News Briefs
- If you’re British, Irish, French, German or Australian, or if your name sounds at all Jewish, you might think twice before deciding to spend your vacation in Lebanon this year. Not because the Switzerland of the Middle East isn’t a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the sunshine, but because you might be detained at the airport, questioned, followed around by a secret agent or even turned back to where you came from. (more...)
- Following the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Information Minister Tarek Mitri briefed the press: (more...)
Following his meeting on Wednesday with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said that Lebanon’s participation in the March Arab League summit in Libya should not be discussed through the media because it would complicate the situation, the National News Agency (NNA) has reported. (more...)- Newspaper has reported that the visit of the Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt to Damascus will take place on or before March 25 and will be limited to a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, who has prepared for him a warm reception and that the visit will be for one day only . (more...)
Taymour , son of MP Walid Jumblatt took his first official step toward becoming the Jumblatti leader by replacing his father in laying red roses at the tomb of his grandfather, the late Kamal Jumblatt to commemorate his 33rd assassination anniversary.
Walid Jumblatt, who took over the PSP leadership from his father, believes it is about time he hands over the leadership to his son.
"This is the first (political) appearance for the man who intends to steer the ship of the Jumblatti leadership," said Jumblatt as Taymour laid three red roses at his grandfather's tomb. (more...)- Speaker Nabih Berri defended President Michel Suleiman , following their meeting at the Baabda palace over the clause on the Resistance that was crossed out from the statement issued after the national dialogue session. (more...)
Former minister Wiam Wahab a staunch ally of Syria on Wednesday attacked President Michel Suleiman and and called on him to resign for allegedly failing to govern the country.
Following talks with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun in Rabiyeh, Wahab said the president should resign "because after two years of rule we feel like we are in the last days of the presidency."
"The consensus president in Lebanon is not successful," Wahab said, stressing that he wasn't attacking the seat of the presidency but the president himself. (more...)
A top U.S. military commander says Iran poses a major threat to regional stability as it continues its nuclear program in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia, told a Senate hearing Tuesday that if Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons capability, that would destabilize the region and likely spur a regional arms race. (more...)
The U.S. needs to deliver “straight talk” to the Syrian leadership on stabilizing Iraq and cutting links to Hezbollah in Lebanon, President Barack Obama’s nominee for ambassador to Damascus said today.
“Bad news just doesn’t flow upwards over there,” Robert Ford, a career diplomat, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at his confirmation hearing as he explained why the U.S. wants to send an ambassador for the first time in five years. (more...)
The Court of Cassation on Tuesday approved the retrial of Lebanese citizen Mahmoud Rafeh after he was sentenced to death on charges of spying for Israel.
The court approved the plea which was submitted by Rafeh's attorney.
The court set May 13 as the date for the retrial.
The Lebanese army arrested on June 10 , 2006 the members of an alleged Israeli spy ring, including Mahmoud Rafeh, his wife, and two children. Police discovered bomb-making materials, code machines and other espionage equipment in his home. (more...)
The pro-Israel group AIPAC, which had been at pains for much of President Obama's term to downplay tensions between his administration and Benjamin Netanyahu's, is criticizing Obama in the sharpest terms to date after a series of administration officials sharply reprimanded Netanyahu for the announcement of new housing units in East Jerusalem during Joe Biden's trip. (more...)- Amal Movement MP Yassine Jaber told Voice of Lebanon that Lebanon should act in response to “Libya’s insult to the country, its president and people. If the insults continue, there is a possibility that Lebanon will cut off its diplomatic ties with Libya,” he added. (more...)
- During a joint press conference with EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem confirmed that Hezbollah’s Monday statement that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is ready to meet with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt is accurate. (more...)
Carlos Slim the Lebanese- Mexican billionaire that was named by Forbes magazine on March 11 as the richest man in the world visited today his hometown Jazzine in south Lebanon.
