By Daily Star Lebanon - Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi that, if adopted, would see Syrian refugees in Lebanon repatriated next year. The plan, which consists of three phases and would commence in January 2017, heavily relies on the ability of international powers – namely Russia and the United States – to secure sustainable cease-fires and safe zones that Syrians can return to. “There are safe zones,” Azzi insisted, “just no political decision or will to maintain the cease-fire.”

Individuals who were not forcibly displaced will be identified for the first phase of return. Monetary incentives would also be used to lure Syrians back – payable upon arrival in Syria. In its first year, the plan will focus on clearing out refugees residing in border areas to mitigate terrorist infiltration into Lebanon. Syrians would have the option to head to a safe zone or another area of their choice.

The plan also proposes that nongovernmental organizations move to Syria to facilitate the transition, while funds supplied by donor countries – which must be committed before the end of this year – would sustain the two-year plan. All relocation efforts would be overseen by a committee consisting of government and UN representatives, with the possible inclusion of other parties. With this plan, Azzi aims to transfer 1,235,000 Syrians back into Syria.

The plan omits Syrians who legally work in Lebanon and have residency and work permits. A Human Rights Watch report published in 2016, however, cites humanitarian agencies saying that strict residency rules applied to Syrians have prevented two-thirds of them from obtaining legal residency.

REUTERS — Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam told the international community that his country is lacking capacity and funding to further take …

by Peter Jacobs and Pamela Engel

The man the FBI sought in connection with this weekend's bombings in New Jersey and New York has been taken into custody after a shootout with the police in Linden, New Jersey, officials said Monday. The suspect, 28-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahami, was born in Afghanistan and is a naturalized US citizen, according to the FBI. He was not on any US terror watchlist, officials said.

Rahami was shot in the standoff with the police, and a witness told The New York Times a police officer might have been shot as well.

He is believed to have connections to three incidents this past weekend, according to law-enforcement agencies:

• A bombing along the route of a New Jersey charity race Saturday morning;
• A bombing Saturday night in New York City;
• And additional devices found in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on Sunday night.

The mayor of Linden told ABC 7 in New York that an officer found Rahami when responding to a report of a person sleeping in the hallway of a bar.

by Chris White

Human Rights lawyer Amal Clooney on Friday blasted the United Nations over its failure to take meaningful action in the nearly two years since ISIS began its reign of terror over the Yazidi community. The Independent, a newspaper published in the United Kingdom, reported on Clooney’s speech, stating the speech served as an introduction to Nadia Murad, a woman captured by ISIS in 2014.  Murad’s mother and six brothers were killed almost immediately, while she was trafficked as a sex slave before ultimately escaping herself.  Murad now serves as ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking through the UN’s Drugs and Crime body, according to the report.

In her speech, Clooney cut right to the chase, saying, “I wish I could say I’m proud to be here but I am not.”