An-Nahar:

A fourth try for wages tomorrow, will it be the last?

After the holiday weekend, the country prepares for a new stage of many critical issues, primarily the issue of wage hikes which has been under study by the Shura Council for the fourth time. The other issue is Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn's statements about the presence of Al-Qaeda, which has become the subject of political, religious and parliamentary dispute. The third matter is the arrival of United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon to Lebanon on Jan. 13.

An Nahar was informed that the issue of wage hikes will be discussed during a meeting Monday at the Grand Serail between representatives of the private sector and labor unions who will discuss Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas' proposal, which is currently under study at the Shura Council. The body will announce its decision regarding the draft law it received last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet received the agenda for this week's session and it includes 42 items.

Ad-Diyar:

Hezbollah does not welcome Ban Ki-Moon's visit or "fake" Larsen or the "messenger of evil" Feltman.

There are political issues still outstanding, from appointments, wages and Al Qaeda's presence to the continuous political conflicts within the majority which results in a slowdown in the government's production.

With all this political commotion, the head of Hezbollah's religious committee Sheikh Mohammad Yazbeck heavily criticized U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon's visit to Lebanon and expressed puzzlement about the "role of [U.N. special envoy Terry] Larsen in this visit with Ban and about what that might hold of conspiracies given [Larsen's] known bias for Israel."

Yazbeck said that Ban was not welcome and neither is Terry Larsen nor is the messenger of evil, Jeffrey Feltman.

Ban will begin his visit Friday morning and will hold a conference in Beirut organized by the U.N. about developments in the Arab World.

Al-Mustaqbal:

Islamic Council: we reject violations of the border, [we should] take measures to preserve safety of citizens.

Days and weeks pass with nothing new regarding any of the outstanding domestic issues. There is no resolution to the concerns of Lebanese or their worries over the security, political, financial and social realms, and there is no initiative [from officials] and lack of vision. This applies to the issue of wages, appointments and the Al Qaeda allegations.

It was reported that issues which were not part of the Cabinet's previous sessions will be discussed in next Tuesday's session headed by President Michel Sleiman at Baabda Palace, from Al Qaeda's presence in Lebanon to the issue of wages, regardless of whether the Shura Council's decision is made by then or not.

The Shura Council is studying the new decree presented by Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas. Judicial sources declined to specify a day when the council would make its decision, noting that the council had been working on the draft decree all weekend in a bid to speed up the process.

Meanwhile, the Higher Islamic Council said after its meeting Saturday headed by Grand Mufti Mohammad Rashid Qabbani that the council rejects all violations on the Lebanon-Syria border particularly in the Wadi Khaled area and other villages in Akkar which have lead to the death and injury of people. The council urged the Lebanese government to strengthen its role and take measures to preserve the safety of the nation and its citizens and develop these disadvantaged areas.