UN chief: Israel agreed to withdraw from Ghajar

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said during an interview with An-Nahar newspaper , published on Thursday that that Israel agreed to his recent proposal regarding withdrawal from northern Ghajar , a disputed territory in South Lebanon.

Ban said that he has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take tangible steps in executing the withdrawal.

Ban voiced hope that Israel would withdraw in the near future ,adding that the UN will keep pressuring Israel to do so. (more…)

Why Does Lebanon Pretend To Have a Presidential System?

By Ghassan Karam
Quick, can you name the presidents of the following countries: Germany, Italy, Turkey, Iraq, Israel and Lebanon?

General Lteif resigns from FPM

General Nadim Lteif announced Wednesday his resignation from the Free Patriotic Movement because the leader of the movement MP Michel Aoun did respond to the recommendations he (LTEIF) presented for reforming FPM. (more…)

Op-Ed: Hezbollah wants transparency?

Whoever wants transparency must start with himself and this should including Hezbollah’s top officials. This is a 2 way street.

Cabinet: No decision on salary demands of teachers

President Michel Suleiman chaired the cabinet meeting at the Baabda Palace . 42 items were on the agenda
Lebanon’s Minister of State Jean Ogassapian briefed the media following the cabinet’s meeting Wednesday and said: (more…)

Obama fires McChrystal, replaces him with Petraeus

President Obama ousted his top commander in Afghanistan Wednesday after officials determined that comments he and his staff made in a Rolling Stone magazine article amounted to insubordination.

Obama said he accepted Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s resignation and, in an equally stunning move, said he had appointed Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, (more…)

Prices of 118 medicines in Lebanon reduced by 23%

Lebanon’s minister of Public Health Mohammad Jawad khalife announced yesterday during a press conference that prices of 118 medicines have been reduced by an average of 23 % in Lebanon.

The medicines affected by this price reduction, deal with high blood pressure, heart diseases and cholesterol reduction

Iran produced 17 kg of further enriched uranium

Iran’s nuclear chief said Wednesday his country has produced 17 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20 percent, defying U.N. demands to halt the controversial program.

The 20 percent level, needed to produce fuel for a medical research reactor, is far below the more than 90 percent required to build a nuclear weapon, but U.S. officials have expressed concern Iran may be moving closer to the ability to reach weapons-grade level. (more…)

Nasrallah scraps plan for Turkey trip due to security concerns

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has reportedly canceled his trip to Ankara for fear of Israeli assassination ,despite a promised fourfold security shield, Israeli DEBKAfile sources reported. (more…)

Lebanon’s Gaza aid ship not allowed in Cyprus

THE ban on vessels destined for Gaza continues to be in force, Cypriot authorities said yesterday in response to reports that a ship is getting ready to sail to the strip from Lebanon via Cyprus. (more…)