Introduction to the evening news 14-10-2011

The cabinet thought that it had dismantled the detonator of the social explosion by passing an ambiguous wage increase project, when in fact, it fell into a political and syndical minefield whose exit door remains unfound, with the nearest mines coming from within the cabinet. Following Change and Reform bloc’s objection to the wage increase, including the way it was approved, a shocking new objection was voiced by Hezbollah via MP Ali Fayad who discussed the unnecessary chaos in addressing social issues, particularly the wage increase; everyone is marching to the beat of their own drum.      

Amid all this hubbub, it is not yet known how the minimum wage increase decree will be issued; this issue is in the hands of Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas who is its fiercest opponent. Meanwhile, the economic bodies are holding successive meetings to express their refusal of the cabinet decision and prepare the appeal they will submit to the Shura Council.      

In addition to these domestic preoccupations, there have been many remarkable developments on the international scene. While Arab foreign ministers are set to hold an urgent meeting the day after tomorrow (Sunday) in Cairo to discuss the situation in Syria, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights warned that the violent crackdown in Syria may lead to a full-blown civil war. As for the ever-escalating crisis between Washington and Tehran, all signs in New York point to a U.N. mobilization against Iran if enough evidence is found in the alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington.