Jumblatt calls for revival of compulsory military service

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt urged the government to give early retirement incentives to veteran officers in order to rebuild a youthful army.

He said such a step could be accompanied by a decision to bring back compulsory military service, (more…)

Hezbollah launches another attack against STL

Hezbollah’s top official in south Lebanon Sheikh Nabil Qaouq has said that ignoring the evidence presented by Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah means insistence on the implementation of Israel’s strife projects in Lebanon.

The evidence that allegedly implicates Israel in (more…)

Bassil trying to control the oil/gas sector

March 14 MP Mohammad Qabbani , who heads up the Public Works and Transportation parliamentary committee told LBC TV on Monday that “a particular minister cannot be the sole authority to make decisions on gas and oil issues .

He was referring to FPM Minister Gebran Bassil. who heads up the ministry of energy and water (more…)

Fatah al Islam names its new leader

Fatah al-Islam , the al Qaeda linked terrorist group named today Osama al-Shahabi as its leader to replace Abdel Rahman Awadh, according to al-Hayat newspaper.

Awadh and his associate Abu Bakr Mubarak were killed on Saturday by the Lebanese army intelligence unit in the Bekaa town of Chtaura. (more…)

Lebanon is still talking about 2010 budget

The parliamentary Budget and Finance committee which is chaired by FPM MP Ibrahim Kanaan met at the parliament building at the Nejmeh Square in Beirut on Monday to follow up on the 2010 state budget proposal . (more…)

Telecom prices down

Lebanon Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas announced on Monday a price reduction of up to 40% on night calls and SMS for pre-paid mobile phone cards starting the first of September. (more…)

Hariri: I will decide when to speak

Prime Minister Saad Hariri reiterated during an Iftar on Sunday that he will decide when to speak.

“Many people expect me to come out with a stance, but I said yesterday, I will choose when to speak,” Hariri told a dinner banquet (more…)

Syrian based Palestinians reject direct peace talks with Israel

Two secular Palestinian organizations joined Hamas on Sunday in calling on President Mahmoud Abbas not to bow to U.S. pressure to resume direct peace talks with Israel, which they described as dangerous.

“Insisting on direct talk throws a life line to Israel as its isolation deepens,” Hamas said in a statement issued jointly after a meeting in the Syrian capital with other Palestinian organizations that included Islamic Jihad. (more…)

It is decision time for Hezbollah chief

Decisions …Decisions …
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is facing tough decisions this week : Should he or shouldn’t he hand over the evidence that he claims to implicate Israel in the 2005 assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri?

In his speech last week Nasrallah tried to hit 2 birds with one stone : (more…)

Israel says Hezbollah is preparing for war

With tensions mounting along their shared border, Israel’s military says Hezbollah is moving fighters and weapons into the villages of south Lebanon, building up a secret network of arms warehouses, bunkers and command posts in preparation for war. (more…)