LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
January 06/2007
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,43-51.
The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to
him, "Follow me."Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses
wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said
to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him."Nathanael said to him,
"How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you,
I saw you under the fig tree."Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of
God; you are the King of Israel."Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater
things than this."And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see
the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of
Man."
Free Opinion
Space for Lebanon to move wisely amid
regional changes-Daily Star 6.01.07
Latest news from the Daily Star for January 06/07
Something new to divide Beirut: Paris
III reforms
Opposition vows to step up pressure on Siniora within
next few days
Murr works to arrange free pass for Gemayel to fill
slain son's seat in House
Foreign fixes will fail 'if Lebanese themselves do
not cooperate' - Fadlallah
PSP delegation visits Qabalan in Haret Hreik
Lebanon's education sector gets facelift - and not
for the better
Mitri thanks French for helping return rare artifact
found at Paris auction house
Sidon dump keeps growing despite closure plans
Owners of illegal quarries exploit political crisis
to resume work
Latest news from Miscellaneous sources for January 06/07
Four Men Allegedly Arrested in Shekka; Report-Naharner
Rice Likely to Attend
Lebanon Donor Conference in Paris-Naharnet
Murr Mediation to Avert By-Elections
Showdown in Metn-Naharnet
Chirac, Saniora Set
Jan.10 as Preparatory Meeting Ahead of Paris-3-Naharnet
Murr Mediation to
Avert By-Elections Showdown in Metn-Naharnet
Saudi King Met
High-Ranking Hizbullah Delegation-Naharnet
Hizbullah Confirms
Meeting Saudi Monarch-Naharnet
Saniora Government
Adopts Economic Reform Plan for Paris III-Naharnet
March 14 Coalition
Accuses SSNP of being Syrian Intelligence Tool Involved In Terrorism-Naharnet
Hizbullah to expand protest in Lebanon conflict-Ynetnews
US imposes sanctions on arms suppliers to Iran, Syria: report-NCR-Iran.org
Washington is obstructing Israel-Syria peace, says Mubarak-Gulf
News
One Year Without Sharon-Spiegel
Online
Lebanon group accuses SSNP of being Syrian terrorism tool-Ya
Libnan
World Vision Lebanon's Organic products went International-Ya
Libnan
Lebanon Government adopts Reform Plan for Paris III-Ya
Libnan
Four Men Allegedly Arrested in Shekka; Report
Lebanese security forces have allegedly arrested four men,
including a Syrian, in the northern town of Shekka, the daily Aliwaa reported
Friday.
Citing unnamed "specific sources," the paper said the four were not from Shekka,
but that they had been "living in the town for a long time due to internal
immigration on a job hunt." Aliwaa said the arrest took place "in the past few
days." It did not say when exactly police arrested them.
It identified the detainees as "Z.B." al-Qareh who has multiple political and
party loyalties, "D." Harb from the northern maronite Nahleh village in Batroun
who belongs to a non-Christian political faction, "M." Hajj Hussein who is known
for his association with one of the factions from outside the region, and Syrian
"M." al-Jammal who is married to a Lebanese and is known for his links to a
security officer in a local party. The paper said it was not immediately known
whether the four were in any way connected to the seven men arrested last month
in a major police bust at their hideouts in the northern province of Koura.
Police had also confiscated 200 kilograms of T.N.T. paste, detonators and timing
equipment from the hideouts of the Syrian Social National Party (SSNP) in Koura
during the December raid. Aliwaa said "security silence" circles the nature of
interrogation with the four. The sources told Aliwaa that security men had also
confiscated an estimated 120 kilograms of TNT hidden in a small tunnel under a
restaurant in the Koura region, where the Lebanese Forces group of Samir Geagea
hosted a dinner party for senior LF figures about a month ago. Beirut, 05 Jan
07, 08:45
Murr Mediation to Avert By-Elections Showdown in Metn
MP Michel Murr is reportedly mediating between former head of
state Amine Gemayel and Gen. Michel Aoun to avert by-elections showdown in the
Metn region.
