Ahmadinejad tells US to ‘pack and leave’

The presidents of Iran and Syria on Thursday ridiculed U.S. policy in the region and pledged to create a Middle East “without Zionists,” combining a slap at recent U.S. overtures and a threat to Israel with an endorsement of one of the region’s defining alliances. (more…)

Taliban militants strike central Kabul, attack hotels

Taliban militants attacked a luxury hotel and two guest houses favored by foreigners in the center of Kabul early Friday, killing at least 17 people, including some foreigners, and injuring at least 32.

Syria bites Obama’s open hand (again)

How many times does the Obama administration have to get bitten before it stops leading with an “open hand”?
Hillary Clinton this week called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to respond to recent US overtures by distancing his country from Iran. Yesterday, Assad responded by signing a new friendship pact with a grinning Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. (more…)

President Suleiman received doctor of honor from MGIMO University

The title of Doctor of honor, was bestowed on Lebanese president Michel Suleiman by MGIMO University ( Moscow State Institute of International Relations) during his visit to Moscow.

Two huge icebergs let loose off Antarctica’s coast

An iceberg about the size of Luxembourg that struck a glacier off Antarctica and dislodged another massive block of ice could lower the levels of oxygen in the world’s oceans, Australian and French scientists said Friday.
The two icebergs are now drifting together about 62 to 93 miles (100 to 150 kilometers) off Antarctica following the collision on Feb. 12 or 13, said Australian Antarctic Division glaciologist Neal Young. (more…)

Unity lacking for U.N. sanctions against Iran

As many as four countries may refuse to support an expected United Nations resolution imposing new sanctions against Iran, threatening a setback for Western efforts to show a unified international effort, according to foreign diplomats close to the issue.
China’s dislike for sanctions is well known. But in addition, U.N. Security Council members Brazil, Turkey and Lebanon have signaled that they may abstain from a vote this year on new punitive measures, diplomats say. The sanctions, which would be the fourth round since 2006, are aimed at pressuring Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. (more…)

Hezbollah’s Nasrallah meets Ahmadinejad in Damascus

The head of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement traveled to Damascus for talks with allies Syria and Iran, the SANA news agency said Friday.

Hassan Nasrallah attended a dinner banquet in Damascus Thursday hosted by President Bashar al-Assad in honor of his visiting Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the official agency said. (more…)

Fatfat: Adopting reforms should not mean obstructing elections

Future parliamentary bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat told Voice of Lebanon on Friday that adopting Interior Minister Ziad Baroud’s proposed municipal reforms should not mean obstructing June’s municipal elections. He added that the Future bloc is against delaying them. (more…)

Hezbollah capitalizing on lack of unity among Lebanon’s Christians

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed that “Hizbullah is in full preparedness and capable of severely hurting Israel.”

Answering a question on whether the objective today is to corner March 14 Christians, Qassem said: “There is no need to corner March 14 Christians because they are cornering themselves with their own stances.” (more…)

Mossad ‘factory’ churned out fake Australian passports

A former Mossad officer has alleged the Israeli spy agency has its own “passport factory” to create or doctor passports for use in intelligence operations.
Relations between Australia and Israel are under strain after three Australian passports were apparently used by suspects in the killing of top Hamas leader Mahmoud Al Mabhouh in Dubai last month. (more…)