Hizbollah rearms as Middle East tensions grow (The New Zealand Herald)
BEIRUT – Hizbollah is rapidly rearming in preparation for a new conflict with Israel, fearing that Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government will attack Lebanon again before any assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Nearly half of Lebanon’s land mines cleared (The Daily Star Lebanon)
When the British ambassador to Lebanon first visited the country’s south, she found something nasty lurking in a fruit orchard.”I first came [to south Lebanon] in November 2006 and we visited an orange grove,” said Frances Guy. “There were still cluster bombs in the trees because [of] the sheer quantity of weapons dropped during the last three days of the war.”

Qatar grants license to Lebanese insurance firm (MENAFN)
Qatar grants license to Lebanese insurance firm

Hariri puts final touches to new cabinet (Middle East Online)
No party will have veto power in new Lebanese government as Sleiman will play role of arbiter.

Beirut is back… And it’s beautiful (Guardian Unlimited)
Beirut, from the Corniche. Photograph: Guido Cozzi/ Atlantide Phototravel/Corbis A whole new road system has been built from Beirut airport to the city centre since the last time I visited. What’s more, there are new, exciting roadside accessories. “Oh my God!” says my friend Anna. “What’s that?”

Hizbollah rearms as Middle East tensions grow (The New Zealand Herald)
BEIRUT – Hizbollah is rapidly rearming in preparation for a new conflict with Israel, fearing that Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government will attack Lebanon again before any assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities.Last week, Israeli commandos…

MP Qabbani urges state of emergency over poisoned produce (The Daily Star Lebanon)
The Agriculture Ministry should declare a state of food emergency, said Beirut MP Mohammad Qabbani Sunday, following growing concern about poisoned fruits and vegetables in the local market.Qabbani condemned the chaotic situation in Lebanon and accused the government and the country’s authorities of negligence in supervising agricultural products, calling the phenomenon a “mass” crime.

QFCRA grants licence to Lebanese insurance firm (Gulf Times)
The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) has granted licence to Lebanon-based Chedid and Associates, which offers comprehensive insurance and reinsurance solutions to more than 170 insurance companies and corporations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. “The decision to establish a Chedid office in the QFC reflects the company’s long-term commitment to enhance its …

Israel seizes arms cache ‘bound for Lebanon’ (The New Zealand Herald)
The Israeli navy yesterday seized a ship carrying what defence officials said was five hundred tons of Iranian-supplied weapons bound for Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, including Katyusha rockets that could be used in the event of renewed Israel-Hizbollah hostilities.

Lebanon breaks its political deadlock (Sydney Morning Herald)
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Syrian-backed opposition groups have finally agreed on a unity government proposed by their pro-Western rivals, ending a four-month deadlock since a general election in June.

Popularity: 1% [?]