Spotlight
Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel hailed on Monday the efforts exerted by Internal Security Chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and head of the Information Branch Col. Wissam al-Hassan for averting a plot targeting Lebanon, warning against any attempt to politicize the investigations over the issue.
“It is a humanitarian achievement that saved the lives of innocent people,” Gemayel told reporters during a press conference at his residence in Bikfaya.

U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos announced Monday that she is to visit Syria and Lebanon amid growing concern for the "deteriorating humanitarian situation" caused by the Syrian conflict.
The visit, planned from August 14 to 16, "aims to draw attention to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria and the impact of the conflict on people either remaining in Syria and who have fled to other countries, including Lebanon," the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.

Airport security succeeded on Monday in thwarting a drug smuggling operation at the Rafik Hariri International Airport, reported the National News Agency.
The security forces arrested two Australians as they were attempting to smuggle drugs hidden in sweets.

The patriotism of Milad Kfouri, who reportedly provided the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch with convicting evidence in ex-minister Michel Samaha’s case, prompted him to reveal the terrorist plot targeting the nation, a security source told An Nahar newspaper on Monday.
“Kfouri asked for protection and we provided him with it after the general prosecutor’s approval,” the source said.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Monday the importance of supporting state institutions through the rise of the civil state, lauding the residents of northern region of Akkar for their loyalty to their country.
He said during a visit to the region: “God protect Akkar from evildoer plans to carry out attacks in the region.”

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour stated that the government cannot take an “important fateful and political decision” based on media leaks, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.
He told the newspaper: “The government will not take any decision regarding Syria before a clear judicial verdict is issued in former minister and MP Michel Samaha’s case.”

Speaker Nabih Berri lashed out at the March 14 alliance over its uncertain decision concerning its participation in the national dialogue session scheduled to convene on Thursday.
He slammed in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Monday the actions of the opposition describing them as “unacceptable,” noting that the dialogue can’t remain the “prisoner of the alliances’ mood.”

A man was wounded when a dispute between street vendors erupted into gunfire in Tripoli's al-Tal Square on Sunday evening, state-run National News Agency reported.
NNA said heavy gunfire was heard around 10:00 p.m.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Sunday suggested adopting the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering, under which each sect would elect its own lawmakers, after the government’s recent endorsement of an electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 electorates infuriated the opposition March 14 camp and Druze leader Walid Jumblat.
“Resorting to the electoral law adopted by the Orthodox Gathering will be normal after the rejection of a law based on proportional representation,” Aoun during an iftar banquet organized by FPM’s Beirut department:

A man whose real name is Milad Kfouri and who has used several aliases was behind reporting former minister Michel Samaha to the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch, LBCI television reported on Sunday, as Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi’s office clarified the circumstances of hiring Kfouri in 2005.
“Milad Kfouri is the central figure in this case and he was the one who informed against Samaha using his relations with some security agents,” LBCI said.
