A day after quake, Washington awakes to closures

An unsettled Washington region awoke Wednesday to the closure of many area schools, some federal buildings and landmarks including the Washington Monument, a day after a rare, powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled the eastern third of the United States and unnerved tens of millions of people from Georgia to New England. (more…)

Syrian activists say tanks storm flashpoint city

Syrian activists said tanks stormed an eastern city and made sweeping arrests there Wednesday as the regime faced international threats of an arms embargo and new sanctions. (more…)

Gaddafi sons just slipped away

Libya’s former deputy ambassador to the UN says rebels had two of Muammar Gaddafi’s sons in custody but somehow allowed them to slip away. (more…)

March 14 tells cabinet: Find Hariri killers or quit

The March 14 General Secretariat issued a statement on Wednesday calling on the cabinet to either find the men indicted in the assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri or “quit.”

“The cabinet is held complete responsibility, and it should either find the suspects or leave,” March 14 statement said. (more…)

Aoun attacks March 14 and defends Hezbollah

During a press conference following Change and Reform bloc’s  weekly meeting on Tuesday  its  leader MP Michel Aoun defended Hezbollah over its refusal to hand over its four members where were indicted in the murder of former Lebanese prime minister . (more…)

Gaddafi flees HQ ransacked by rebel

A beleaguered Muammar Gaddafi vowed on Wednesday to fight on to death or victory after rebels forced him to abandon his Tripoli stronghold in what appeared to be a decisive blow against the Libyan leader’s 42-year rule. (more…)

Hunt for Gadhafi Begins as Compound Falls to Libyan Rebels

The hunt for Moammar Gadhafi began in earnest on Tuesday after rebels stormed his massive Trioli compound and found no sign of him. (more…)

Libyan rebels seize Khadafy’s compound

Triumphant rebels seized Moammar Khadafy’s compound in Tripoli on Tuesday after a fierce battle with a loyalist rearguard but there was no word on the fate of the Libyan leader who vowed again to fight “to the end.” (more…)

Libyan rebels surround Gaddafi’s compound

Libyan rebel fighters surrounded Muammar Gaddafi’s fortified Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli on Tuesday and some entered one of its outer gates, an Al Jazeera correspondent said. (more…)

Cairn looking at opportunities to explore for oil, gas in Lebanon

British oil firm Cairn Energy (CNE.L) said it was focusing on concluding a long running deal to sell a stake in its Indian unit to Vedanta (VED.L), but was also looking at opportunities to explore for oil and gas in Lebanon. (more…)