samir Geagea, Professor Fayez al-Hajj Chahine.
The statement also said Suleiman will invite the participants for a meeting at Baabda palace that will be announced at a later date.
The last national dialogue session was held on June 1 ahead of the parliamentary elections.
Update: NBN TV has reported that the president will convene the national dialogue within 10 days.

Israel used Australian passports in Lebanon long before Dubai

Australia’s counter-intelligence and security agency is investigating suspicions that three Australian-Israeli dual citizens spied for Israel in recent years by using their Australian passports, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Saturday.

Australian intelligence sources said that the three men under investigation all emigrated to Israel within the last decade. Each has visited Australia at different times to legally change their names and obtain new passports. The new passports were used to gain entry to a number of countries, including Iran, Syria and Lebanon. (more…)

Damascus summit outraged Lebanon’s majority

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah ’s meeting in Damascus last Thursday with the Iranian and Syrian presidents outraged Lebanon’s majority alliance