Moussa: The Mideast should be nuclear-free zone

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said in a speech during the 18th Arab Economic Forum held in Beirut’s Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel on Thursday that, for the sake of its security, the Middle East should be a nuclear-free zone. (more…)

U.S.: Our position toward Hezbollah remains unchanged

Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Beirut Ryan Gliha told MTV on Thursday that US Deputy Assistant and National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counter terrorism John Brennan’s statement earlier in the week—that the US is looking to build up moderate Hezbollah members—was taken out of context.

“Washington’s position toward Hezbollah remains unchanged,” he added. (more…)

Strike awaits Greek PM as he heads back after 1 day visit to Lebanon

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou arrived Wednesday evening in Beirut and met Thursday with President Michel Suleiman and his Lebanese counterpart Saad Hariri. A strike awaited him as he headed back after 1 day visit to Lebanon. (more…)

Sfeir: Iran, Syria interfering in Lebanon’s affairs

Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir said Thursday that “Syria and Iran were interfering in Lebanon’s affairs” but “we are trying as much as possible to solve this problem.”

“Eventually, we seek to solve this problem as much as we can,” Sfeir said.

Sfeir made his remark to a French tourism delegation that visited him in Bkirki. (more…)

Paintings worth up to $613 million stolen in Paris

A lone thief stole five paintings worth up to half a billion euros ($613 million) total, including major works by Picasso and Matisse, in a brazen overnight heist Thursday from a Paris modern art museum, police and prosecutors said. (more…)

France to fine women with full-face Islamic veils

The French government decided Wednesday to impose a $185 fine on women who wear a full-face Islamic veil in public, pushing ahead with a controversial ban despite signs of tension between France’s Muslims and the Christian-tradition majority.

President Nicolas Sarkozy said his government was forwarding the legislation to parliament because it had a “moral responsibility” to uphold traditional European values in the face of an increasingly visible Muslim population, estimated at more than 5 million, (more…)

Opinion: A diplomatic game of chicken with Iran

Let’s be generous and call the frantic diplomatic maneuvers that have been taking place this week over Iran’s nuclear program a “negotiation,” Tehran-style.

Oligarchy Is Democracy and Vigilantism Is Honorable

By Ghassan Karam
The Middle East is a tough neighbourhood. That is incontrovertible. But to use that as an excuse not to call things by their real name is a travesty. Lebanese society is a good example of the dangers that reside

Prince Khalid al-Faisal in Beirut to attend the Arab Economic Forum

Prince Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud arrived in Beirut to attend the 18th Arab Economic Forum, which is set for May 20 and 21 and which will be held under the patronage of PM Saad Hariri.

Around 600 participants from 25 states will participate in the conference. (more…)

12 charged in mob lynching of Egyptian suspect

Twelve residents of Ketermaya, an Iqleem Al Kharroub town in Mount Lebanon, were charged on Wednesday for the mob lynching of an Egyptian murder suspect .

The prosecutor in Mount Lebanon charged eight detainees and four fugitives with “beating, stabbing and lynching” Mohammed Mosallam in Ketermaya, southeast of the capital Beirut, on April 29. (more…)