
Suleiman called on Washington to do more to pressure Israel to end its repeated incursions on Lebanese territory, singling out the Israeli threat for harming developing in his country. Obama, for his part, reminded Suleiman that "extensive arms" smuggling into Lebanon posed a direct threat to Israel. On Hezbollah’s weapons, the U.S. president said that while there are differences between the two governments on that issue, the overall relationship with Beirut is one based on peace. What we do share is a commitment to resolve these issues through dialogue and negotiations, as opposed to through violence," he said
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By BROOKE ANDERSON
The nominations haven’t been announced yet, but Lebanese designers are already busy making dresses that will likely appear on celebrities during next year’s award season.
"This is the time of year we start our [haute] couture collection for Paris fashion week in January," says George Chakra, who designed Helen Mirren’s dress when she won the 2007 Oscar for best actress. "It’s usually from these fashion shows that celebrities pick their dresses."
At the beginning of the year, Lebanese designers Elie Saab and Rabih Kayrouz participated in the semi-annual weeklong haute-couture fashion show in Paris as part of the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. Zuhair Murad, Mr. Chakra and Georges Hobeika showed their collections on their own during the same week, making the total of Lebanese designers who debuted their work in Paris at least five. Mr. Chakra calls this phenomenon "the Lebanese invasion," similar to the 1980s when Japanese designers burst onto the scene.
On 9 December 2009, a criminal court judge (single judge) in Batroun sentenced a Lebanese woman who beat the Filipino maid who was working at her home to 15 days of prison, to a fine of fifty thousand Lebanese Pounds, and to payment to Jonalin Malibago, the Pilipino maid, of ten million and eight hundred Lebanese Pounds in compensation.
Al-Akhbar newspaper declared it “victory of the judiciary” and hailed it as an important step on the road to fighting racist behavior of some Lebanese. What gave the sentencing importance is the presence of the victim in her home country, the Philippine. The judge refused the request of the Lebanese woman to bring the victim in front of the court.
BEIRUT – Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri’s government won a resounding vote of confidence from parliament on Thursday, paving the way for his expected visit to Syria for talks with the country’s president.
Lebanon‘s President Michel Suleiman (C), Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri (R) stand during a military parade to celebrate the 66th anniversary of Lebanon‘s independence day in downtown Beirut November 22, 2009. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON ANNIVERSARY POLITICS)
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Lebanese President General Michel Suleiman proposes changing electoral law relating to general elections.
BEIRUT – President Michel Sleiman called in a television speech on Saturday for the establishment of a committee to work towards the abolition of religion-based politics in Lebanon.
"To encourage vast participation (in political life), a national committee should be established and charged with abolishing confessionalism in politics," he said in a speech marking Sunday’s 66th anniversary of independence.
Sleiman also proposed "changing the electoral law relating to general elections in order to obtain better representation and restore to expatriates their rights, including nationality and the right to vote."
Lebanon, Beirut (CNN) — In Lebanon, you’re never far from the whiff of cigarette smoke.
In restaurants and cafes, on the streets, in the airport and even in elevators, Lebanese delight in lighting up. The World Health Organization (WHO) says Lebanon has one of the highest smoking rates in the world.
"We are a tobacco-friendly society," says cardiologist Dr. Georges Saade, a former WHO official who now heads the Tobacco Control Project at Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.
Saade is a committed anti-smoking campaigner and for years he’s fought an uphill battle for funding to increase awareness of the risks of smoking.
The ministry estimates that if attitudes towards smoking don’t change, this small nation of 4 million will experience at least 3,000 tobacco-related deaths each year.
–Tony, a Lebanese smoker in his early 30s
On a cool autumn night, Saade, his wife and their 5-year-old son walk through the streets Beirut’s renovated downtown; the intermittent odors of cigarette and water-pipe smoke wafting through the air.
Water-pipe — also known as hookah, shisha or nargileh – is a popular form of social smoking.
رأى أن أمام اللبنانيين فرصة حقيقية لإعادة بناء الدولة
النائب فريد الخازن "للأنباء" :
ـ تكتل "التغيير والإصلاح" لديه النية الحسنة والإرادة الكاملة للتعاون بشكل إيجابي وكبير مع الرئيس الحريري
ـ العاصفة التي مرّ بها لبنان خلال السنوات الأربع الفائتة بدأت بالإنحسار وأصبح الوضع الداخلي أكثر هدوءا
رأى عضو تكتل "التغيير والإصلاح" النائب د. فريد الخازن أنه وللمرة الأولى تتشكل في لبنان حكومة تشارك فيها جميع الاطراف السياسية، مقارنة مع الحكومات السابقة لها، بدءا من الحكومات التي تعاقبت على الحكم خلال سنوات الوصاية والتي لم تكن تملك القرار اللبناني، مرورا بحكومة الرئيس السنيورة الأولى في العام 2005 حيث أُقصيَ عن المشاركة بها فريق سياسي كبير يمثل شريحة واسعة من اللبنانيين، وصولا الى حكومة الرئيس السنيورة السابقة التي تألفت نتيجة لإتفاق الدوحة على أثر أزمة سياسية وشعبية حادة .
ولفت النائب الخازن في تصريح "للأنباء" الى أن الحكومة الحالية برئاسة سعد الحريري، تشكل مرحلة إنتقالية حقيقية تتيح أمام اللبنانيين فرصة العودة الى المشروع الوطني الاساسي، والمتمثل بإعادة بناء الدولة على أسس مختلفة عما كانت عليه في السابق، وأهمها الإصلاحات الإدارية والسياسية، مشيرا الى أن حكومة الرئيس الحريري قد تستطيع ملامسة المسار المذكور فيما لو أراد اللبنانيون السير به حتى تحقيق الأهداف المرجوة منه .
وردا على سؤال أعرب النائب الخازن عن إعتقاده بأنه لا بد من أن يكون هناك إنسجام بين الوزراء داخل الحكومة، مؤكدا أنه فيما خص تكتل "التغيير والإصلاح" فإن هذا الأخير قد تجاوز كل الخلافات الماضية وستكون لديه النية الحسنة والإرادة الكاملة للتعاون بشكل إيجابي وكبير مع الرئيس الحريري للسير معه يدا بيد في معالجة العناوين السياسية الشائكة والملفات المأزومة والمعلقة والمطلوب فيها الإصلاح الحقيقي بشكل جذري وحاسم
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Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, left, reviews an honor guard during a ceremony held on his first day at the Government House in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. The formation of the 30-member Cabinet, (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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An employee hands a bouquet to Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri at a ceremony held on his first day at the Government House in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, two days after the formation of the new Cabinet. . (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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