At least 24 reported slain in Syrian protests

Syria suffered through another agonizing day of bloodshed Friday as security forces fired on antigovernment protesters after weekly prayers in several cities across the country.

Human rights activists said at least 24 unarmed people were killed in the violence. (more…)

A Lebanese Default Is Inevitable.

By Ghassan Karam
Some things are preordained and I do not mean only philosophically. There is often a strong rationale that predetermines an outcome

Angelina Jolie visits Syrian refugees in Turkey, in pictures

US actress Angelina Jolie, who serves as goodwill ambassador to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, traveled to Turkey to visit Syrian refugees on Friday.

Jolie spent over two hours with Syrians living in camps along the Turkish border, who have fled their government’s violent crackdown on protesters. (more…)

MP jisr accuses Mikati of slander

Future Movement MP Samir al-Jisr responded to Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s press conference by accusing him of slandering the opposition

What Mikati said today is slander against us, Jisr told Future TV

Earlier today said “the opposition should be peaceful and constructive.” (more…)

Army colonel gets 20 years in jail over spying for Isarel

A Lebanese military court sentenced Army Colonel Mansour Diab to twenty years in prison over spying for Israel , according to an official source. (more…)

Child killed in renewed clashes in north Lebanon

A seven-year old child , Abdel Rahman al-Habchiti, was killed as a result of the renewed clashes in Tripoli neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen ( mainly Alawites who support the Syrian regime ) and Bab al-Tabbaneh ( mainly Sunnis who support the Syrian uprising ) in northern Lebanon on Friday, National News Agency reported. (more…)

19 killed in Syria as protests surge in defiance of crackdown

Tens of thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Damascus’s suburbs and three of Syria’s five largest cities on Friday, in a weekly show of defiance against President Bashar al-Assad. Activists said at least 19 people were killed. (more…)

Security Council backs U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon for second term

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was officially tapped Friday for a second term by the U.N. Security Council in a unanimous and widely expected nomination.

The measure will now head to the General Assembly for final approval Tuesday. (more…)

Lebanon PM: Civil peace is a red line

Prime minister Nagib Mikati commented on the clashes in Tripoli during a press conference by saying that the timing of what happened in Tripoli is suspicious, stressing that civil peace is a “red line” and that he will not compromise on this matter (more…)

Geagea: How can Christians benefit from restoring Syria’s hegemony over Lebanon

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said on Friday that the newly-formed cabinet does not serve the interest of Lebanese Christians.

“Granting a Christian figure a certain portfolio does not mean that this is in the interest of Christians,” said a statement issued by Geagea’s office adding ” the ministers will not serve their portfolios and sect, but only those who appointed them”, in reference to Hezbollah. (more…)