March 14 official: Assad implied renewed Syria’s control over Lebanon

March 14 forces general-secretariat coordinator Fares Souaid considered on Wednesday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s recent statements to As Safir newspaper as “interesting and worrying” in regards to Lebanese-Syrian relations.

He told the Central News Agency that it is interesting that Assad would make his statements to a Lebanese newspaper and then have them published on its front page. (more…)

Fuel shortage at Beirut Airport

A fuel shortage caused by a defective fuel shipment prompted Beirut’s international airport to supply airlines with just half their normal daily allotment, airport and civil aviation authorities said Wednesday. (more…)

Salameh: Remittances into Lebanon offset debt burden

The threat to Lebanon’s economy posed by the public debt burden will be offset by a continued high remittance rate into the country, the central bank governor, Riad Salameh said.

The real challenge to Lebanon’s economy is to maintain a high growth rate, he said, citing improved infrastructure, and reforms in the water, telecom, and transportation sectors as key requirements. (more…)

U.S. to Assist Palestinian Refugees in Syria

Earlier today officials from the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Republic Government, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) inaugurated a newly constructed community center that will benefit nearly 144,000 Palestinian refugees living in Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus. The United States contributed $1.4 million to support the construction of the community center. (more…)

Kuwaiti Emir showered with praise in Lebanon

The National News Agency (NNA) reported on Wednesday that Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah left Beirut after an official two day visit .

President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri accompanied Sabah to the Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport, added the NNA.

While in Lebanon the Kuwaiti Emir was showered with praise everywhere he went. (more…)

World bank to provide Lebanon with $500 million for ecomic reforms

The World Bank plans to provide about 500 million dollars over four years to help economic reforms in Lebanon, one of the world’s most indebted countries, a senior bank official said on Wednesday. (more…)

What next for Thailand?

Bangkok is under curfew after soldiers cleared thousands of anti-government protesters from their fortified encampment in Thai capital. The BBC’s Lucy Williamson is in Bangkok and looks at where the end of the violent stand-off leaves Thailand. (more…)

Miss USA Rima Fakih put controversy behind her

The newly crowned Miss USA, Rima Fakih put controversy behind her as she appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” to present the show’s iconic Top 10 List on Tuesday night.

Fakih was the focus of a media frenzy just 24 hours after winning the national title in Las Vegas on Sunday, when photos blanketed the Internet of her dressed in a T-shirt and short red shorts from a women-only 2007 stripper class and radio station contest. (more…)

Hezbollah: It is vital for Lebanon to have a resistance movement

Lebanon would be obligated to form a resistance movement against Israel even if Hezbollah never existed, Shiite leaders said Wednesday.

Naim Kassem, Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, said it was vital that Lebanon be strong enough to counter Israeli aggression and interference in the region.

Kassem told his supporters that the Shiite resistance movement (Hezbollah) was to thank in part for Lebanese national strength. (more…)

UN: Lebanon plans to demarcate border with Syria

The United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said Tuesday that Lebanon is preparing a strategy with the aim of demarcating borders with neighboring Syria, Xinhua News Agency informed.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) quoted Williams as saying during a visit to the northern town of Akkar near the border with Syria that the UN has tried to assist Lebanon with financial donations. (more…)