One killed in explosion south of Beirut, update

An explosion caused by a bomb or grenade killed a person in the Dahiyeh suburb of southern Beirut, An-Nahar newspaper reported on Saturday . (more…)

Syrian Protesters Look to Ramadan, as a potential tipping point

Syrian antigovernment activists, looking ahead to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as an opportunity to intensify their monthslong effort to topple the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, protested in the thousands on Friday. (more…)

World Population to Top 9 Billion by 2050. Growth uneven

The global population is expected to top seven billion in 2011. By 2050, it’s expected to exceed nine billion. By 2100, it’s expected to rise to 10 billion. (more…)

Barak at UN: Assad killed 2000, lost legitimacy

After Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday, he told the Press he had discussed “the region.” Inner City Press asked him, “Did you discuss Syria with the Secretary General?” (more…)

Peres holds secret peace talks with Palestinians

THE ISRAELI president has been holding secret meetings with Palestinian officials in an effort to break the deadlock in the Middle East peace process, ahead of the expected Palestinian bid for UN recognition of statehood in September. (more…)

Iran Is in ‘Secret Deal’ to Aid Funding for Al-Qaeda Operatives, report

The U.S. accused the Iranian government of engaging in a “secret deal” to help move money and operatives for al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.

The U.S. Treasury Department today identified six members of an alleged network led by Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil, a Syrian who has been operating as an “al-Qaeda facilitator” in Iran “under an agreement between al-Qaeda and the Iranian government.” (more…)

STL releases details on Hezbollah suspects in Hariri murder

Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Prosecutor Daniel Bellamare issued a press release on Friday in which he said that Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen’s decision to lift the confidentiality on the full names and aliases, biographical information, photographs and charges against the individuals named in the indictment (more…)

Geagea tells Nasrallah: only Lebanon army protects us against Israel

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, that the Lebanese Army alone would deal with defending any future oil installations from Isreali aggression.

“The Lebanese Army, not you, will deal with our oil installations in the event they were exposed to risk,” (more…)

Syrian security forces and protesters clash

Syrian security forces fired on protesters in at least three Syrian cities Friday, according to a human rights group, while state media reported that a “terrorist attack” damaged an oil pipeline in a fourth. (more…)

Jumblatt: Vengeance will weaken Mikati

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt told Al-Hayat newspaper in remarks published Friday that March 8 officials who adopt a vengeful manner present a “free gift” to opposition leader Saad Hariri and will weaken Prime Minister Najib Mikati. (more…)