Agriculture Minister Hussein al-Hajj Hassan banned on Wednesday the import of livestock from the southern Brazilian state of Parana where a case of atypical mad cow disease was confirmed last month. Al-Hajj Hassan banned as well the import of frozen meat from Parana.   Brazil is the world’s largest supplier of beef. Several other countries have […]

    ترأس البطريرك الماروني الكاردينال مار بشارة بطرس الراعي قداس رأس السنة لمناسبة "يوم السلام العالمي"، في كنيسة السيدة في الصرح البطريركي في بكركي. وألقى الراعي عظة لفت فيها الى ان "إنَ التوق الى السلام هو في داخل كلِ إنسان، لأنه مخلوق على صورة الله ومن أجل السلام الذي هو في الأساس عطية من […]

  BEIRUT: “Fascination du Liban: 60 Siecles d’Histoire des Religions, d’Art et d’Archeologie” (Fascination of Lebanon: 60 Centuries of History on Religions, Art and Archaeology) is a massive exhibition ongoing at Geneva’s Rath Museum. The show is the fruit of a collaboration between the Lebanese Culture Ministry, the Directorate-General of Antiquities, the National Museum of Beirut […]

  SIDON, Lebanon: Facing an influx of those fleeing the increasingly bitter conflict in its Syria, Beirut is set to host a major conference on Syrian refugees in Lebanon in January. The meeting, dubbed the “First Conference on Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Issues and Solutions,” was organized by three aid organizations: the Union of Aid Organizations […]

  Fortuneteller Michel Hayek revealed that some Lebanese politicians have started to base their actions based on predictions he made for them, reported As Safir newspaper on Tuesday. He told the daily: “Over 35 percent of politicians resort to fortunetelling.” “The consultations are held in secret as some of the officials want to keep the issue […]

  ترأس البطريرك الماروني الكاردينال مار بشارة بطرس الراعي قداس رأس السنة لمناسبة "يوم السلام العالمي"، في كنيسة السيدة في الصرح البطريركي في بكركي. وألقى الراعي عظة لفت فيها الى ان "إنَ التوق الى السلام هو في داخل كلِ إنسان، لأنه مخلوق على صورة الله ومن أجل السلام الذي هو في الأساس عطية من ألله […]

Have you been hoping for a great year? Finally, you may be in "luck." You may have to work hard for it, but at the same time, 2013 will be dominated by making strong connections with others in an area your life may have been lagging.

Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): Uranus in Aries, the Moon in Leo, and Venus in Sagittarius form a wide trine that will keep you busy, but it will be a good busy. One person or another will set into motion circumstances that will keep you on your toes, creating new connections to other people and possibly allowing you to make deeper inroads into a more profound romantic life. The people outside your circle may even say how lucky you are, but you will know that your efforts are based on hard work.

Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Mercury, Pluto, and the Sun are all posited in Capricorn. Capricorn is generally regarded as a business-oriented sign, which indicates a great deal of hard work. Pluto, the planet of wealth, will make sure your efforts aren’t unrewarded. You may think that things are coming just a little too easy, but don’t wait for the other shoe to drop! If you’re getting more than you’ve gotten previously, you’ve earned it all the way.

Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): The start of the year puts Jupiter, planet of success and good fortune, in lofty Gemini, high in the sky, forming a sextile with Uranus, the planet of luck, in fiery Aries… a truly lucky combination for you. In addition, one of the two incomplete Grand Trines involves Air Signs: Jupiter, planet of luck and success, in Gemini, the Ascendant in Libra, the sign ruling partnerships, and Mars, planet of energy and action, in Aquarius, planet of group activities as well as the future. This means energy within your intellect will create success. Your problem-solving abilities will be at their apex, helping to find solutions with remarkable ease.

Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): The second incomplete Grand Trine is a water trine involving the Midheaven in Cancer, the sign ruling home and family. There is also Saturn, planet of perseverance as well as career matters, in Scorpio, and Neptune, planet of romance and idealism, in romantic and psychic Pisces. This trine creates an environment of elevated spiritual and emotional strength. Aided by a Solar Eclipse in early November, this year is bookended by aspects that are conducive to happy reunions, joyous reconciliations, and strong romantic connections.