MP Qabbani urges Bassil to submit decrees over oil sector

MP Mohammad Qabbani , Parliamentary Public Works, Transportation, Energy and Water Commission chief requested on Thursday during an interview with LBC TV Energy Minister Gebran Bassil to speed up the submittal of decrees pertaining to the oil sector. (more…)

Explosive device found in Tripoli

A mortar shell was found on Miatayn Street in Tripoli on Thursday, National News Agency (NNA) reported. The device reportedly was not set to go off. (more…)

Saudi envoy: The initiative should be all Lebanese

The initiative to resolve the Lebanese situation should be an all-Lebanese one, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri told MTV on Thursday adding that all political parties should discuss matters in national dialogue sessions

Assiri stressed that Saudi Arabia does not interfere in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), , adding that Syrian-Saudi efforts are ongoing. (more…)

Syria welcomes appointment of new US ambassador

US President Barak Obama on Wednesday appointed the first U.S. ambassador to Syria since 2005, using the Christmas recess to bypass opposition from Senate Republicans. (more…)

Wikileaks: Syria encouraged anti-cartoon protest

Syria actively encouraged violent protests over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad four years ago in which European embassies in Damascus were attacked, a senior U.S. diplomat said in leaked cables. (more…)

Obama names temporary ambassadors to Syria, Turkey

President Barack Obama took the rare step on Wednesday of temporarily appointing U.S. ambassadors to Syria, Turkey and Azerbaijan, restoring a top U.S. envoy to Damascus after an absence of nearly six years. (more…)

Save Lebanon: Sack Its Political class

By Ghassan Karam
A major academic work about International Systems defines sovereign state to be:” any nation or people, whatever may be the form of its internal constitution, which governs itself independently of foreign powers

Sami Sheaib passed away

Sami Sheaib, the former director general of the Interior Ministry, died Wednesday at the age of 79. (more…)

Gas fields could bring catastrophe or opportunity to Israel-Lebanon-Cyprus

A gigantic natural gas field that could yield millions of barrels of oil was recently discovered on the maritime border between Israel, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Cyprus, and Northern Cyprus. While it could be a military catastrophe, steps are being taken to divide the spoils. (more…)

Analysis: Please, not again

Every time an attempt at Arab-Israeli peacemaking fails, the peace becomes a little more fragile and the danger of war increases. 2011 might see the most destructive such war for many years unless action is taken