Israel demotes 2 soldiers who used Gaza child as a shield

An Israeli military court demoted two soldiers and gave them suspended sentences for forcing a 9- year-old Palestinian boy in the Gaza Strip to open bags that they suspected contained explosives. (more…)

Pope’s surprise condom remarks fuel debate

Pope Benedict’s statement on the use of condoms appears to be a relaxation of a hitherto uncompromising Vatican ban on the use of artificial contraception.

A crack has opened in the Church’s ban on contraception because of the Aids epidemic, particularly in Africa. (more…)

Aoun, Franjieh rule out armed clashes in Christian areas

During a joint press conference with Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Sunday warned he will not take part in Cabinet or dialogue sessions unless the false witnesses’ issue has been settled.

Aoun’s remarks came at the end of a visit to Franjiyeh’s mansion in Bnashi in northern Lebanon. (more…)

Egypt detains more than 100 Brotherhood supporters

Egyptian security forces detained more than 100 supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group in different cities on Friday, police and Brotherhood sources said.

The crackdown, a little more than a week ahead of Egypt’s parliamentary election due on November 28, (more…)

‘Special province’ for Christians in Iraq?

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said that he has no objection to form a special province for Christians in Iraq.

“There are regions with Christian majority in Iraq and we do not have an objection regarding forming a special province for Christians in Iraq,” Aswat al-Iraq quoted the President as saying. (more…)

Nahas is under pressure to resign

During an interview with Future TV , March 14 MP Atef Majdalani called on Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahas to resign.

He said that Nahas’ conduct with PM Saad Hariri is immoral.

Majdalani’s comment comes after another March 14 MP accused Nahas of corruption . (more…)

Hezbollah: STL amendments don’t concern us

Hezbollah Secretary General’s political adviser Hussein Khalil said after meeting with FPM leader MP Aoun: Amendments to STL don’t concern Hezbollah.

The special Tribunal For Lebanon STL issued a statement on Friday in which it said that its Judges met (more…)

Sarkozy: Today’s missile threat, it’s Iran

France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy said Saturday that Iran poses the main threat of the type of rogue attack that NATO’s planned anti-missile defence shield is designed to foil.

“No name appears in the documents made public by NATO, but let’s call a spade a spade: today’s missile threat, it’s Iran,” he told reporters at the NATO summit in Lisbon. (more…)

US reiterates committment to Lebanon institutions

General James Mattis, the US Central Command chief, on Friday pledged his country would continue to support the Lebanese army, a week after Washington lifted a freeze on military aid to Beirut.

“General Mattis came to Lebanon to reiterate … the US government’s position that the United States is committed to the continuity of (more…)

Editorial: Stop the Christian exodus from Muslim countries

One of the most important duties for our scholars, preachers, and intellectuals, is to denounce crimes committed by Al Qaeda against Christian churches.