The daily An Nahar said Friday that Murr is likely to recommend former head of
state Amine Gemayel to replace the vacated seat of his son, Industry Minister
Pierre Gemayel, who was gunned down by assassins Nov. 21. An Nahar said Murr was
seeking Gemayel's "uncontested" replacement in the Metn constituency without
having to go through by-elections "if all concerned sides okayed him (Gemayel)."President
Emile Lahoud, who considers Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's government as
"unconstitutional," has refused to sign a decree calling for parliamentary
by-elections in Gemyal's Metn region. The constitution says the government must
issue a decree to be signed by the president calling for elections within 60
days of a parliamentary seat being vacated. But Lahoud has refused as "a matter
of principal" to sign any cabinet decrees issued after the mid-November
resignation of six ministers. Beirut, 05 Jan 07, 11:18
Rice Likely to Attend Lebanon Donor Conference in Paris
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may participate this
month at an international donor conference for Lebanon aimed at revitalizing the
country's war-devastated economy. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said
on Thursday no final decision was taken but that Rice was "inclined" to attend
the conference scheduled to be held in Paris on January 25. "She wants to do
everything she can to attend that Paris conference," McCormack said.
Rice is expected to go on a Middle East tour this month. Her itinerary and
schedule have yet to be made public.
But Rice will not leave before President Bush presents his new strategy for
Iraq, which is expected next week, McCormack said.
The conference, sponsored by France, the European Union, the United States and
the United Nations, is to be attended by international financial institutions
and Arab funds. At the meeting, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government is
expected to seek forgiveness of some of the 41 billion dollars in debt the
country has accrued in rebuilding after a 1975-90 civil war. The conference is
also meant to secure long-term assistance to help Lebanon recover from Israel's
34-day conflict with Hizbullah. The offensive caused more than 3.5 billion
dollars in damage. Rice may also participate in a ministerial meeting of the
Middle East peace quartet that Germany is trying to organize for the end of the
month in Berlin. "I don't think anything has been set yet," said a senior State
Department official who requested anonymity, adding: "It's possible." German
officials said they want to "revitalize" the quartet -- grouping the European
Union, the United States, the United Nations and Russia -- to help kick start
the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.(AFP) Beirut, 05 Jan 07,
10:11
Chirac, Saniora Set Jan.10 as Preparatory Meeting Ahead of
Paris-3
French President Jacque Chirac and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad
Saniora called for a preparatory meeting to be held in Paris Jan.10 with
delegates of the countries and organizations taking part in the Paris-3 aid
conference for Lebanon. Local newspapers said Friday the date for the
preliminary meeting was set during a telephone call Chirac made to Saniora
Thursday following the Lebanese government's adoption of a six-point economic
recovery and reform plan to be referred to the Paris III conference of donors
later this month. The document will be the base for the donors to provide
Lebanon with badly needed financial aid after the 34-day summer war between
Hizbullah and Israel inflicted more than six billion dollars of losses. The
daily An Nahar said Finance Minister Jihad Azour and Economy Minister Sami
Haddad as well as Lebanon's Central Bank governor Riad Salameh will attend the
meeting on Jan.10.It said Chirac reaffirmed France's support" for Saniora's
"legitimate and constitutional" government. Beirut, 05 Jan 07, 09:46
Murr Mediation to Avert By-Elections Showdown in Metn
MP Michel Murr is reportedly mediating between former head of
state Amine Gemayel and Gen. Michel Aoun to avert by-elections showdown in the
Metn region.
