Obama: U.S. needs more Steve ( Jobs)

The United States needs more jobs, said President Obama … more Steve Jobs, that is.

During a press conference by the president discussing the economy, and the pressing need in the U.S. for more jobs, Obama highlighted Apple CEO Steve Jobs, whom he said was living the American Dream. (more…)

Lebanon First responds to Hezbollah over STL accusations

During a joint press conference at the parliament on Thursday Lebanon First bloc Parliament members Samir Jisr and Hadi Hobeich responded to Hezbollah MP Mohmmad Raad’s recent statements regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).

Jisr reminded Raad that there was a consensus on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) during the national dialogue talks. (more…)

Crude Oil Trades Near Two-Year High

Crude traded little changed within 1 percent of a two-year high as economic growth in the U.S. and colder temperatures in the northern hemisphere whittle down excess fuel stockpiles.

Futures climbed as much as 0.3 percent after U.S. government reports yesterday showed U.S. crude supplies fell last week to the lowest in 10 months (more…)

Blast at Swiss Embassy in Rome wounds 1, report

A package exploded Thursday at the Swiss Embassy in Rome, wounding one person, news reports said. (more…)

New Gaza war ‘only a question of time’

A senior Israeli army officer has told the BBC that as long as Hamas remains in control of the Gaza Strip, another war is “only a question of time”.

He said the Palestinian Islamist group had re-armed so much since the Israeli offensive two years ago that it was now in a stronger position militarily.

There has been an increase in rocket fire coming from Gaza in the past week. (more…)

Wikileaks to relase more files related to Israel

WikiLeaks will release top secret American files concerning Israel in the next six months, its founder Julian Assange disclosed yesterday.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Assange said only a meagre number of files related to Israel had been published so far, because the newspapers in the West that were given exclusive rights to publish the secret documents were reluctant to publish many sensitive information about Israel. (more…)

Karam’s trial will start on January 8, report

The head of the Lebanese Permanent Military Court Brigadier General Nizar Khalil today announced that January 18, 2011 will be the starting date for the trial of retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam on charges of of spying for Israel. (more…)

Tension eases in Lebanon after Hezbollah denies coup plans

Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mohammad Fneish, a key Hezbollah official denied during an interview with NBN television on Wednesday that his party is planning to carry out a coup in Lebanon (more…)

Lebanon-Israel gas dispute widens, report

The dispute over vast natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, centered on Israel and Lebanon, has spread to divided Cyprus, which involves longtime rivals Greece and Turkey.

Israel’s discovery of three large fields containing an estimated 25 trillion cubic feet of gas off its northern coast over the last two years has added a whole new energy dimension to the Arab-Israeli conflict. (more…)

STL prosecutor: Evidence is my only guide

In one of the videos posted on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) website on Wednesday, STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare said in a question and answer session that accusations that the tribunal is politicized are being made by people who might fear the outcome of the tribunal’s decision or the tribunal’s efforts to uncover the truth.

Allegations of politicization are groundless, he said and added : “If I am influenced by governments then the Tribunal could be considered politicized but I make my own independent decisions and evidence is my only guide .” (more…)