Introduction to the evening news 18-01-2012

With the funeral services organized on Wednesday in honor of the victims who lost their lives when the Fassouh building collapsed, this tragic event is being put aside, giving the floor for that of public safety. The public safety issue will, in turn, pave the way before many other issues such as that of the old tenancy leases.

Seemingly, everyone is pleading for this issue not to be taken lightly, not to be a mere reaction to the tragedy or an attempt to cushion the fall. Everyone fears that things will go back to their old selves, back to the ways of negligence and inaction.  

The cabinet discussed the repercussions and implications of this issue, only to tackle once again the same old matter of wage adjustment. In this regard, exclusive sources told LBCI that a behind-the-scenes dinner took place Tuesday evening at the residence of a mutual friend of PM Najib Mikati and MP Michel Aoun in the presence of Energy Minister Gebran Bassil. This dinner paved the way for Wednesday’s cabinet session, which saw Nahhas’ draft lose the vote.

On the external front, all eyes are on the decision that will be issued by the Arab ministerial council at the end of this week, since the mandate of the observers’ mission will end soon.