Security in Lebanon under control: Machnouk

BEIRUT: Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk Tuesday said that the security in Lebanon was still under control despite the recent bombings, which he noted security forces had prevented from hitting their original targets.

"The situation is under control, and the three previous bombings failed, although they caused major damage," Machnouk told reporters at the ministry after holding talks with the head of the Lebanon's Bank Association, Francois Bassil.

Security forces arrested a would-be suicide bomber after his partner blew himself to evade arrest last week, when General Security raided the hotel they were staying in.

Authorities have launched a crackdown on militants who reportedly fled to Lebanon from Syria with the aim of carrying out terrorist attacks in the country.

Machnouk also commended the association for the financial aid they provided for renovations at Roumieh Prison, Lebanon’s most notorious detention facility.

"The financial help for Roumieh affirms that the association shoulders national responsibility,” he said.

Renovations, the minister said, would begin next week.

The minister had appealed to the association for help in funding renovations and reforms at the prison, which suffers from overpopulation and poor conditions as well as slow court trials.

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Saudi Cabinet condemns terrorism in Lebanon

Saudi Cabinet condemns terrorism in Lebanon

The Cabinet of Saudi Arabia condemns the terrorist attacks on Lebanon and Egypt, while praising the security forces’...

Natchez hospital deal moves forward

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- The Mississippi Development Authority has given its blessing to local governments to consider the sale of Natchez Regional Medical Center an economic development project. The move clears the way for the bankruptcy court to review the proposed sale structure.

The Natchez Democrat reports (http://bit.ly/VBYXZH ) the MDA reviewed the application for the hospital sale to be considered a Regional Economic Development Alliance project, and granted its approval in a Certificate of Public Convenience published Monday.

Adams County Board of Supervisors Attorney Scott Slover says the certificate of public convenience means the hospital can now take its sale structure to the federal bankruptcy court for approval.

He says the court could review the structure at a conference Thursday.

The hospital filed bankruptcy citing a $3 million deficit between financial assets and liabilities.

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Salam discusses refugee crisis with donor states

BEIRUT: Representatives from the International Support Group for Lebanon met with Prime Minister Tammam Salam Tuesday, expressing strong solidarity with the country as it faces the threat of terror and struggles to cope with the burden of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Talks focused on assistance for the more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon as well as ways to reduce refugee numbers and organize their entry. Discussions also touched on the security and political situation in the country.

Members of the ISG, which includes the U.S., France, China, Germany and Italy, and U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly attended the meeting at the Grand Serail in Downtown Beirut.

Plumbly said the ISG members reaffirmed their commitment to promote international assistance for Lebanon.

“We welcomed the successful meeting in Rome two weeks ago on support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. We will remain engaged on all of the issues and will actively look for opportunities in the coming period to highlight Lebanon's needs, particularly in respect of assistance and stabilization efforts in the face of the unprecedented burdens Lebanon is bearing as a result of the Syrian conflict and the presence of so many Syrian refugees in the country,” Plumbly told reporters at the end of the meeting.

He said the ISG members reiterated their support for Salam’s leadership and expressed strong solidarity with Lebanon in the light of the terrorist threats.

The ambassadors, according to Plumbly, also congratulated Salam “on the recent successes of the security forces,” a reference to the Lebanese Army, Internal Security Forces and General Security crackdown on terrorist networks.

He said the ambassador of donor states also “welcomed the understanding reached within the Cabinet to facilitate the government's work.”

“We shared the prime minister's deep concern at the ongoing failure of Parliament to elect a president and joined him in stressing the importance of Lebanon's leaders moving to ensure that the election takes place without further delay,” Plumbly said.

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Geagea calls on March 8 MPs to attend Parliament

BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea sent an open letter to March 8 MPs Tuesday, calling on them to attend Wednesday’s parliamentary session and vote for their preferred candidate without wasting more time.

“I call on you to go down to the Parliament tomorrow instead of wasting time with your illusory suggestions,” Geagea said in the letter addressing his political rivals.

Mach 8 MPs are expected to boycott tomorrow’s Parliament session due to lack of agreement on any consensus presidential candidate, as they have all previous sessions.

“Boycotting the presidential election’s sessions and disrupting the election and push the country into presidential void is not in your rights,’ Geagea said. “On the contrary, it essentially contradicts the agency you have been granted.”

Geagea said that the absence of a head of state “threatens the existence of the country,” condemning March 8’s use of the boycott to exert “pressure for the election of [their] desired candidate.”

“It is not your right to prioritize personal interests over national interest,” he continued, “especially in such conditions as the ones Lebanon is passing through.”

Geagea ended his speech saying: “My brothers. Individuals, whoever they are, [eventually] vanish. As for nations, they only vanish with their people’s negligence. Let us stick to the nation, because we want to leave our children a nation, not a person.”

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Shin guards made in RI being used at World Cup

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A Rhode Island company has been making the shin guards used by many of the players in this year's World Cup soccer tournament.

Providence-based G-Form makes protective sports equipment using a technology that allows its products to stiffen on impact, dissipating energy.

The company's co-founder, Danny Warshay, tells the Providence Journal (http://bit.ly/TLplyL ) that while its shin guards are being used by many international players in Brazil, American players are not using the products. That's because the U.S. team is sponsored by a competitor, Nike.

G-Form began in Providence in 2010 with five employees. It now has about 130 at its North Smithfield plant.

It also makes protective equipment for football, hockey, skateboarding, bicycling and other sports.