Iran sanctions: Opposition from Turkey, Brazil, Lebanon

The United States and its Western allies won crucial support from Russia and China for new sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program, but they now face a tough campaign to get backing from the rest of the U.N. Security Council. (more…)

Moussa: Arabs, International community will support Lebanon

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa who arrived in Beirut on Wednesdaytold reporters at Beirut airport that there will always be Israeli threats against Lebanon. However, Arabs and the international community always support the country against any possible breach of its sovereignty, he added.

When asked about Israeli military drills, the Arab League secretary-general said: “There are always Israeli exercises and threats to Lebanon. I know the cautious Lebanese feeling toward continuous negative Israeli policies.” (more…)

Team of UK scientists track Europe’s ash cloud

When ash spews from an Icelandic volcano, 10 British scientists using laser sensors, satellite pictures and a specially equipped jet must tell the world where it’s going.

The grit can block flight paths and shut airports, so the fate of millions of travelers, and billions in revenue, rides on the projections of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Exeter, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southwest of London. (more…)

France: No Scud evidence in Lebanon

French authorities have no evidence to support claims of Scud missiles in the south of Lebanon, the French defense minister said in Beirut
.

Brig. Gen. Yossi Baidatz, the head of the Israeli army’s intelligence research division, told Israeli lawmakers May 4 that Syria had transferred long-range Scud missiles to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. (more…)

Iran: Proposed new UN nuclear sanctions will backfire

The head of Iran’s atomic energy organisation has said newly-proposed sanctions on Iran will backfire.

Ali Akbar Salehi said the sanctions would lead to the major world powers who back them being “discredited”.

He is the highest-ranking Iranian official to speak since the proposals were tabled at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday. (more…)

US introduces Iran sanctions draft at UN

The United States on Tuesday introduced a draft resolution at the UN to impose tough new sanctions on Iran, shaking off what it framed as an attempt by Tehran to stall efforts by signing up to a nuclear swap deal.

The draft resolution would expand an arms embargo and measures against Iran’s banking sector and ban it from sensitive overseas activities like uranium mining and developing ballistic missiles, a US official said.

“The resolution would establish a comprehensive new framework for cargo inspections, both in states’ ports and on the high seas,” the official told journalists on condition of anonymity. (more…)

Mitchell is back for more Mid East peace talks

US Middle East envoy George Mitchell held talks with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak at his Tel Aviv residence on Tuesday, as the zig-zagging lurch toward peace negations continues.

According to early reports, the discussion between the two officials focused on plans for indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in which Mitchell is to mediate. (more…)

US donates additional 20 Harley Davidson motorcycles to Lebanon ISF

The US Ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison presented another 20 Harley Davidson motorcycles to General Ashraf Rifi , Internal Security Forces’ chief at the ISF Mobile Forces headquarters in the Beirut suburb of Dbayeh on Tuesday. (more…)

Miss USA Hailed by Lebanese Hometown, but not by Hezbollah

Newly-crowned Miss USA Rima Fakih may be the pride and joy of her native Lebanese village, but the 24-year-old beauty contestant is far less popular among Hezbollah leaders

Hezbollah: Israel will be heavily bombarded if it wages war on Lebanon

Hezbollah military sources revealed on Tuesday that that in case of a new war between the party and Israel, the latter will be targeted with a “different kind, quantity, and intensity of rockets” than the July 2006 war.

They said that the party has increased its rocket power, and Israel should be expected to be bombarded with 15 tons of explosives a day if it waged a war on Lebanon. (more…)