MP Kanaan demands the release of the 3 Lebanese

FPM MP Ibrahim Kanaan told LBCI Tuesday that the arrest of the Lebanese for defaming President Michel Suleiman on Facebook is not legally justified and should not have happened. (more…)

Berri: Why all the fuss about the abduction of one Israeli?

Lebanon Speaker Nabih Berri wondered Tuesday over the uproar created over the abduction of one Israeli, “while an entire people are abducted and no one lifts a finger.”

He was referring to the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured on 25 June 2006 by the Palestinian Hamas group in a cross-border raid. (more…)

Israeli FM: No Palestinian state by 2012

Israel’s hard-line foreign minister said Tuesday that there was “no chance” a Palestinian state would be established by 2012 — a message that threatened to cloud the latest visit by Washington’s Mideast envoy.

The comments by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman drew swift Palestinian condemnations and could put Israel at odds with the international community, which has set a 2012 target (more…)

4 types of Kellogg’s cereals to be recalled in Lebanon

Kellogg’s cereal distributors in Lebanon were ordered to freeze supplies and recall the products from the market after it was discovered that a shipment supplied from the US is spoiled, the Ministry of Economy said in a statement on Tuesday. (more…)

Lebanon PM rejects naturalization of Palestinians

Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Tuesday that while Lebanon has social and humanitarian responsibilities toward Palestinian refugees living on its territory, it will not permit their naturalization.

Hariri’s remarks come as the parliament was split earlier this month over (more…)

Nicolas Hayek Dies at 82

Nicolas Hayek, a Lebanese-born business consultant who is widely credited with having saved the Swiss watch industry with the introduction of the Swatch, the inexpensive, plastic — and, as it transpired, highly collectible — wristwatch that made its debut in 1983, died Monday in Biel, Switzerland. He was 82.

Mr. Hayek, a founder and the chairman of the Swatch Group, died of heart failure while working at the company’s headquarters, according to an announcement on the company Web site. (more…)

Reduced power subsidies lead to lower budget deficit in Lebanon

Lebanon’s budget deficit narrowed from a year earlier to 1.3 trillion Lebanese pounds ($868 million) in the first five months as the government spent less on subsidizing its main electricity generating company. (more…)

Lebanon postpones discussion of oil bill till July 12

Lebanon’s joint parliamentary committees on Monday approved the first clause of a draft law on oil exploration and postponed discussion of the proposal to July 12.

The session was held in Nejmeh Square and chaired by Speaker Nabih Berri.

It was attended by (more…)

Iran rejects CIA claim on nuclear ambitions

Iran has rejected as “psychological warfare” assertions by the U.S. intelligence chief that Tehran has enough uranium for two nuclear weapons.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Monday the remarks by the CIA chief were aimed at creating a “negative perception” of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. (more…)

Hezbollah not interested in dialogue with US

Hezbollah’s deputy chief said Monday his group is not interested in a dialogue with Washington until the U.S. changes its Mideast policy, which he said is totally biased in favor of Israel.

Sheik Naim Kassem was responding to leading U.S. expert on the Middle East Ryan Crocker who told Congress earlier this month (more…)