at least 1,100 people killed in Syria

Human rights activists in Syria say the two-month crackdown by security forces on anti-government protesters has cost the lives of at least 1,100 people. (more…)

Geagea: A sin cannot be corrected with another

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said on Wednesday that the lack of a new Lebanese cabinet “is a grave sin.”

Commenting on Speaker Nabih Berri’s recent request to hold a parliamentary session before a new government is formed, Geagea said in a statement (more…)

Egypt will open its border crossing with Gaza permanently

Egypt will open its border crossing with the Gaza Strip permanently this weekend, the government announced Wednesday, suggesting the country’s military rulers are being swayed by growing anti-Israeli sentiment here.

Opening the Rafah crossing, the only official entry point outside Israel into the Palestinian territory, would ease the blockade imposed (more…)

Mufti Qabbani: Aoun’s remarks are not fit for a politician

Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, Mufti of the Lebanese Republic condemned on Tuesday Free patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun’s criticism of President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati. (more…)

Nasrallah: Israel is weaker than a spider web

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appeared on TV via video link on Wednesday the day which marks the 11th anniversary of Israel’s 2000 withdrawal from Lebanon.

Israel withdrew on May 25 after 22 years of occupation. Hezbollah was credited by all the Lebanese for liberating south Lebanon but has since fallen from grace by its own hands (more…)

IAEA says bombed Syrian site was ‘very likely’ a nuclear reactor

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded in a confidential report that a Syrian site destroyed in the September 2007 Israeli bombing was “very likely” a nuclear reactor about which Damascus had failed to inform the UN nuclear watchdog, news reports citing a leaked copy of the document said Wednesday. (more…)

Iranian refinery explosion kills 2 , injures 22

At least two people were killed Tuesday in a refinery explosion caused by gas leak in the southern Iranian port city of Abadan during a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the local satellite Press TV reported.

An earlier report by local Mehr news agency said 22 staff of the refinery were also injured. (more…)

French FM Lagarde announces bid to lead IMF

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has announced she will seek the top job at the International Monetary Fund.

Many European countries, including Germany and Britain, have offered their backing to a candidacy by Lagarde to run the IMF, which provides billions in loans to shore up the world economy. (more…)

Hezbollah, allies not serious about forming a cabinet, report

Kuwait newspaper al Seyassah quoted March 14 sources as saying that the Hezbollah led March 8 alliance is not serious about forming a new cabinet and for this reason new obstacles pop up on regular basis just to make sure no cabinet is formed , despite the fact that it has been now 4 months since Hezbollah picked PM designate Nagib Mikati as its PM candidate (more…)

Siniora’s wife was hit by a motorcycle in Beirut

Hoda Siniora wife of former Lebanese Prim minister and current Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora , was hit on Tuesday by a motorcycle in the street of Verdun in Beirut across from 732 Center. (more…)