By Paul Astih - english.aawsat.com

Beirut- Lebanon has been lately witnessing the rise of new political alignments amid ongoing consultations on the formation of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s government. Now that the March 8 and 14 alliances have become from the past, the new stage following the election of President Michel Aoun last month paved way for formation of new coalitions.

The parliament was divided between those in favor of Aoun and those rejecting his election, mainly Speaker Nabih Berri, Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, the Kataeb Party that is led by lawmaker Sami Gemayel and several independent MPs. Informed sources said that there is now an alliance whose 44 members either voted against Aoun or cast white votes. This coalition should have a balanced role in the consultations carried out by Hariri to form his cabinet.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that “minor obstacles are preventing the formation of the government but resolving them is necessary to pave way for the new lineup.” The sources suggested forming a government that is quite similar to that of Prime Minister Tammam Salam to facilitate the announcement of the lineup.

A Free Patriotic Movement official, who refused to be identified, told Asharq Al-Awsat that all efforts were being exerted to form the cabinet before the Nov. 22 Independence Day.

By Joseph A. Kechichian Senior Writer - Gulf News

Beirut: LibanPost, the private entity associated with the Ministry of Telecommunications, issued 15 stamps to honor individuals who contributed to the country’s independence.

Although previous stamps included the first head-of-state (Bisharah Al Khoury) and first prime minister (Riad Al Solh), the latest batch included lesser known figures who, nevertheless, ensured that the nascent republic lived up to expectations.

Among these were Saeb Salam, the father of current Prime Minister Tamam Salam [and the man often credited for designing the national flag in his Rashayah prison cell], Sabri Hamadih, Camille Chamoun, Abdul Hamid Karami, Habib Abu Shahla, Majid Arslan and Henri Pharaon.

Pierre Gemayel, the founder of the Phalange Party, was also included even if the choice was controversial because of the role he played in the civil war. Other prominent figures, men like Rashid Baydun, Hamid Franjieh and Salim Taklah, whose names most Lebanese citizens are unfamiliar with, graced the postal issues in what may well be a long-overdue civics lesson.

As Lebanon prepares to celebrate its 73rd Independence anniversary on November 22, 2016, the commemorative postage stamps was an occasion to assemble the families and descendants of the 15 figures and, simultaneously, prepare for the important date after a two-and-a-half year vacancy at the head of the state. On Tuesday, Beirut will hold a military parade in the Downtown area in the presence of newly elected President Michel Aoun.

By Booth Moore - hollywoodreporter.com

When it comes to body-baring, dead-sexy and richly-embellished, Beirut and Paris-based designer Zuhair Murad has a lock on the look.

He’s dressed nearly every star in the Hollywood galaxy for the red carpet, most recently outfitting Jennifer Lopez in a semi-nude glittery black jumpsuit for the Latin Grammy Awards, Beyonce in thousands of flower-shaped crystals at the Country Music Awards, and Kristen Bell in a fairytale floral print gown at the Emmys.  

While in Los Angeles this week for fittings, the designer hosted a cocktail party at his penthouse suite at Sunset Tower for stylists (Jen Rade, Joseph Cassell, Law Roach, Tanya Gill and more). He chatted with Pret-a-Reporter about his favorite red carpet moments, his personal style and his thoughts on the U.S. election.

Pret-a-Reporter: Tell me about the brooch you’re wearing! It’s amazing.

Zuhair Murad: It’s by Alexander McQueen. The suit is by Saint Laurent. I’m always in black, so I have to play with accessories. I make the most beautiful dresses in the world, but sometimes I have to take care of myself!

Tom Perry and Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Reuters

BEIRUT/AMMAN (Reuters) - On the eve of Donald Trump's election victory, members of a Western-backed Syrian rebel group met U.S. officials to ask about the outlook for arms shipments they have received to fight President Bashar al-Assad.

They were told the program would continue until the end of the year, but anything more would depend on the next U.S. administration, a rebel official at the meeting said. When Trump takes office in January, it may stop altogether. The president-elect has signaled opposition to U.S. support for the rebels, and an overhaul of policy on Syria.

The military aid program overseen by the Central Intelligence Agency has given arms and training to moderate rebels in coordination with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and others. It helped to support these rebels, fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner, as jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda emerged as a major force in a war approaching its sixth anniversary. U.S. officials declined to comment on any meetings with rebel groups, and previously have not commented on the CIA program given its covert nature.

But Trump has indicated he could abandon the rebels to focus on fighting Islamic State which control territory in eastern and central Syria. He might even cooperate against IS with Russia, Assad's most powerful ally, which has been bombing the rebels for over a year in western Syria.

Assad, in an interview published on Tuesday, said Trump would be a "natural ally" if he decides to "fight the terrorists".