BEIRUT: Despite a breakthrough in the case of extra-budgetary spending to pay civil servants’ salaries, the Cabinet remains split over the thorny issue of the Lebanese University’s council, threatening its unity and work, ministerial sources said Wednesday. “The problem of extra-budgetary spending to pay salaries of public sector employees has been solved. The Cabinet will… اقرأ المزيد
BEIRUT: A Parliament session to elect a new president will not be held Wednesday due to the lack of quorum. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil Tuesday stood firm on his stance not to pay civil servants’ salaries without the legislature’s approval. The development comes as the Cabinet is poised for a heated session Thursday,… اقرأ المزيد
The bizarre role of the United States government in current events in Israel and Palestine has reached such a peak this week that someone in the realm of the absurd should create a prize for this and award the inaugural one to Secretary of State John Kerry. Washington’s quest for a cease-fire in Gaza, while… اقرأ المزيد
BEIRUT: A flurry of political consultations has so far failed to make any breakthrough in the thorny issues of the Lebanese University’s contract professors and extra-budgetary spending, ministerial sources said Monday, setting the stage for a heated Cabinet session this week. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad Fneish and Health Minister Wael Abu Faour… اقرأ المزيد
Energy politics underlie the explosive Ukraine crisis, as Europeans weigh U.S. calls for tougher sanctions against the ability of Russia to disrupt gas supplies this winter. The dilemma for European governments increased this week, as the Obama administration announced strong new penalties against the Russian energy and financial sectors. Europe’s initial response was tepid, in… اقرأ المزيد
BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah has vowed that his resistance party will stand by the resistance in Gaza. “ Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance will stand by the Palestinian people’s uprising and resistance in our heart, willpower, hope and destiny,” Nasrallah said in a late-night telephone call to Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal, a… اقرأ المزيد