A wanted man found dead near Syrian border

Mahmoud Mohammed Ajjaj, 30, was found dead on Tuesday with several gunshot wounds in a location near the sugar factory in Majdal Anjar, near the Syrian border. (more…)

Attacks target Shi’ite pilgrims in Iraq ahead of Ashura

Two roadside bombs targeting Shi’ite pilgrims in Iraq killed three people and wounded at least 32 others on Tuesday ahead of a Shi’ite religious event, Interior Ministry and police sources said.

One of the blasts struck a Shi’ite procession in the Ghazaliya district of western Baghdad, killing three and wounding 18, the interior ministry source said. (more…)

Egypt will have 15 million tourists by end 2010, report

The measures adopted this year by the Ministry of Tourism had served to offset the adverse effects of last year’s drop in tourist numbers, Tourism Promotion Authority official Sami Mahmoud said this week. (more…)

WikiLeaks: Egypt’s Military could block president’s son from top job

Egypt’s military could be a “key stumbling block” for any bid by presidential son Gamal Mubarak to succeed his father in next year’s presidential election, according to leaked US diplomatic cables. (more…)

Alexandria factory victims reach 15 deaths

The number of deaths caused by the collapse of a textile factory in Alexandria has increased to 15 after a civil defense team on Tuesday retrieved two bodies from under the rubble.

Around 50 workers were inside the six-story factory located in Moharram Bek, east of Alexandria, when torrential rains and strong winds forced the collapse. (more…)

Israel deports 150 southern Sudanese migrants

Israel has flown home 150 illegal Sudanese migrants in a secret operation that was the largest such deportation from the Jewish state, an Israeli official confirmed Tuesday.

The group, which left late Monday, was the biggest to leave since Israel began quietly deporting hundreds of African migrants a few years ago. The deportations are part of an attempt to stanch the influx of Africans slipping across Israel’s porous southern border with Egypt. (more…)

March 8 ministers reject Hariri’s compromise offer

MTV reported that the Hezbollah led- March 8 ministers contacted PM Saad Hariri during their meeting on Tuesday to inform him of their rejection of his proposal to Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil.

According to local reports the ministers came up with new ideas which they will share with Hariri. (more…)

Mitchell tries to salvage peace talks

Washington’s Middle East peace envoy has met Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in Ramallah, as part of a bid to salvage peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians

The meeting on Tuesday came as Israeli authorities bulldozed two Palestinian homes under construction in East Jerusalem. (more…)

Holbrooke’s death complicates Af-Pak peace efforts

The death of envoy Richard Holbrooke leaves the U.S. without a tough hand whose stature, tenacity and extensive contacts allowed him to weave together once-separate diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

With so many agendas to track — including military, diplomatic and legislative — finding a successor will be challenging. (more…)

Berri, Hariri offering compromise plans ahead of Wednesday’s cabinet session

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri met on Tuesday with Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil and discussed the latest developments and current efforts regarding the Lebanese impasse, according to the PM’s office.

Khalil according to An Nahar newspaper is promoting a proposal that was devised by Amal movement leader Speaker Nabih Berri to reach a compromise on the false witnesses’ issue prior to the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. (more…)