Fitch affirms Bank Audi’s stable outlook (Zawya)
03 July 2009 BEIRUT – Fitch Ratings has affirmed Lebanon-based Bank Audi ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) ‘B-’ with Stable Outlook, Short-term IDR ‘B’, Individual ‘D’ and Support ‘5′.

Military court adjourns trial of ’spies’ for Israel (The Daily Star Lebanon)
A Lebanese military court adjourned Friday the trial of brothers Ali and Youssef Jarrah, who are charged with spying for Israel, a judicial source said. “The trial was postponed until July 27 after their attorneys requested the hearings be made confidential as they feel the lives of their clients and their clients’ families are threatened by Israel.

Lebanon illiteracy report shows alarming urban-rural divide (The Daily Star Lebanon)
If by naming Beirut as the 2009 World Book Capital the United Nations wishes to encourage the Lebanese to study more, its latest report should be a must-read. Lebanon’s fourth National Human Development Report (NHDR), “Towards a Citizen’s State,” highlights a worrying discrepancy in adult reading rates between urban and rural regions.

Fadlallah slams interference in Lebanese affairs (The Daily Star Lebanon)
Senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah slammed on Friday regional and international interference in Lebanon’s domestic affairs. “We hear of slogans calling for freedom and democracy, yet regional and international powers interfere in Lebanese domestic affairs and make decisions on our behalf,” Fadlallah said.

Lebanon tops agenda of foreign states (The Daily Star Lebanon)
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevalier announced on Friday that Foreign Minister Kouchner will hold talks with Lebanese officials on July 9 to convey France’s satisfaction with the manner in which Lebanon’s June 7 parliamentary polls were managed. The situation in Lebanon will also be the focus of talks between.

Qabbani sees Syrian-Saudi talks benefitting Lebanon (The Daily Star Lebanon)
Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani expressed confidence Friday that the recent Saudi-Syrian talks will reflect positively on the overall situation in Lebanon. “We feel comfortable concerning the inter-Arab deliberations, led by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz, which will benefit Lebanon,” Qabbani said.

Lebanese Court Adjourns Trial Of Brothers Accused Of Spying (Nasdaq)
BEIRUT (AFP)–A Lebanese military court Friday adjourned the trial of brothers Ali and Youssef Jarrah, who are charged with spying for Israel, a judicial source said.

Implementing change in Lebanon (The Daily Star Lebanon)
The 1989 Taif Accord which ended Lebanon’s Civil War also ended Christian dominance of national politics and drastically reduced presidential powers, through which Christian hegemony was constitutionally expressed. However, the symbolism of Lebanon’s presidency can still carry significant political weight if its office-holder astutely uses it.

Lebanon again plagued by power rationing amid tourist influx (Zawya)
BEIRUT: Lebanon is once again experiencing severe electricity rationing this summer as thousands of Lebanese and Arab visitors flock to the country, increasing strain on power stations that meet less than 60 percent of the country’s electricity needs.

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