U.S. plans for Syria without Assad

Increasingly convinced that President Bashar Assad of Syria will not be able to remain in power, the Obama administration has begun to make plans for U.S. policy in the region after he exits.

In coordination with Turkey, the United States has been exploring how to deal with the possibility of a civil war (more…)

Abbas presses Palestinian U.N. bid despite warnings

President Mahmoud Abbas told the U.N. chief on Monday he would seek full membership for a Palestinian state at the United Nations, a move the United States and Israel warn could dash hopes of resuming peace talks. (more…)

Ireland: Families hail UN Lebanon deaths inquiry

RELATIVES of three UN peacekeepers murdered in 1989 have hailed an independent inquiry into the incident as enough to expose a 22-year army cover-up. (more…)

UN: More than 3,500 Syrian refugees in Lebanon

More than 3,500 Syrian refugees fleeing a military crackdown against pro-democracy protests have registered with the United Nations in neighbouring Lebanon, a U.N. report said, with more than 600 new arrivals in the past two weeks. (more…)

Parliament committee discusses amendments to energy plan

The joint parliamentary committees discussed during their meetings at parliament the amendments proposed by opposition MPs concerning the electricity draft bill presented by Energy Minister Gebran Bassil, which was recently amended and approved by the cabinet, LBC television reported on Monday (more…)

Lebanese president heads to New York

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman headed to New York on Monday to participate in the 66th UN General Assembly meeting and to preside over the UN Security Council session entitled “preventive diplomacy” on Thursday. (more…)

Fatfat: Electricity draft bill submitted to parliament is not what cabinet approved

March 14 MP Ahmad Fatfat said on Monday that the electricity draft bill submitted to parliament is different than the one approved by cabinet on September 7. (more…)

Security forces kill at least 4 people in Syria

At least four people were killed across Syria on Sunday, the Local Coordination Committees reported, as violence between protesters and Syrian security forces continued unabated. (more…)

MP Hashem: The Lebanese who have fled to Israel are agents

Amal Movement MP Qassem Hashem on Sunday said that the Lebanese people who have fled to Israel are “agents par excellence.”

“Those are agents. (more…)

Strong quake hits India, Nepal, China; 30 dead

The death toll from a strong earthquake that shook a Himalayan region straddling India, Nepal and China climbed to 30 on Monday as authorities tried to reach remote, mountain communities to assess the full extent of damage. (more…)