Wahhab: ‘We will not let the Syrian regime fall’

Former minister Wiam Wahhab pledged on Thursday during a visit to the Syrian town of al-Saboura that the Lebanese will protect the Syrian regime at all costs.

“We will fight with our hands, weapons and chests to protect Syria, and we will not let the Syrian regime fall,” (more…)

Cannes 2011: A personal project for Nadine Labaki

Cannes, France – For many filmmakers, the moment of inspiration can be difficult to pin down. Lebanese writer-director Nadine Labaki, however, has exceptional reasons for remembering exactly when the idea for “Where Do We Go Now?” came to her. (more…)

Syria condemns US sanctions on Assad

The Syrian government has condemned the U.S. sanctions targeted President Bashar Assad.

The U.S. announced on Wednesday it was slapping the sanctions on Assad and six senior aides for the country’s brutal crackdown that has killed more than 850 people since a popular uprising began in March. (more…)

Top Syrian security official killed in Tal Kalach, report

Al Jamhouriyat newspaper in Lebanon reported that the head of the Political Security branch in the town of Tal Kalakh, a high ranking officer, was killed Tuesday night in an ambush along with four of his military colleagues . (more…)

Al Jazeera journalist forced to listen to prisoners being tortured in Syrian jails

On her first night in Damascus, Dorothy Parvaz was moved between several jail cells, blindfolded and manacled and forced to listen to prisoners being tortured by Syrian interrogators. (more…)

Al Jazeera journalist, missing in Syria, released from Iranian jail

The mysterious 19-day detention and release of a Seattle journalist in Syria and Iran has underscored the murky security ties that bind those staunch Middle East allies at a time when both are under international pressure over alleged human rights violations and pursuit of nuclear technology. (more…)

Syrian buses transported Palestinians to Lebanon-Israel borders

“Syrian buses transported the Palestinians from the refugee camps to the Lebanese Israeli borders in south Lebanon on the Nakba day last Sunday”, a well informed source told al Sharq al Awsat newspaper adding” the whole protest was organized by Syria ” (more…)

Medvedev warns West of new Cold War

President Dmitry Medvedev warned Wednesday Russia could pull out a new nuclear disarmament treaty and enter a new Cold War with the West if the two sides failed to agree on a new missile defence shield.

Medvedev told reporters that the United States’ decision to push ahead with the European shield despite Russia’s objections will force Moscow (more…)

Transport Union will meet to discuss Hassan’s offer, update

Lebanon’s Ground transportation union will meet at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening to discuss Finance Minister Rayya al-Hassan’s proposal to subsidize public drivers’ fuel costs, the National News Agency reported.

Hassan has said her ministry is ready to subsidize (more…)

US tells Assad, leave if you can’t lead

The US on Wednesday urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to lead a political transition or step down from power as it imposed sanctions on him.

“It is up to Assad to lead a political transition or to leave,” according to US government talking points distributed by the State Department. (more…)