Interior minister named Saudi Arabia’s new crown prince

Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s interior minister, has been named the new crown prince of the key oil-producing nation, ascending at a time of regional turmoil amid the populist Arab Spring movement and simmering international issues involving Iran and other neighbors. (more…)

Al-Akhbar denies that Nasrallah, Assad met in Damascus

In a surprising development Al Akhbar newspaper denied in a report published on Friday that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah met in Damascus Syrian President Bashar Assad stressing that the meeting never took place.

Al Akhbar which is closely associated with Hezbollah and Syria reported yesterday that the two leaders met about 10 days ago (more…)

Cabinet approves wage increase to LU teachers

Following the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Walid Daouq said on Thursday that “the cabinet approved Education Minister’s proposal to increase the salaries of the Lebanese University teachers.” (more…)

Syrian troops plant mines along northern Lebanese borders, report

Syrian troops began planting mines at dawn in an area facing two Lebanese villages – Knaysseh and Al-Hnayder in northern Lebanon in an apparent bid to stem weapons smuggling along the porous border, a Lebanese official told AFP. (more…)

Gaddafi’s son seeks aircraft to surrender to ICC, report

Muammar Gaddafi’s fugitive son Saif al-Islam wants an aircraft to take him out of Libya’s southern desert so he can turn himself in to The Hague war crimes court, a source with Libya’s National Transitional Council said on Thursday. (more…)

Tarshish mayor: Comm. minister lives in a different world

Tarshish mayor Gabi Samaan rejected the statement of the ministry of communications in which the minister denied that Hezbollah is installing its own network using the infrastructure of the state network .

Samaan confirmed that Hezbollah network was installed on top of the state network. (more…)

Lebanon TM: Over 1.2 million Lebanese voted for Jeita Grotto in 5 days

Tourism minister Fadi Aboud said over 1.2 million Lebanese voted during the past five days for Jeita Grotto as one of the new seven wonders of nature in the world.

Lebanese officials started on Monday a campaign to urge Lebanese at home and abroad to vote for the Lebanese tourist destination, Jeita Grotto, Lebanese media reported. (more…)

Lebanon FM defends Syrian ambassador

Lebanon’s Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour told Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television on Thursday that Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Ali “has not interfered” in Lebanese affairs.

“The Syrian envoy has not issued any statement that would require us to summon him…or interfered in Lebanese affairs,” Mansour , who is a member of the Amal Movement , a close ally of Hezbollah said. (more…)

Mikati told Hariri that he is still committed to STL funding

An Nahar newspaper reported that PM Nagib Mikati sent former PM Saad Hariri a letter assuring him that right from the beginning he has been committed to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and that he still maintains the same opinion and wanted to know Hariri’s opinion on on this matter . (more…)

Assad, Hezbollah chief discuss STL funding in Damascus

Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah met in Damascus about ten days ago , Al Akhbar newspaper reported in remarks published on Thursday.

Al Akhbar which is closely associated with Hezbollah and Syria reported that the two leaders discussed the developments in the region including the issue of funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) (more…)