Families of Lebanese in Israeli jails urge Mikati to help free them

The “Committee of r families and friends of Yahya Skaf who is a prisoner in Israeli jails has urged PM Designate Najib Mikati to include in his government agenda the issue of Lebanese who are missing and prisoners in Israeli jails (more…)

A car hits and injures an Egyptian citizen near Beirut

National news agency reported that a Peugeot 505 car driven by A. T. M. hit this evening Egyptian citizen Ahmed Ali Mohammad Qassim ( born in 1986) at the intersection of Gallery Ittihad- Sid el Bouchrieh, east of the capital Beirut which led to his injury. (more…)

Another 240 Lebanese evacuated from Cairo

National news agency that the “Middle East Airlines Airbus 330 plane returned around 10:20 this evening from Cairo to Beirut with 240 passengers on board.

This is the second plane that evacuated Lebanese from Cairo. (more…)

Egypt closes the offices of Al Jazeera

Egypt’s decision on Sunday to close the offices of Al Jazeera illustrates the leading role the Arabic broadcaster has taken in reporting unprecedented popular revolts against Arab rulers. (more…)

Hundreds of Lebanese express support for Egyptian protests

Several hundred protesters gathered in front of the Egyptian embassy in Beirut Saturday to express their support for the Egyptian protest movement as President Hosni Mubarak appointed his intelligence chief vice president in an effort to quell the civil unrest sweeping the country. (more…)

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Backs ElBaradei Role

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s venerable and controversial Islamic organization, says it has backed Mohamed ElBaradei as the lead spokesman for the country’s opposition groups to negotiate further political reforms with the shaky Egyptian government. (more…)

China steps up web censorship

Chinese authorities have blocked the word “Egypt” from searches on Twitter-like microblogging sites in an indication of concern among Communist Party leaders that the unrest there could encourage similar calls for political reform in China. (more…)

Clinton calls for democracy in Egypt, not Mubarak’s ouster

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called for “real democracy” in Egypt and praised the “great outpouring of desire” expressed by protesters there. But did not call for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, whom she acknowledged on Sunday has been an important ally. (more…)

Arab-Israeli activist gets 9 years in prison over spying for Hezbollah

An Israeli court on Sunday sentenced an Arab-Israeli activist who confessed to spying for Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants to nine years in prison.

Amir Makhoul pleaded guilty in October to contacting a foreign agent, conspiring to aid an enemy in time of war and espionage. (more…)

Could the domino effect from Tunis to Cairo soon hit Damascus?

In one of Old Damascus’ new cafes, text messages buzzed between mobiles in quick succession, drawing woops of joy and thumbs up from astonished Syrians. (more…)