The daily An Nahar said Friday that Murr is likely to recommend former head of
state Amine Gemayel to replace the vacated seat of his son, Industry Minister
Pierre Gemayel, who was gunned down by assassins Nov. 21. An Nahar said Murr was
seeking Gemayel's "uncontested" replacement in the Metn constituency without
having to go through by-elections "if all concerned sides okayed him (Gemayel)."President
Emile Lahoud, who considers Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's government as
"unconstitutional," has refused to sign a decree calling for parliamentary
by-elections in Gemyal's Metn region. The constitution says the government must
issue a decree to be signed by the president calling for elections within 60
days of a parliamentary seat being vacated. But Lahoud has refused as "a matter
of principal" to sign any cabinet decrees issued after the mid-November
resignation of six ministers. Beirut, 05 Jan 07, 11:18
US's Rice may attend Lebanon aid conference in Paris
Thu Jan 4, 5:33 PM
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may participate this
month at an international donor conference for Lebanon aimed at revitalizing its
war-devastated economy, a US spokesman said.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said no final decision was taken but
that Rice was "inclined" to attend the conference scheduled to be held in Paris
on January 25.
"She wants to do everything she can to attend that Paris conference," McCormack
said.
The chief US diplomat is expected to go on a Middle East tour this month. Her
itinerary and schedule have yet to be made public.
But Rice will not leave before President George W. Bush presents his new
strategy for Iraq, which is expected next week, McCormack said.
The conference, sponsored by France, the European Union, the United States and
the United Nations, is to be attended by international financial institutions
and Arab funds.
At the meeting, the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora is
expected to seek forgiveness of some of the 41 billion dollars in debt the
country has accrued in rebuilding after a 1975-90 civil war.
The conference is also meant to secure long-term assistance to help Lebanon
recover from Israel's 34-day conflict with Hezbollah guerrillas. The offensive
caused more than 3.5 billion dollars in damage.
Rice may also participate in a ministerial meeting of the Middle East peace
quartet that Germany is trying to organize for the end of the month in Berlin.
"I don't think anything has been set yet," said a senior State Department
official who requested anonymity, adding: "It's possible."
German officials said they want to "revitalize" the quartet -- grouping the
European Union, the United States, the United Nations and Russia -- to help
kickstart the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
Lebanese psychic predicts dark future
Beirut | January 04, 2007 9:15:06 AM IST
A popular clairvoyant whose past predictions have proven eerily prescient has
told the people of troubled Lebanon they can expect more woe in 2007.
Psychic Michel Hayek in a televised broadcast on New Year's Eve made more than
30 predictions for the coming year, most of them laden with doom and gloom.
"I can see that Lebanon is still going through a black tunnel," Hayek, 40, told
his many fans across the country. "Assassinations will continue."
Hayek's predictions also looked beyond Lebanon's borders to other Arab countries
such as Syria and Egypt, where he predicted major conflicts to come.
Hayek rose to prominence in Lebanon and also in the Arab world after a series of
16 predications made in 2004 - of which his fans believe 14 came true.
"A major incident in downtown Beirut will shake the area for a long time," Hayek
had said in his New Year's Eve.
Six weeks later, on Feb 14, 2005, former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri
was killed in a massive car bomb assassination, near an area close to downtown
Beirut. Twenty people along with Hariri were killed.
The assassination of Hariri caused an uproar in Lebanon and abroad and led to
the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon after a 30-year presence.
Hayek in the same year predicted that an unspecified number of journalists would
be killed.
Within months, two prominent Lebanese journalists Samir Kassir and Jubran Tueini
- the latter also an MP - were assassinated. Meanwhile television presenter May
Chidac was seriously wounded in an attempt on her life.
Hayek's fame has since been growing in Lebanon and the Arab world, with many
paying close attention to what he says.
"I see pictures of people and events," Hayek told local television, who has
always claimed he was born with his psychic talents but stressed that he cannot
reveal further details about how he comes up with his predictions.
As Lebanon passed the second day of 2007, one of the main talking points on
street corners and in workplaces was not the still-tense political situation,
but rather the latest batch of Hayek's pronouncements for the future.
In downtown Beirut, women sitting at sidewalk cafes eagerly compared notes on
the previous evening's broadcast, analysing his comments.
"I follow his predictions always to see if there is anything new," said Nahla
Ayyash, a strong believer in Hayek's powers.
"It is depressing because all is gloomy and black, we have nothing to look
forward to," said Nadra Sabbagh. "I believe he is right in most of them, because
14 of 16 came true in 2004."
