Lebanon’s MEA interested in buying a stake in Cyprus Airways

Cyprus’s government has given green light for Cyprus Airways Ltd. to increase its capital and authorized negotiations for the sale of an unspecified stake of the state-run carrier to investors.

The government reaffirmed a previous “decision to raise the share capital of the company and approved the participation of the government as main shareholder in the new capital issue,” (more…)

Syrian regime gets bloody nose from resistance

One fateful consequence of President Bashar al-Assad’s ferocious crackdown on Syrian protesters is the emergence of the domestic armed resistance, the Free Syrian Army.

Forged in neighboring Turkey over the summer by military defectors, the FSA has become a major factor in the opposition to the regime. (more…)

Sanctions weigh on Lebanon-Syria banking ties

Beirut, Lebanon _ Lebanese banks which worked for years to build up business in neighboring Syria have been quietly implementing U.S. and European Union sanctions against Damascus to avoid jeopardizing their international operations, bankers and economists say.

This is despite close financial ties between the two countries, cemented by the opening of seven Lebanese banking affiliates in Syria (more…)

Germany arrests 2 alleged Syrian spies

Two men suspected of spying on Syrian opposition groups in Germany were arrested in Berlin Tuesday, authorities said. (more…)

Anti Syrian regime Druze: Assad’s fall coming soon

The anti Syrian -regime Druze in Jabal al Arab who call themselves ” Free people of Jabal al Arab” told Syrian president Bashar al Assad in a statement on Tuesday that his fall is coming sooner than later and that he will see in Souweida and the rest of Jabal al Arab something he has never seen before . (more…)

Syrian describes Homs horrors: “You smell death everywhere”

Beirut – From his hospital bed in Lebanon, wounded Syrian Abu Abedo recalls the horrors of the massacre in Homs province, which has been bombarded by President Bashar al-Assad’s troops.

Abu Abedo, 30, is among several Syrians wounded in the regime’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests, who have been arriving in secret to Lebanon. (more…)

Jumblatt slams Russia, China veto, calls for aiding Syrian refugees

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt slammed on Monday the double veto used by Russia and China to block the UN security council resolution condemning violence in Syria and called it a “slap in the face of the Syrian people,” (more…)

Lebanon may suffer Greece’s fate, says a lebanese banker

A leading Lebanese banker fears a Greek economic scenario in Lebanon this year if the government fails to take immediate action to reduce the budget deficit, cut waste and implement broad reforms. (more…)

Lebanese bid farewell to Nassib Lahoud

Lebanese Politicians, foreign diplomats and religious leaders of various sects gathered Saturday at the St. George Cathedral in downtown Beirut to pay their respects to the head of the Democratic Renewal Movement former MP and minister Nassib Lahoud, who passed away Thursday at age 68 after a long battle with cancer. (more…)

After Homs massacre, protests erupt on several continents

A wave of protests broke out at Syrian embassies on several continents amid reports of hundreds of deaths in one Syrian city and hours before a possible U.N. Security Council vote on a response to the violent crackdown in the country. Here’s a breakdown of some of the demonstrations Friday and Saturday: (more…)