During his visit he addressed the people of Jazzine : "Oh sons of Jazzine I am very happy and honored to be present with with you today in the town where my father was born and proud of my presence with you, especially the presence of the youth and children. We all , residents and expatriates must unite in exploring new horizons for the young people, especially in the Jazzine area. You are always in my heart, and Jazzine too , the town where my dad was born more than 100 years.... and I have come to help the young people in this region. " (more...)
In an interview with al-Arabiya satellite channel, Special Tribunal for Lebanon President Antonio Cassesse expressed hope that progress will be made before the end of the year in the investigation into the murder of Lebanon's former PM Rafik Hariri and related crimes but admitted that the "investigators face difficulties in terrorist crimes."
Addressing the families of victims of political assassinations, Cassesse said: 'They have to trust the work of the professional and highly skilled Tribunal. Justice is coming and we will identity the killers and prove our professionalism. " (more...)- A day after trying to ease tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday rejected U.S. demands to end the construction of new housing units in disputed East Jerusalem, leaving the two allies in the middle of an increasingly uncomfortable diplomatic feud. (more...)
Prime Minister Saad Hariri who is in Germany on a 3 day official visit held a joint press conference on Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel .
Merkel said Israel is unlikely to wage a war on Lebanon. (more...)
A man claiming to be a former Syrian intelligence officer, who was jailed for six months over a forged passport, remains in Al Wathba prison nearly a year after his conviction because he faces execution if deported.
Mohammed Zuhair al Siddiq came to the UAE using a fraudulent Czech passport, which he said was given to him by French intelligence operatives hoping to protect him.
At one point, Mr al Siddiq was considered a key witness in the 2005 assassination of the Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. But after his testimony and background were discredited, Mr al Siddiq was expelled from France. (more...)
Voice of Lebanon has reported that the Libyan authorities handed over to the Lebanese ambassador in Syria, Michel Khoury, an invitation to participate in the Arab summit to be hosted by Libya around the end of March, but Khoury expressed reservations about receiving the invitation .
The reservations by Khoury was interpreted as an official rejection of the invitation by the Lebanese authorities. (more...)- Israeli officials said Monday that the U.S. is pressing Israel to scrap a contentious east Jerusalem building project whose approval has touched off the most serious diplomatic feud with Washington in years. (more...)
Feature Articles
Finally Syria said yes to Jumblatt’s visit according to a statement issued by Hezbollah on Monday. Jumblatt will reportedly head to Damascus on March18
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, president Michel Suleiman discusses Middle East peace, Lebanese–Syrian relations, UN, Iran and other issues.
By Ghassan Karam
Arguably one of the most productive and positive attribute of a free democratic society is the free exchange of ideas that it promotes.
Afghanistan Al Qaeda Aoun Assad Berri Christians Crash Druze Dubai Earthquake Economy Egypt Elections ET409 Ethiopia Ethiopian Airlines France Gaza Geagea Ghassan Karam Haiti Hamas Hariri Hezbollah Iran Iraq Israel Jumblatt Lebanon March14 Muslims Nuclear Obama Pakistan Palestinians Russia Saudi Arabia Shiites Suleiman Syria Terrorism Turkey UAE US Yemen
As troops massed on his border near the start of the Persian Gulf War, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein weighed the purchase of a $150 million nuclear “package” deal
The National News Agency (NNA) reported that Antoine Choueiri, 69, a prominent Lebanese businessman and media tycoon, died on Tuesday after a long battle with an undisclosed illness.
Lebanon’s rival political groups have resumed national reconciliation talks and the defense strategy was the main topic on the agenda.
In the run-up to today’s historically significant parliamentary polls in Iraq, a a question that begs asking is where do Iraq’s neighbours stand on these critical elections.
Lebanese State minister Mona Ofeish who had followed the issue of women’s rights for over 25 years, asked :“How can a woman who has carried a baby in her womb for nine months, and then raised it, not have the right to give the baby her citizenship?”
By Ghassan Karam
It is not very often that the object of a not-for-profit organization is a major party in funding the effort to help it overcome its challenges.