Another woman denied charges that Hayek fabricates his predictions, saying:
"This is a talent and it was born with him."
Hayek's predictions this year were unusually detailed. He also managed to name
people in the circle of danger like Druze anti-Syrian deputy Walid Jumblatt as
well as anti-Syrian deputy Mosbah al-Ahdab and Christian leader Samir Geagea and
his wife.
"Giving names this year made me more worried because if he receives pictures the
pictures are very clear," Sabbagh said.
"Since I heard his predictions on Sunday night, everyday I wake up and pray that
he will be wrong," said Souad al-Hassan. "Let us hope his talent fails this
year."
Lebanon has since the Hariri killing been engulfed in its worst political crisis
since the country's 1975-90 civil war.
A series of assassinations have targeted mainly anti-Syrian political figures,
deepening the division between the pro- and anti-Syrian camps.
The anti-Syrian camp has consistently accused Syria and its Lebanese allies of
killing Hariri and staging the attacks on other political figures in the
country. Damascus has vehemently denied all charges.
--DPA (IANS)
Israeli Army Inquiry Cites Failures of Lebanon War
By Robert Berger, VOA, Jerusalem
The Israeli army has completed a series of internal probes into the war in
Lebanon, which was fought in July and August of last year. As Robert Berger
reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the final report is highly critical of the
handling of the war but does not recommend the dismissal of the military brass.
Summing up 50 internal military inquiries, Israeli army Chief of Staff
Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz said there were major failures during the war in
Lebanon.
He said Israel failed to achieve its main objectives of dealing a knockout blow
to the Islamic guerrilla group Hezbollah and preventing it from firing rockets
across the border. Hezbollah fired more than 4,000 rockets at northern Israel
during the 34-day conflict.
Halutz said a major ground offensive should have been launched earlier and that
there was faulty work in command centers.
But he rejected calls from across the political spectrum to resign.
Halutz said to resign would be to run away from the problems, and he would
rather stay on "to fix what needs to be fixed."
Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens says that is the wrong decision.
"The army is in need of a serious shakeup," he said. "There were many
difficulties and many failures during the war. The war itself was a failure. And
until we have a change right at the top, I do not foresee that what needs to be
done will be done."
The findings of the inquiry are a cause for concern here, because Israel faces
looming confrontations with Islamic militants in Lebanon and Gaza, and with
Iran. The question many Israelis are asking is whether the army will be prepared
for the next war.
Lebanon approves reform package ahead of world donor
meeting
05-01-2007 / 09:10
The Lebanese government has approved an economic reform plan to present to an
international aid conference aimed at revitalizing the war-devastated economy.
A Lebanese government holds a meeting in Beirut
© AFP
"The government has approved the economic reform plan to submit to the
international conference on aid to Lebanon, the so-called Paris III,"
Information Minister Ghazi Aridi told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
The five-year reform plan centers on social and financial reforms and
privatization of the telephone and electricity sectors.
A Lebanese delegation will travel to Paris next week to take part in preparatory
meetings for the conference, which is to start on January 25, Aridi said
Thursday.
The conference is to be attended mainly by Western and oil-rich Arab nations
that support the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and its anti-Syrian
parliamentary majority, and which hope to stabilize the government after more
than a month of protests by the mainly Iran- and Syria-allied opposition.
The normally 24-member cabinet is short several ministers after six pro-Syrians
resigned in November ahead of a mass opposition protest led by the Shiite
militant group Hezbollah that aims to topple the Western-backed government.
Also, a replacement has yet to be named for Pierre Gemayel, the anti-Syrian
industry minister who was gunned down by unknown assassins in November.
Siniora, whose government is not recognized by pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud
or parliament speaker Nabih Berri, appealed Tuesday for unity over the rescue
package.
He said the Paris III conference was "a unique opportunity for Lebanon because,
after the Israeli aggression, we can't take on the burden of reconstruction
alone."
Already deep in debt, Lebanon sank further into the red after the summer war
between Hezbollah and Israel, with total public debt estimated at 41 billion
dollars.