March 14 MPs call for punishing scaremongers

During Tuesday’s cabinet session, March 14 MPs Ammar Houri , Okab Antoine Zahra and George Adwan discussed the recent threats against public figures including Prime Minister Saad Hariri and called on relevant authorities to punish the scaremongers (more…)

Lebanon PM, Speaker exchange accusations over 2010 budget

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri exchanged accusations over the 2010 budget during Tuesday’s parliamentary session

In response to statements of MPs, Hariri said parliamentary committees should speed up adoption of the budget so that the cabinet could act. (more…)

Deal reached by March 14 over Palestinian rights

Lebanon’s Social Affairs Minister Selim Sayegh, also a member of the Phalange party, told Future News on Tuesday that a deal was reached on Monday during the meeting headed by Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora to grant Palestinian refugees in Lebanon appropriate labor compensation, as long as they do not burden the treasury of the Lebanese government. (more…)

Hariri calls for tollerance & moderation

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed on Monday that “Lebanon’s spirit of unity, tolerance, dialogue, coexistence, moderation and the ability to produce a sound democratic life must remain our way to solve disputes between each other.”

At an iftar banquet he hosted at the residence of his late father, former PM Rafik Hariri, (more…)

President, Speaker seek to islolate cabinet from STL disputes

March 14 MP Ammar Houri told Now Lebanon that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) probe is a judicial matter that must be separated from political disputes in Lebanon.

“Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the Future bloc or the Future Movement will not take part in the STL debate in Lebanon ,” Houri said. (more…)

Lebanon: Power blackouts should be dealt with seriously

March 14 MP Mohammad Hajjar told the Voice of Lebanon (VOL) on Tuesday that power blackouts is an extremely serious issue but the relevant authorities are not dealing with issue seriously, adding that the matter will be addressed during Tuesday’s parliament session.

“Power-cut protests reflect the extent of people’s problems,” Hajjar said. (more…)

Phalange: LAF should have exclusive rights to defend Lebanon

The Phalange Party issued a statement on Monday in which it stated that mixing between the right of the Lebanese Armed Forces’ (LAF) to defend the country and that of Hezbollah might send the wrong signals to the international institutions jeopardize Lebanon’s credibility . (more…)

Parliament to discuss oil exploration, Palestinian rights

The parliament is scheduled to discuss during its Tuesday’s session the oil exploration draft law and the rights of Palestinians amid fears of renewed bickering among political foes over the two issues.

Future bloc MP Ghazi Youssef and Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil visited Energy Minister Gebran Bassil on Monday (more…)

Lebanon May Auction Oil, Natural Gas Exploration Contracts Within a Year

Lebanon may auction rights within the next 12 months for undersea oil and natural-gas exploration, spurred by energy projects in the waters off neighboring Israel, an adviser to the country’s parliament speaker said.

Lebanon’s parliament is likely to approve a law on offshore exploration as early as tomorrow, Ali Hamdan said in a telephone interview from Beirut. (more…)

Jet breaks apart during landing in Colombia

One passenger was killed after an airplane crashed in bad weather and broke apart while attempting to land early Monday on the island of San Andres, Colombia, officials said.

National police said 124 people were injured, (more…)