The evening round on the second day of parliamentary debate on the government’s policies was rife with harsh criticism from the opposition and calls for better performance from the ruling camp, amid several verbal clashes over Hizbullah’s controversial arsenal of weapons.

MP Hassan Fadlallah, member of Hizbullah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc, snapped back at the rival March 14 camp over accusations that his party had notably remained silent over the recent controversial release of Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam from prison, less than two years after he was convicted of collaborating with Israel.

The Appeals Chamber of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon has ruled in a decision issued Wednesday that only relevant documents that may explain why former General Security chief Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed was detained or why he should have been released must be disclosed by the Prosecutor, the STL announced.

“The Judges directed that the relevant documents should be disclosed by 18 May at the latest. They also decided that the Prosecutor does not need to hand over exact copies of previously disclosed documents,” the STL said.

Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas announced on Wednesday that the Bakeries Union has decided to call off its strike that was scheduled for Thursday.

He said during a press conference that the strike was cancelled after an agreement was reached to subsidize flour with LL70,000, meaning that the bakeries will receive a ton of flour at the cost of LL440,000 instead of LL510,000.

U.N. observers acknowledged on Tuesday that they face a tough task to firm up a ceasefire in Syria, as more civilians were killed in the latest violence on the sixth day of a tenuous truce.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security forces killed five civilians, while the Local Coordination Committees, the main activist group spurring protests on the ground, said 66 civilians were killed across the country.

The transportation sector on Tuesday seemed inclined to postpone a strike scheduled for Thursday, following a meeting between a syndical delegation and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

Radio Voice of Lebanon (100.3-100.5) reported that “the demands were put on the agenda of the cabinet session that will be held on Friday.”

Sab’a wu Sab’a, Seven and Seven days needed for the moon to complete half its journey in the sky. One night the moon breaks into pieces and disappears, leaving the village in despair. Since that night, no stories could be told.

And so hakawati, shadows, lights, mirrors, water and reflections fly unhinged in an attempt to put together the scattered pieces of the moon.

Lebanese wine industry is going through a rebirth. Whereas there were only 5 wineries in the early 90s, there are over forty operating today. In order to make sense of this exciting and diverse landscape, Le Commerce du Levant has decided to partner up with Tamyras to publish the first bilingual (English/French) guide to Lebanese wine.

The Zawaq Guide presents every single Lebanese winery, region by region. For each region, the guide lays out the main tourist attractions, as well as tips on accommodation and restaurants in the area, so that the reader can blend the pleasures of wine with an appreciation of Lebanon’s rich cultural heritage. The Zawaq Guide tells the story of forty wineries, from the big brands to the smallest “garage wines’, detailing the characteristics of their terroir. The guide also looks at the wineries in the making and those around the world that are run by members of the Lebanese Diaspora.

A rally was held on Monday to commemorate the one week anniversary of the death of al-Jadeed television cameraman Ali Shaaban’s death.

The gatherers demanded that a “serious investigation” be launched in his death given that a number of crimes have been committed against journalists and none of the perpetrators have been found.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hoped on Monday that the government would tackle the people’s concerns without preconditions.

He urged in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anabaa magazine political powers to exercise “some humility” in tackling pending issues at cabinet.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday voiced regret over the proliferation of “corruption” in Lebanon, warning that “evil is being plotted against the church and its shepherds.”

“Unfortunately, there is a lot of corruption, malice, injustice and insulting of dignities and reputations through lies and fabrications,” the patriarch said in his sermon.