By: Robert Fisk
Once more we have to forget the Armenian Holocaust – the first of the 20th century – in order to appease the Turks. Bill Clinton did it.
Kuwaiti Author Dr. Ibtihal Al-Khatib said during an interview with LBC that like Israel, Hezbollah should investigate its conduct in the 2006 war.
Imagine the following: The de facto independent Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq declares independence, secedes from Iraq, and inspires Kurds in Turkey and Iran to join a “Greater Kurdistan.”
Despite Turkey’s objection, a resolution calling the World War I -era killing of Armenians genocide has narrowly passed a key committee of the U.S. Congress.
Few have thought longer or harder over the Iranian challenges than Zbigniew Brzezinski , who was the White House national security adviser when the Iranian revolution erupted.
I’m sometimes haunted by weird thoughts, rash feelings, and a hasty desire to celebrate. It is as if I hadn’t become more knowledgeable or learned my lessons.
“A lot is made about American misperceptions about Muslim communities, but there’s a lot of misperceptions that Muslim communities have about the United States,” says the new U.S. envoy to the Muslim world
There are a barrage of statements and counter charges by all parties concerned with the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET409.This report explains how blame in such cases are determined
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah ’s meeting in Damascus last Thursday with the Iranian and Syrian presidents outraged Lebanon’s majority alliance
By Ghassan Karam
It is well known that the market fails to deliver on its promises of efficiency for many reasons such as the predominance of negative externalities;
Chile is on a hotspot of sorts for earthquake activity. And so the 8.8-magnitude temblor that shook the region overnight was not a surprise
If you want to get an early read on the ultimate success or failure of the Obama administration’s policies for the Middle East, keep an eye on Syria.
By Olivia Sterns
When Olympic skier Chirine Njeim tells people she’s from Lebanon, they often laugh in disbelief.
Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea spoke out against Hezbollah and the possibility of an imminent war with Israel, declaring “I am against irrational war.”
By Ghassan Karam
It is not very often that we get credible ecological news that is not full of negative news and dark projections. Well I am glad to say that the following
Press freedom is suffering in Lebanon, despite a modicum of maneuverability allowed by the law and the government’s non-interference with journalists
Following their meeting in Mukhtara, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP walid Jumblatt and Free patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun held a joint press conference .
“We’re finished … God have mercy on us,” were the last words of the pilot of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET409 before crashing into the Mediterranean Sea on January 25, 2010.
An interview with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton by Michel Ghandour of Al Hurra
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned israel during his speech on Tuesday : “If you target Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport, we will strike Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport,”
By Ghassan Karam
Sovereign debt, as a potentially crippling fiscal problem world wide, has risen to the forefront over the past few months.
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt said the March 14 slogan of Lebanon First does not work for him adding: “I am a Palestinian Arab and I can’t abandon my Arabism.”
Tens of thousands of Lebanese headed to Martyrs square in downtown Beirut on Sunday to participate in the rally that marks the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Lebanon’s former Prime Minster Rafik Hariri.
By Ghassan Karam
One of the most common definitions of a state is the one given by the great sociologist Max Weber: “it is that organization that has monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory”.
During an interview with Future and MTV Lebanon’s prime minister Saad Hariri stressed that he is the PM because March 14 won the elections and went to Syria to build state-to-state relations :
In this interview Reza Pahlavi, whose father, the shah of Iran was toppled from power 31 years ago tells the west don’t bother with sanctions, do what you did in South Africa and USSR…help the reformers
What we see in general with regards to the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft that crashed in Lebanon is confusion and inconsistencies
Syria regains strength in Lebanon, without troop presence, Syria’s ally Hezbollah and Saudi, Western rapprochement with Syria sealed new reality.
The views expressed on this website are independent perspectives that do not necessarily represent the views of Ya Libnan LLC.
Ya Libnan LLC is not affiliated with any of the advertisements. The ads are auto generated by a third-party.
Discussion