The Lebanese delegation will head to Damascus on Monday

The Lebanese delegation of experts that was scheduled to visit Damascus last Wednesday, will now be making the trip early on Monday , ministerial sources told An Nahar newspaper. (more…)

Palestinian refugees vandalized a Syrian truck

Palestinian refugees vandalized a Syrian truck following an argument with its driver over the right to pass on Minieh’s highway, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported on Friday (more…)

Shares crumble as SEC charges Goldman with fraud

US Bank shares accelerated their declines Friday after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced fraud charges against Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS).

The stocks had already been down slightly, likely on profit-taking, after Bank of America Corp. (BAC) posted better-than-expected results, following a big run-up in bank stocks. (more…)

Sfeir to raise issue missing shiite cleric during Vatican visit

Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir told a visiting Italian delegation that he will seek to raise the issue of the disappearance of Shiite Imam Moussa al Sadr during his visit to the Vatican scheduled for April 22.

“The missing Imam was a man of peace and dialogue. He worked to reunite the Lebanese,” Sfeir told a visiting Italian delegation. (more…)

Hezbollah arms, the hot issue during Dialogue talks

Hezbollah arms was the hot issue during the National dialogue talks that took place yesterday at the Baabda palace . Both March 8 and March 14 alliances were represented at the talks.

President Michel Suleiman who chaired the session reportedly intervened to end the heated arguments of rival politicians and postponed the talks till June 3. (more…)

Malaysia’s Petronas suspends gasoline supplies to Iran

Malaysia’s state oil company has suspended gasoline supplies to Iran, Prime Minister Najib Razak said here Thursday, calling on Tehran to review its controversial nuclear program.

The announcement of the suspension by Petronas came after Najib held talks with US President Barack Obama, who called for the world to move “boldly and quickly” on new Iran sanctions on the sidelines of a 47-nation nuclear security summit this week.

“It is a decision made by Petronas. They did consult with the government but they took the decision to suspend the sales,” (more…)

Counterfeit Dollars flooded into Iraq

At least $4 million in counterfeit U.S. currency has flooded into Iraq since December, and U.S. and Iraqi officials are trying to determine how much of the counterfeiting is criminal and how much might be an Iranian attempt to influence Iraqi politics.

While some bills were crudely made and easily detected, U.S. military officials said, much of the money seized has been sophisticated fake hundred-dollar notes that require special printing presses, ink and paper. (more…)

Jumblatt heads to Syria Friday

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt announced Thursday is meeting with PM Saad Hariri that he plans to travel to Syria Friday.

He reportedly discussed with Hariri “a number of issues, among them the social demands issues, especially the suggested plan on imposing higher taxes on some sectors.”

Jumblatt described the suggested plan as “very beneficial and worth of studying in order to reach the adoption of the state budget, God willing.” (more…)

France: Transfer of Scuds to Hezbollah ‘Alarming if Confirmed’

The French foreign ministry announced on Thursday that France would consider as “alarming” the alleged transfer of long-range Scud missiles from Syria to Hezbollah if the recent reports on the subject turned out to be true.

Christine Fage, the FM deputy spokesperson called for “a total respect of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 in all its stipulations.”

“I remind you that this Resolution imposes an embargo on the export of arms to Lebanon, except those authorized by the Government of Lebanon or the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),” Fage added. (more…)

Lebanon Central Bank: No mergers allowed between top banks

Lebanon’s central bank said on Thursday it would not allow any mergers between the top 11 banks in the country.

“With regards to the issue of bank mergers, the Lebanese central bank will not agree to any merger operation between the top 11 banks in Lebanon,” a statement said. (more…)