Earthquake in Japan and Chile, alarm Tsunami in the E. Pacific

A strong earthquake of intensity 7.3 hit Japan in the early morning (at 5:31 local time), about 80 km from the island of Okinawa. But an even stronger quake with a magnitude of 8.3 struck the central region of Chile, at about 6:34 GMT.
The epicentre was fixed at 91km north-east of Conception and 317 km south-west of the capital Santiago. So far there are no reports of deaths or damage. Japan has issued a tsunami warning, which was later withdrawn and there were no reports of significant damage. (more…)

Watch Syria for signs of Obama’s Mideast chances

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.

Russia agreed to supply MI-24 helcopters to Lebanon

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman returned Friday from a two-day official visit to Moscow and announced that Russia had agreed to provide his country with Mi-24 helicopters, Al-Nahar reported.
Russia announced in December of 2008 that it would provide Lebanon with 10 Mig-29 type planes, but Suleiman asked instead to receive the state of the art military choppers and the advanced missiles they carry. (more…)

Tsunami alert as a quake strikes off Japan

A tsunami alert has been issued in Japan after a powerful earthquake struck near the Okinawan coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency gave the strength as 6.9 while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.3. (more…)

US: Syria’s ties to Iran undermining its position in ME

Damascus’ close relationship with Iran is undermining Syria’s position in the Middle East, the US State Department said Thursday, as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the Syrian capital.
State Department spokesman PJ Crowley told reporters that the United States has expressed concerns to Syrian President Bashar Al- Assad about his country’s relationship with Tehran. (more…)

A Syrian man shoots a Syrian woman then shoots self

Voice of Lebanon Radio station has reported that A Syrian citizen shot and wounded a Syrian woman inside a store in Jounieh, just north of the capital Beirut before shooting himself. They were both taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Update : The Syrian woman was identified as Shireen Subbair . She is reportedly dead . The Syrian killer was identified as Khalil Darwich . He is reportedly receiving treatment at the lady of Lebanon hospital in Jounieh and is in critical condition

Israeli DM doubts Iran would nuke his country

Israel’s defense minister said Friday that a nuclear-armed Iran would be unlikely to strike the Jewish state but would use its arsenal to intimidate adversaries across the Middle East.

“I don’t think the Iranians, even if they got the bomb, (would) drop it in the neighborhood,” Ehud Barak said. “They fully understand what might follow. They are radical but not totally crazy. They have a quite sophisticated decision-making process, and they understand reality.” (more…)

Assailant tried to attack an MP in north Lebanon

MTV has reported that an  assailant in a car attempted to attack Lebanon First bloc MP Mohammad Kabbara’s convoy in Azmi street in Tripoli north Lebanon.
According to NNA , Kabbara’s bodyguards then arrested the assailant and handed him over to the security authorities for further investigation

Lebanese Army: No US helicopter landed at the embassy

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The Lebanese army command center has issued a statement in which it denied that a US helicopter landed at the embassy in Aoukar .The army was responding to report by a local newspaper . The Army added : “Not since May 19, 2008 had any helicopter landed at the embassy and it landed after receiving full approval from the Lebanese authorities “

Israeli spy cells uncovered in north, south Lebanon

Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television reported Friday that the Lebanese army uncovered two Israeli espionage cells—one in the South and one in the North—and arrested four members of the cells (more…)